'm s BENJAMIN FUllLY, AN ENGLISH MKRCHANT AT ROTTERDAM. WHO I'KOMOTKI) THE FIRST GERMAN EMIGRATION AMERICA BY JULIUS FRIEDRICH SACHSE. UErinSTKU FROM THE i'K.WSS YLVAMA MAGAZIXF <>F HISTOliY AND BIOGRAI'HY, OCTOBEli, 1895. LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS ILADELPHIA. 1895. 014 209 158 5 BENJAMIN FUELY, "AN ENGLISH MERCHANT AT ROTTERDAM," WHO PROMOTED THE FIRST GERMAN EMIGRATION TO AMERICA. BY JULIUS FRIEDRICH SACHSE. REPRINTED FROM TUB PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY, OCTOBER, 1895. PHILADELPHIA. 1895. fisz ^ ^^Unadt V S fft^ BENJAMIN FURLY. c-/^ '^r^^-,-^--^^^'^^^^^>/the friend of {^ (y ^^'^^ William Penn and promoter of the first German emigration to America, was a native of Colchester, England, where he was born April 13, 1636.^ He began life as a merchant there, and became identified with the early Quakers. Subsequent to the year 1660 he immigrated to Amsterdam,^ but afterwards made Rotterdam his permanent home, where he engaged in the mercantile and shipping business, his first establishment being in the Scheepmaker shaven. Although an Englishman by birth, he soon became iden- tified with the land of his adoption, and married "Dorothe Graigne," a Dutch maiden.^ Ilis eldest child by this mar- ' According to a Dutch account (Unger, in " Rotterdarascli Jaar- boekje," 1890, p. 114), he was born at Rotterdam, of English parentage. There is, however, nothing to substantiate the above claim, as the learned writer evidently confuses Benjamin Furiy with his son Benjohan. ^ Berhard Croesens, " Quaker Historic, von deren Ursprung bis auf jungsthin entstandene Trennung." Berlin, bey Johann Michael Rudiger, 1696, p. 644. The title of the English edition reads, "The General History of the Quakers &c. Being written originally in Latin by Gerard Croese." London, 1696. Two editions were printed in Latin, — " Gerardi Croesi Historia Quaker- iana," — viz., Theodore Boom, 1(595, and Amstelodamie, anno M.DO.IVC. •' " Archief der Gemeento," Roltcnlaiii. 3 4 Benjamin Furly. riage was a sou Benjohan, born January 6, 1681. Furly, by his honesty and industry, became known as one of the leading merchants of Rotterdam, and removed his residence and warehouse to the Haaringvliet^ then the chief com- mercial centre of the city. He, however, did not confine himself exclusively to his commercial life and to the accu- mulation of wealth, but continued his interest in literary pursuits, and, as Croese intimates,^ " to thoroughly perfect himself in the various branches of learning," he cultivated the society of the leading critics and scholars of the period, and subsequently became a patron of letters. His house became the rendezvous of such learned men as Leclerc, Limborch, Algernon Sidney, Edward Clarke, and Locke, and his library, with its wealth of manuscripts and rare imprints, was one of more than local reputation, being frequently quoted and consulted by litterateurs from difierent parts of Europe, two notable instances of which were the visits of Ludolph Kiister and Zacharias von Uftenbach, ac- counts of which have been preserved. Benjamin Furly also took an active interest in the religious questions of the day, taking the side of the Separatists, as opposed to the estab- lished churches, and his home in Rotterdam upon frequent occasions was the scene of devotional meetings at which George Fox, Keith, William Penn, and others were promi- nent participators. At an early age he became convinced of the Quaker doc- trine, and became one of the most active champions of that So- ciety upon the Continent. He was a prolific author, writing with equal facility in English, German, Dutch, and French. His zeal in the doctrine he had embraced is attested by the publication of his numerous controversial writings, to- gether with those of Fox and Penn, which were translated by him and printed at his expense. Furly afterwards became the chief agent of William Penn on the Continent for the sale of his newly acquired lands in ^ The " Haaringvliet" is one of the numerous basins or canals that form the harbor of Rotterdam. » " Quaker Historia," p. 645. Benjamin Furly. 6 America. His wife having died in 1691, he married, on De- cember 10, 1693, Susanna Huis, the widow of one Jacobus van der Lijt.' Benjamin Furly died in March, 1714, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, and was buried, as befitted a man of his standing and wealth, in a tomb (Eo. 175) in the centre aisle of the St. Laurentius or Groote Kerk, formerly the cathedral church of Rotterdam.