Alderfer Auction to Offer One of the Earliest Known William Penn Signed Land Documents

Alderfer Auction to Offer One of the Earliest Known William Penn Signed Land Documents

Written by: Bob Lucas | Historical Department

     On March 4, 1681 King Charles II signed a charter to William Penn granting him approximately 45,000 square miles of land in North America being what is now Pennsylvania and Delaware.  The grant was issued to William by the King as part of the crown’s financial obligation to William’s father who served as English admiral and politician who served in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1670. In England at this time the Quaker religion was also being persecuted and Penn subsequently offered a possible mass emigration to the “New World” if land was available.  For these reasons King Charles II and his royal council proceeded to issue the land grant making Penn the largest land non-royal land owner in the world.      The land indenture will be offered by Alderfer’s as part of the Fine and Decorative Arts Auction offering on September 4, 2025, the indenture dated March 21, 1681 was issued to Bartholomew Coppock (1638 - 1719) and signed by William Penn just 17 days after Penn had been granted the charter from King Charles II.  Bartholomew Coppock was an English born Quaker, who moved to Delaware County in 1685.  He became a successful merchant, farmer and Pennsylvania assemblyman in the Chester area eventually dying in Marple Township in 1719.  This document presents a strong signature of William Penn on a historic document that is in excellent condition that is an important relic of the founding and infancy of the Pennsylvania colony.

William Penn was not only a visionary leader but also a deeply committed Quaker who believed in religious freedom, fair dealings with Native Americans, and a government based on democratic principles. His "holy experiment" in Pennsylvania was founded on these radical beliefs, making it a haven for those seeking refuge from persecution in Europe. This land document, signed by Penn himself just seventeen days after receiving his charter, is a tangible link to the very moment this groundbreaking colony was conceived. It represents the foundation of a society that would go on to shape the future of the United States. This historical artifact, along with the other significant documents in the auction, offers a rare and powerful glimpse into the ideals and origins of a truly unique American experiment. Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a piece of the foundation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This auction also will offer an interesting letter Thomas Penn (son of William Penn) regarding land information and sales around Philadelphia and Society Hill.  Another offering is an early Germantown, Pennsylvania indenture dated April 8, 1704 for 50 acres of land.  The document presents an early attached seal for Germantown and is twice signed by Francis Daniel Pastorius (1651-1720) the founder of Germantown, Pennsylvania.  Pastorius, an emigrant from Germany, was a highly educated lawyer, teacher, writer, anti-slavery advocate, and public official.

Fine & Decorative Art Auction 

September 4th at 10:00 AM at alderferauction.com

Conditionreport@alderferauction.com