William Markham (Governor)
Encyclopedia
William Markham served as deputy governor of the Province of Pennsylvania
. Markham was the acting governor of Pennsylvania from 1681 to 1682 and from 1693 to 1699. He was a member of the Church of England
and tended to favour the interests of minority religious groups in the primarily Quaker colony.
, and served as acting governor while Penn was in England. Markham sailed for America soon after his appointment. He landed in Boston
and made his way to New York where he showed his credentials and took official control of the Delaware
territories which had also been given to Penn.
On 3 August 1681, Markham arrived in Upland (now Chester, Pennsylvania
), the only town in the colony at that time. He assembled a governing council that included six Quakers
and three other early colonists. As governor, Markham helped select the site for Philadelphia, bought land from the Indians along the Delaware River
and Pennsbury Manor
, and began the discourse with Lord Baltimore over the disputed boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland
.
Penn first arrived in Pennsylvania in October 1682
and relieved Markham of his duties. Markham became a representative for the colony in England and lobbied on its behalf in the boundary dispute with Maryland. He served in various other positions including secretary of the province, secretary to the proprietary, a commissioner to sell lands, and an auditor of accounts. Markham supported John Blackwell
over Thomas Lloyd
in their dispute over the governorship.
In 1691, Delaware was separated from Pennsylvania, and Markham became the acting deputy governor of the new colony. The Glorious Revolution
overthrew the Stuart dynasty with which Penn had his connections. By 1683, he temporarily fell from court popularity and lost control of the colony. The crown gave official control to Benjamin Fletcher
, but Markham served a second term as acting governor as Fletcher's deputy. Penn was reinstated as official governor in August 1694, but Markham maintained control of the colony until Penn's return from England in December 1699.
Markham had several disputes with the legislative body and issued his own version of the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania
in an attempt to resolve some of this conflict. Markham's version of the Frame gave greater power to the lower house of the legislature, the General Assembly, and greatly weakened his executive power as well as that of the upper house, the Council. Markham was criticised by the surveyor-general of customs for, among other things, allowing pirates to run rampant. Pennsylvania did not have the military capacity to protect the Delaware Bay
. Penn also complained of fraudulent financial transactions with Markham, but still had him appointed, through the deputy governor, register-general of wills in 1703.
Province of Pennsylvania
The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Colony, was founded in British America by William Penn on March 4, 1681 as dictated in a royal charter granted by King Charles II...
. Markham was the acting governor of Pennsylvania from 1681 to 1682 and from 1693 to 1699. He was a member of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and tended to favour the interests of minority religious groups in the primarily Quaker colony.
In Pennsylvania
On 10 April 1681, Markham was appointed by his first cousin, Governor William PennWilliam Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
, and served as acting governor while Penn was in England. Markham sailed for America soon after his appointment. He landed in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and made his way to New York where he showed his credentials and took official control of the Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
territories which had also been given to Penn.
On 3 August 1681, Markham arrived in Upland (now Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
), the only town in the colony at that time. He assembled a governing council that included six Quakers
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
and three other early colonists. As governor, Markham helped select the site for Philadelphia, bought land from the Indians along the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
and Pennsbury Manor
Pennsbury Manor
Pennsbury Manor, an estate in Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was the American home of William Penn, founder and first Governor of Pennsylvania. The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1969.-History:...
, and began the discourse with Lord Baltimore over the disputed boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Penn first arrived in Pennsylvania in October 1682
William Penn Landing Site
The monument at the William Penn Landing Site marks the spot of the first landing of William Penn on the territory of Pennsylvania, on October 28 or 29, 1682...
and relieved Markham of his duties. Markham became a representative for the colony in England and lobbied on its behalf in the boundary dispute with Maryland. He served in various other positions including secretary of the province, secretary to the proprietary, a commissioner to sell lands, and an auditor of accounts. Markham supported John Blackwell
John Blackwell
John Blackwell may refer to:* John Blackwell , Welsh poet* John Blackwell , drummer in the New Power Generation* John Blackwell , deputy governor of Colonial Pennsylvania...
over Thomas Lloyd
Thomas Lloyd (lieutenant governor)
Thomas Lloyd was a lieutenant-governor of provincial Pennsylvania.He was born in Dolobran, Montgomeryshire, Wales, and subsequently educated at Ruthin School. He studied law and medicine at Jesus College, Oxford, from which he was graduated in 1661...
in their dispute over the governorship.
In 1691, Delaware was separated from Pennsylvania, and Markham became the acting deputy governor of the new colony. The Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
overthrew the Stuart dynasty with which Penn had his connections. By 1683, he temporarily fell from court popularity and lost control of the colony. The crown gave official control to Benjamin Fletcher
Benjamin Fletcher
Benjamin Fletcher was colonial governor of New York from 1692 to 1697.Fletcher was known for the Ministry Act, which secured the place of Anglicans in New York. He was succeeded as colonial governor of New York by Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont.-References:*...
, but Markham served a second term as acting governor as Fletcher's deputy. Penn was reinstated as official governor in August 1694, but Markham maintained control of the colony until Penn's return from England in December 1699.
Markham had several disputes with the legislative body and issued his own version of the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania
Frame of Government of Pennsylvania
The Frame of Government of Pennsylvania was a constitution for the Province of Pennsylvania, a proprietary colony granted to William Penn by Charles II of England. In 1682 Penn, while still in England, drafted the first version of the Frame of Government to supplement the colony's royal charter...
in an attempt to resolve some of this conflict. Markham's version of the Frame gave greater power to the lower house of the legislature, the General Assembly, and greatly weakened his executive power as well as that of the upper house, the Council. Markham was criticised by the surveyor-general of customs for, among other things, allowing pirates to run rampant. Pennsylvania did not have the military capacity to protect the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
. Penn also complained of fraudulent financial transactions with Markham, but still had him appointed, through the deputy governor, register-general of wills in 1703.