^ Four children are known to have survived their father, — Benjohan, John, Arent, and a daughter Dorothy; all, presumably, issues by the first marriage. It has been questioned whether Benjamin Furly became a Quaker before or after his settlement in Holland. We know that he was a man of marked and peculiar religious views, and that from his first arrival in Holland he was in sympathy with the so-called Separatists ; and from the fact that members of his immediate family in England were among the early followers of George Fox, it is probable that he was convinced prior to his immigration to Holland. According to a Dutch account, it would appear, however, that he did not join the Society of Friends until after his residence in Rotterdam. If this be true, it must have been prior to the years 1659-60, as in those years he, together with John Stubs, assisted in the compilation of George Fox's " A Battle-Door for Teachers & Professors to learn Singu- lar & Plural : You to Many, and Thou to One : Singular One, Thou ; Plural Many, You." It was a folio of fifty-seven sheets, printed in thirty lan- guages, of which, among others, his grandson says that the Chaldee, Syriac, "Welsh, and French portions were written by Furly.3 Croese, in his " Historia Quakeriana," distinctly states that " Benjamin Furly had this clever and ingenious work printed at great expense, and that Fox, although he knew of these thirty tongues but a single one, yet poses as ' " Archief der Geraeente," Rotterdam. '^ " Rotterdamsch Jaarboekje," Vol. II. p. 114. ^ " Original Letters," etc. Preface, p. 79. 6 Benjamin Furly. the author." George Fox, in his journal, mentions that this work was finished in 1661, and that Benjamin Furly took great pains in compiling it. During the next fifteen j-ears Benjamin Furly published a number of controversial works in the interest of the Quakers, prominent among which may be named the following : "Die Sache Christi und seines Volks." (Gorman.) (The Cause of Christ and His People Justified.) By W. Ames. The large preface is by B. Furly. 4to, 1662. " The Light upon the Candlestick." By W. Ames. The English translation is by Furly. 4to, 1663. " The World's Honor detected &c. By a Friend to Truth who is no respecter or regarder of persons, called a Quaker." B. F[urly]. 4to, 1663. " Eine Beschirmunge d'unschuldigen," etc. (Dutch.) By Wm. Caton, with a postscript by Benjamin Furly. 4to, 1664. " Coppe van een Brief." (Dutch.) 4to, 1666. " A Recantation by Benjamin Furly. Given in R.ott[er- dam] in 1669." (This is in relation to the hat controversy.) " Anthoniette Bourignon ontdeckt, ende haeren Geest geopenbaert uyt haere Druckten," etc. (Dutch.) 4to, 1671. " The Universal Free Grace of the Gospel asserted," etc. By George Keith. (Part by B. Furly.) 4to, 1671. " A Letter to George Whitehead, about the Hat Contro- versy." 8vo, 1673. "Missive aan de Nederlanse Natie." (Dutch.) (A Mes- sage to the Dutch Nation), by William Penn. Translation, with a large preface and conclusion, by Benjamin Furly. 4to, 1675. In the Archives of Rotterdam there is preserved a docu- ment written in Hollandese, in which Furly, together with Symon Jansz Vettekeiicken, makes the following appeal to the burgomasters and regents of Rotterdam for the protection of the Quakers who were then holding meet- ings in that city. This interesting document, in the hand- writing of Benjamin Furly, is dated July 8, 1675, and was photographed by the writer during the past summer, — 1894. A Battle-Door TEACHERS &VrOFESSORS TO L E A-R N ^ Singular & Plural , ToH to Many, and Thou to One. Singular Onej Thou Plural Mdny, \oh Wherein is fhewed forth by Grammar, or Scripture Examples, how fcvcral Nations and People have made a dift>n^ion between Singular and rlurat. And firft, Ta the former part of this Book, Called The EngUJh Battle Dfiory may be fcen how feveral People have fpokcn Singular an I fon, and are to be fold at his Shop at 'hf S}^ncohhc BlackjSpread-EsgleiQd IVind m/l m Martins te Grand, 166Q. Fac-simile of the tiUe-page of George Fox's "Battle-Door." Benjamin FiLrhj. TRANSLATION. " To the Burgomasters and Regents of the City of Rotterdam : " The people of God, mockingly called Quakers, who have taken up their residence in this City, cannot refrain from making known, with christian respect, unto you, as Magistrates of this City, that now twice, to wit ; — yesterday, within and without their regular meeting place, where they come together to wait in silence upon the Lord, Psalm 62, 2. , , *= , ^ ^ , ,,,.,. they have been treated and handeled with vio- lence and annoyance by divers sort of men, not only young but also of greater age, which is so publicly known that the thrown-in window-panes and the broken doors and benches are clear witnesses thereof. All the which they make known unto you not so much for anxiety for their persons and goods, as they well know that the same God is living yet, and shall live unto eternity, who Job 38 11 o »' ' J » hath set limits to the sea and hath said hitherto shalt thou come but no further, and who can prevent the raging of the people when it pleases him : but Psalm 2. 