Course: 2026-14
Researching Penn’s Colony
In Person – Pittsburgh
Faculty:
- Coordinator and Instructor: Sandra Rumble
- Other Instructors: Shamele Jordon; Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG®, AGL®, FOGS; Kimberly T. Powell, AG®; Michael L. Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™
Tuition:
- Regular Price: $615.00
- NGS Member Price: $575.00
Note: This course includes sessions at the Heinz History Center (on Tuesday).
Description:
Until 1825, Philadelphia was the gateway to the colonies and the young United States. Many early Americans immigrated through the port of Philadelphia due to promises of religious freedom and opportunity for land ownership, ultimately the American Dream. The founding of the Colony was unique to William Penn; thus, life, religious diversity, the laws of Pennsylvania, attempts to outlaw slavery, the readily available land on favorable terms, and more importantly, the records left behind differ from the other British Colonies, presenting challenges to researchers. The emphasis of this course is to understand:
- Colonial Pennsylvania structure and religious diversity
- Impact Colonial Pennsylvania had on the history of the United States
- How to locate and research the abundant Pennsylvania records that differ from the other colonies
Student Prerequisites:
Students should know about various genealogical sources, information, evidence, and familiarity with the GPS and FAN club. Subscriptions to online genealogy websites, including Ancestry.com, FamilySearch (free), and Fold3, are not required but may be utilized.
Requirements:
Students should have a laptop (or tablet) for the in-class case studies.
NOTE: All times are listed in Eastern Time.
Live Sessions may be subject to schedule adjustments by your course coordinator.
| Day | Session | Time | Session Title | Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 13 July |
Intro | 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Class Introductions | Rumble | |
| 1 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Penn’s Inheritance | King Charles II granted William Penn 45,000 square miles of land as part of the settlement of Admiral Sir William Penn’s estate. War is expensive, and the King borrowed money from Penn’s father, the Admiral. Part of the settlement of the debt included the right for Penn to open his lands to non-conformist worshipers and govern his Colony, mostly unencumbered by the crown. William opened his lands to any Christians who agreed to live peacefully with other Christians, a relief to those tired of the religious wars and turmoil of Europe. With minimal restrictions and firm in his beliefs, Penn set out to establish a new colony, recoup his inheritance, and inadvertently changed the course of history. | Rumble | |
| 2 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | The Impact of Colonial Pennsylvania’s Economic Growth and Fiscal Foundation, 1682-1800 | As early as 1715, the provincial legislature of Pennsylvania implemented economic reforms that transformed the colony into a significant center for commerce. Foundational industries in colonial Pennsylvania, such as milling, iron production, lime processing, coal mining, and tobacco cultivation, were essential to the colony’s economic advancement. The establishment of tariffs and taxes on these early businesses played a pivotal role in shaping the economy, particularly through the issuance of paper money by public loan offices and the economic consequences of events like the Whiskey Rebellion and Fries’s Rebellion. Through the analysis of historical documents, students will explore the dynamics between economic policies and societal responses in Colonial Pennsylvania. | Strauss | |
| 3 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | The Quaker Movement to America | America was and is a “landing place” for many ethnic groups and religions. The Quakers were one of those groups, and were among the most influential. Quaker roots begin in England. Soon the “Society of Friends” found themselves at odds with much of the surrounding area, leading them to other European countries and America. With emphasis on the Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio Quakers, this presentation will aid you in looking for clues as to whether your ancestors were Friends. | Lauritzen | |
| 4 | 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM | The Protestant Immigrants of the 18th Century | The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century led to a schism in the Roman Catholic Church, leading to the creation of many diverse religious sects. Pennsylvania became the melting pot of religious practitioners, including the Anabaptist (the Brethren, Moravians, Amish, & Mennonites), the Calvinists (Reformed, Presbyterians, and Baptists), the Lutherans, and Methodists. Students will gain a clearer picture of these diverse groups and their communities. | Rumble | |
| Tuesday 14 July |
5 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Navigating Key Repositories for Pennsylvania’s Pre-1800 Records | Attendees will learn strategies for navigating premier Pennsylvania repositories, understanding the scope of their collections, and utilizing digital and on-site resources to reconstruct the lives and communities of Pennsylvania’s early inhabitants. The facilities include the American Philosophical Society, David Library of the American Revolution, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore, Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges, Free Library of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Room @ Carnegie Library, Penn Libraries, and more. | Jordon |
| 6 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Evidence of Enslaved Africans in Pennsylvania | Enslaved Africans played a crucial role in the economic life of Pennsylvania and William Penn’s “Holy Experiment.” Penn favored lifelong bondage over indentured servitude because “Blacks” could be owned permanently. However, the Quakers eventually took a formal stand against slavery in 1775, establishing the first abolition society in the United States. This shift ultimately led to Pennsylvania becoming the first state to enact a gradual abolition law in 1790. This session will explore the historical context, laws governing enslavement, and various genealogical records — including governmental, organizational, church, manuscripts, newspapers, and other documents — that researchers can use to uncover the lives of enslaved Africans in Penn’s Colony. | Jordon | |
| 7 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | From Warrant to Patent: How Land Was Acquired in Colonial Pennsylvania | How did individuals legally acquire land in colonial Pennsylvania? This session walks through the process, from requesting a warrant to completing a survey to securing a patent. You’ll learn how the proprietary land system functioned, what records were created at each stage, and where to find them today. We’ll also touch on how land was described and measured to help you make sense of the documents you’ll encounter in your research. | Powell | |