1 4. o o r r f to avoid thereby the blame, such things having befallen them, of not having made known the same to you, for your discretion, and above all for the mani- festation of God in your consciences which dictates to every one to do unto others as he would have others to do unto him, because with what meas- Eccles : 10,-8, 9. . . i i, -i t i • ure he metes, it shall be measured to him again. In the name of all signed by us "Benjamin FFurly " Symon Jansz Vettekeucken " At Rotterdam the 8th day of the Month which one calles July, 1675." When, two years later, Penn, accompanied by Robert Bar- clay, George Fox, Keith, and others,^ made his celebrated ' The party, in addition to the three named, consisted of John Furly, a brother of Benjamin Furly, of Eotterdam, G. Watts, William Tailcoat, Isabella Yeomans, and Elizabeth Keith. — Journal of William Penn. Benjamin Furly. 9 tour through Germany and Holland, it was this same Ben- jamin Furly who met them upon their landing, George Fox records that the party was hecalmed when a league from tlie shore, and that William Penn and Robert Barclay, under^5tanding tliat Benjamin Furly was to come from Rotterdam to the Briel to meet them, got two of the sailors to lower a small boat and row them ashore ; but be- fore they could reach it, the gates were closed, and there being no house without the gates, they were forced to lie in a tisher's boat all night. As soon as the gates were opened in the morning they entered and found Benjamin Furly, who brought them to Briel, where the Friends received them with " great gladness." The party arrived at Rotterdam on the same day, Satur- day, July 28, 1677. The next day— First day (Sunday)— two religious meetings were held at the house of Furly, who then lived in the Wynstraat, the latter and John Glaus acting as interpreters. The next fortnight was spent in visits to various towns in Holland. On the 7tli of August the company divided up into two parties, when Keith, Barclay, and Penn left the others at Amsterdam and set out towards Germany, where, as Fox states in his journal, " they travelled many hundred miles, and had good service for the Lord," Benjamin Furly going with them and actino- as interpreter for the party, and upon that occasion was largely instrumental in influencing the Germans in favor of Penn. It is further a matter of record, that Furly re- mained with Penn and Keith during their entire stay on the Continent. Towards the close of this memorable pilgrimage, four tracts of an exhortative character were written by Penn,^ designed for distribution among the Separatists in Germany and Holland. These tracts were revised and translated by Benjamin Furly, and printed at his expense after Penn's departure. The German titles are as follows : "Forderungder Christenheit fiir Gericht." (A Call to Christendom, etc.) • Penna. Mag., Vol. II. p. 27G. 10 Benjamin Furly. "Eine Freundliche heimsuchung in der Liebe Gottes." (A Tender Visitation in the Love of God.) " An alle diejenigen so unter den Bekennern der Chris- tenheit," etc. (To all Professors of Christianity, etc.) "An Alle diejenigen welche empfinden," etc. (Tender Counsel, etc.) The above were also published collectively in Dutch under the general title, " Het Christenrijk Ten Oordeel Gedagvaart," etc. Tv70 of the above tracts — " A Call to Christendom" and " Tender Counsel" — were printed sep- arately at the time in English.^ It was about this time that the friendship between John Locke, who had been introduced to Furly by Edward A ^ , Clarke, of Chipley,^ ripened into in- JJ Of^ ^y^C^ timacy, and the correspondence which ^-^ ^-^ ensued lasted until the death of Locke. Algernon Sidney and the Earl of Shaftesbury were also frequent visitors at the Furly homestead, and the former, at his death, bequeathed to Furly a large silver goblet, which is still in possession of his descendants.^ When the grant to William Penn was consummated, and there became a likelihood of a large German and Dutch immigration to Pennsylvania, Penn submitted to Benjamin Furly the drafts of several instruments which he proposed to make the basis for the laws and government of his Province. Furly's comments on these papers, in his hand- writing, are among the " Penn Manuscripts" in the collec- tion of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. In them he suggests the protection of the interests of the German and foreign settlers who it was expected would immigrate to » Whiting's" Catalogue of Friends' Books," London, 1708, pp. 119, 120. * Edward Clarke, Esq., of Chipley, near Taunton, was one of the burgesses for that borough in seven Parliaments, from the first of King William, which met in 1690, to the third held by Queen Anne, which was dissolved in 1710. ^ A drawing of this cup forms the frontispiece to the second edition of " Original Letters of John Locke, Algernon Sidney, and Lord Shaftes- bury," London, 1847. Het CHRISTENRIJK TEN OORDEEL gedagvaart. Eentederebefoekmge in dc LiefJeGods. aanalle die gene die een begccrrc hcbbenom.Godte kennen enhcruin Waarheyd en Opregngheyd aan te bidden, van wat Se^{e, of foort van Godsdtenft de felve zouden niogen vvcfen Een MifTiveaan alle diegene, die. onderdebciyJers der Chri- ftelijkheyd, aft^efonderizijnvandcrichibdLrcie^fn. cnuyierltjke Gemeenten. 'EN Een Miffiveaanal die gene, die gevoellg zijn van den dag hirer bcfoekingc. utiles m d' En^clje TtUe gefch<^en . door WILLIAM PENN. En daar uyt oveig^efer. Tot R O T T F. R D A M Gedrukt voor JAN PIETERSZ GROENWOUT.. Bo«kYerkoop«r , wonende op h• debtor whether he hath not as liquid, &. adjusted a debt to stop, upon the bill, bond &c. that should be trans- ferred to him— 28 Benjamin Furly. XV. That the term Contenements in y* 18'" Law be explayned. XVI. That care be taken that, if deeds sent over to be registred be lost, the persons shall not lose their lands. w°h must be, by a Register here. Or Copies Notariall sent, or kept here must be admitted. XVII. That in case of murder (L : rs) y® t of y* state go rather to y® next of kin to the sufferer (w*h may be a poore widdow w"* many fatherless chil- dren) & but J to y® kindred of the Criminall — If any difference — But half to each seems as equall — & In case of Treason j to y* kindred, & J to y® publick Treasury. XIX. The 26"^ [36] Law enjoyning all to abstain from Labour on y' first day may prove a vile snare to y® conscience of many in this day, who do not look upon that day as of any other then human institution, & may be pressed in spirit (whether right or wrong is not the question) sometimes to work upon that day, to testify agt that superstitious conceit that it is of divine institution, & is the Christian sabbath. Onely thus far there may a service be in Setting Servants at liberty from the oppressions of grinding, covetos masters &c — that it be declared that no master shall compell his servant to labor on that day because its fit y' y® very body of man «& beast should have some rest from their con- tinuall labor XX. That no publick Tax be for longer then a year. w°h will make y* Assembly always necessary. And consequently keep ministers in aw. XXI. That if any man arrest another going out of y* Province he be ready w'h his declaration & evidence the next day & that he put in security — ■ for y® charges & dammages sustayned by that stop, if he be found in the wrong. XXIL That a forme of a deed be agreed upon, thats short & plain that we be not bound to the tricks of y'' Lawyers of England. And let possession be given & taken as in hoU* in open court, by the persons themselves or their atturneys. In hoUand the mode is thus. The seller takes his hat, & turning y* Benjamin Furly. 29 crown downwards holds it by 2 fingers & bis thumb. The buyer like- wise takes hold of it, & the seller says that he thereby surrenders to him all his right & title leaving y" hat in y« hand of the buyer, who after- wards givs it him and there's an end XXIII. Let no blacks be brought in directly. And if any come out of Vir- ginia, Maryld. or okowhor o in families that have formerly bought them else where Let them be declared (as in y^ west jersey constitutions) free at 8 years end.