| 8 | 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM | The Pennsylvania State Archives & Library | The State Archive is home to many colonial era records, including many Penn family documents, governance records and negotiations, records of the General Assembly, petitions from residents, and the records of the judicial system. Early statehood records are found in the collection of Revolutionary War records spanning from 1775-1790, the adoption of the second state constitution. The Pennsylvania Archives Series makes many of these documents available to researchers, and the State Library maintains a collection of colonial era newspapers. | Jordon | |
| Wednesday 15 July |
9 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Before Pennsylvania: Competing Colonial Land Claims | Explore the early power struggles over Pennsylvania’s borders—including claims by Virginia, Maryland, and Connecticut—and learn how to identify the jurisdictions that created records before and alongside Penn’s proprietorship. This session will guide you through locating land and legal records tied to competing claims and offer practical tools for navigating overlapping jurisdictions. | Powell |
| 10 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Mapping Colonial Land Tracts | Colonial land records often describe properties in relation to each other, mentioning neighbors, boundaries, and directions. In this session, you’ll learn how to read those descriptions to figure out how land parcels are connected on the ground. We’ll look at examples that show how these clues can help you place tracts more accurately on a map and better understand where your ancestors lived. | Powell | |
| 11 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Defending the Frontier: Pennsylvania’s Citizen Soldiers in the French and Indian War | The Province of Pennsylvania played a critical role in the defense of the western frontier against the French and their Native American allies. In the absence of established militia regulations, volunteer groups such as the Associators were enlisted. This initiative began with Benjamin Franklin in 1747 and was later formalized through the Militia Act of 1755. These newly formed citizen-soldiers engaged in crucial battles intended to thwart Native American incursions originating from the Ohio River Valley. Frequent difficulties were encountered by the militia, including scarce resources, internal conflicts, and frontier combat, while emphasizing their resilience and ability to adapt in defending Pennsylvania’s western frontier. | Strauss | |
| 12 | 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM | The Taxes of Pennsylvania | Not all of our relatives could afford to purchase a home or farm, and they appear to have left very few records. The tax man might miss your family once, but he didn’t dare miss them a second time, even if no taxes were owed. Many of the early Pennsylvania tax records still exist, and students will learn about the vital clues these invaluable records reveal about your ancestors: marital status, household income, livestock, financial circumstances, and a list of the unmarried males. | Rumble | |
| Thursday 16 July |
13 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | The Orphans Court | The Orphans Court is one of the more uniquely named offices in Pennsylvania. Frequently sharing offices with the Recorder of Wills, this office is home to many family-related records, including probate, estate, marriage information, and the care of those unable to care for themselves, including those suffering from disability or mental incompetence. | Rumble |
| 14 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Settling, Staying, and Leaving: Migration Choices in Early Pennsylvania | Migration within and out of Pennsylvania during the colonial and early national period was shaped by land availability, religious and political pressures, economic opportunity, and the pull of family and community ties. This session examines the broader forces behind these movements and the major routes migrants followed—including the Great Wagon Road and Forbes Road—as they relocated within Pennsylvania or moved into other colonies and early western territories. Students will gain a clearer understanding of the migration patterns that shaped family movement during this period. | Lauritzen | |
| 15 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Headed to Court | The Prothonotary’s Office in Pennsylvania houses the Court of Common Pleas, the records of the civil and criminal courts. Civil cases consist of less physically injurious crimes: contract disputes, fraud, bankruptcy, disorderly conduct, drinking, and property damage. Criminal court records documents more serious crimes: illegitimate children, assault, rape, manslaughter, and murder. These court records, appeals of judgments, and the detailed sheriffs’ records uncover a history of our family that may be difficult to find elsewhere. | Rumble | |
| 16 | 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM | The Rocky Path to Statehood | William Penn, the Lord Proprietor of his Colony, created the first government structure of the Colony with a Governor and Assembly. Representation was split between Quaker and non-Quaker representatives, with the Quakers attempting to limit Penn’s power. Continual friction, combined with the wide adoption of Penn’s core philosophies, led to the 1776 approval of the most democratic state constitution in the Congress of the Confederation. Numerous debates over the structure of the new country and the desire to address current issues led to the second state constitution. The new constitution transformed the government into a three-branch system: a bicameral legislative branch, an executive branch, a judicial branch and included a new Declaration of Rights which could not be overridden by the government. | Rumble | |
| Friday 17 July |
17 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | The Road to Independence: Pennsylvania’s Defiance during the Revolutionary War | During the American Revolution, Pennsylvania was the meeting place of liberty for the members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. This period was marked by important events and political developments that significantly influenced our early Republic. This session focuses on the evolution of the Pennsylvania militia, which transitioned from early volunteer organizations to compulsory units mandated by the Militia Law of 1777, emphasizing their role in defending the Colony within larger military campaigns. The internal divisions found within Pennsylvania, particularly the impact of Quaker pacifism and the challenges presented by Loyalist sentiments, complicated the Colony’s path toward unequivocal support for independence. | Strauss |
| 18 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | The Militia Act of 1792: Pennsylvania’s Response to the Whiskey Rebellion | Pennsylvania’s essential contribution to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, highlighting the state’s actions under the Militia Act of 1792. This act enabled President George Washington to summon state militias to quell uprisings and enforce federal regulations. In light of the significant discontent in western Pennsylvania regarding the federal excise tax on whiskey, Washington utilized this power, gathering approximately 13,000 militia troops from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. This strategic response not only subdued the rebellion but also reinforced the federal government’s right to impose and collect taxes, marking a critical juncture in the early Republic’s demonstration of federal power. | Strauss |