^ XXIV. That the Royalties being not in the deeds expressed be added to the frame as an article, & the liberty of hunting, fowling, fishing exprest in plain terms. And afterwards in the Register. Things securing mens rights & properties cannot be writ too plain. That w'h I have now further to add is that I far prefer thy first draught to this last, as being most equall, most faire, & most agreeing with the just ^ This passage is very interesting if, as the language seems to imply, it proposed, at that early day, the prohibition of negro slavery in Penn- sylvania. Unfortunately, Furly has failed to express himself clearly, and his handwriting adds to the obscurity of the passage. The words in and directhj&xQ separate, but it looks as if they were intended to form the one word " indirectly." His habit of leaving spaces between sylla- bles of words of the entirety of which there can be no doubt supports this theory. The importance of the difference between in directly and indirectly will be seen at once. If no blacks were to be brought directly in, and if those coming from Virginia and Maryland in families that had owned them before removing to Pennsylvania were to be free in eight years, the provision was clearly an anti-slavery one. But if the passage means " Let no blacks be brought indirectly," — that is, let none be brought in but those coming direct from Africa and sold into slavery, and if those from the neighboring provinces of Virginia and Maryland were to be free in eight years, — then the provision was simply one reg- ulating the importation of slaves, and was in the interest of parties engaged in the African slave-trade. This was always a favorite occu- pation of the Dutch, but Furly's character would not lead us to suppose that he engaged in it. The erasure of the two words " or elsewhere" after Virginia and Maryland seems to imply that it was not Furly's intention to prohibit entirely the importation of slaves ; or it is possible that they were struck out to avoid tautology, as they appear again in the next line. The provision referred to in the West Jersey constitution is at present unknown to us, and if discovered may throw some light on Furly's intentions. — F. D, S. 30 Benjamin Furly. wise, & prudent constitutions of our Ancestors. And most likely to keep us in a good, & fair Correspondence w'h y"^ Nation, w^h, & y* In- terest thereof will stand, when that of a few corrupt & guilty Courtiers — will sink, &c Indeed I wonder who should put thee upon altering them for these. And as much how thou couldst ever yield to such a thing. Especially after thou wert so much satisfyed in them as to charge all thy children, & theirs, to love & preserve them as being y* establishmt. of thee their father & Ancestor, as the discharge of thy conscience to God the giver of this cuntry to thee & them, & as they hope to keep it & his blessing upon it. As much do I wonder that any of the free holders that had subscribed y™ w'h much clearness & satisfaction as the Ground & Rule of All future Laws, & Goverment, promising everyone for himself that, by Gods as- sistance they would remember love & preserve y" to the uttermost of their power, as fundamentals, inviolably, charging their posterity to do the same, as they hope to enjoy what they should leave them, & the blessing of God with it. Who has turned you aside from these good beginnings o establish things unsavory & unjust ; as fundamentals to w^h all Generations to come should be bound ? The 3** Constitution, w'^h gives the Assembly the power of making & abolishing all Laws, & whatsoever is the privilege of an English house of Commons, the power of determining how long, within their yeer to sit, Is more fair, & equall then the 29"" [19] of y* new frame, w°h de- prives them of both. The 5* constitution that provides agt. any deputyes betraying his trust in Voting agt. his principals, or Electors, by obliging him to bring instructions. Is in the new, without ground in my judgmt left out. The 8"" Constitution w^h lodges but a consultative faculty in the Councill of 48. [upon] the bills & proposals of y^ Assembly, & then to propose their deliberations by way of conference to the Assembly. Is much more faire & equall, in my mind, then the 5 & T** of y® new frame w*h take from y^ Gen : Assembly, the whole faculty of proposing any bills, & lodges it solely in y* provinciall Councill. w4i seems to be a divesting of the peoples representatives (in time to come) of y® greatest right they have. & will lay morally a certain foundation for dissension amongst our successors. And render the patronizers of this new frame Obnoxious to future parliaments. For the people of England can never, by any prescription of time be dispossessed of that naturall right of propounding Laws to be made : by their representatives. Let us then in settling foundations avoid such precipices. And let the Generall Assembly be restored to those powers & priviledges w^h thy first constitutions do give it, & the Provinciall Councill whether of 48. or 72, brought to its place, there allotted to it. Benjamin Fmiy. 31 And if upon conference they cannot agree — Let those matters, w°h can never be many, be reserved to y^ judgment of god, by Lott or, by the § of the numbers of y" provinciall Councill & Generall Assembly. However I would not be misunderstood, as if I judged it absolutely necessary that now, at y" beginning there should be an Assembly of 200, & a councill of 72. For I know not but 72, may be a very compe- tent number of Representatives for such a body of people as may be upon the place in our day. And consequently if y' people did — once a yeare chuse 72 persons as their representatives after y'' first yeare (where all freeman may conveniently appear & vote for themselves) it might be enough. But what I speak is with reference to future ages, when y* very frame supposes it may be needfull to have 500 representatives; unto w^h times this frame shal be as binding, as it is at this day, & whatsoever inconvenience may then [be] found in it, at that day, cannot be removed, without the consent of y' Governor, who 500 yeare hence may be such a man, as y* present Govern' if he could help, would not allow the meanest office of Trust in the Goverm*. My earnest intreaty then is that these foundations be n«t layd as un- alterable, as they are, but onely to continue for a tearm of years or for y* life of y* present governor : And then be alterable by f of y^ 2 assemblys as above mentioned. For to have a great nation bound up to have no laws but w' two thirds of 72 men shall think fit to propound. Whereof but 24 shall be yearly chosen, & sit 3 years to be corrupted by a Governor who hath 3 Voyces, that is ^ of y*^ Quorum is not consistent w'h the publick safety w'h is, & always will remain, the supreme Law, & bring to certain distruction all y' go about to make it Void. I should like it much better that they were chosen every 3 months by the Generall Assembly or by the people, y' so they might not be so liable to be corrupted by an ill minded, ambitios Governor, for such opportunities do present for mischief in 3 years that do not in 3/m. at lest their designs are not so easily brought to perfection in 3/m. as in 3/years. Concerning Nomination of Judges &c Let y'' nomination of 2 be by the Gen. Assembly : & election of one by the Prov. Councill. w'h is y^ safer way, then to hang the fiuall elec- tion upon one man w'=h if not good & vertuous may make an ill use of it and attract to himself bribers & flatterers w^h I would never expose my posterity to — Concerning y® committees. Let them all be subjected to the animadversions of y" Gen. Assembly, especially those of Justice, & y® treasury. Finally, if this frame be continued, I desire at lest. That to y* 6"" Article be added the word Onely, & ye words No Negatives. To prevent 32 Benjamin Furly. that most absurd interpretation of that Article, That because the Gov- ernor, has not in termiuis renounced a right to a Negative Voice, or not said Onely a treble Voice, Therefore he has, to help him at a dead lift right to use a Negative when his treble Voice will not do. That y* Generall assembly have a right of proposing as well as y* provinciall councill. That to y* 9"" [19] Article be added these words (instead of as may be) as they shall judg needfull to Impeach such criminalls as they shall judge fit. That they have right to adjourn or prorogue themselves. And y* Prov : Councill of calling them sooner, if need be. That y« 23. & 24 Articles of y^ frame & 1st & 3"* Laws— for ratification of them may be expunged. Because it binds our posterity forever, & gives the Governor a Negative Voice in these 2 grand cases of y° provin- ciall & Generall Assembly (tho' some that have read y" could not beleeve it) — 1 And to secure liberty of conscience, 2 balletting in elections & Kesolutions, 3 y' way of tryalls, 4 gavelkind for succession of estates reall & personall, 5 marriages, 6 y*' Registry, 7 speedy justice, 8 Law in English, 9 property &c — may be establisht as fundamentals ; w'h should be delivered to y* supreme assembly to be onely conservators of, & y' utmost penalty upon any that at any time in any councill should move for y'' alteration of any of thein w^h will be all the security we can have, or desire '•^v / /