Genealogy information and records concerning 
ancestors in the thirteen original American colonies.

Colonial Delaware

   
1740 Petition to Obtain a
Charter of Incorporation for 
the City of Willingtown (Wilmington)

"To the Honourable Thoman Penn, Esq., one of the proprietors of the province of Pennsylvania. 

The petition of divers inhabitants and freeholders of lands situate at a place commonly called Willing-town, in the Hundred of Christiana, in the county of New Castle upon Delaware, and others freeholders of Pennsylvania and territories belonging in behalf of themselves and others humbly sheweth.

May it please the Hon Proprietor.       

Whereas divers of these petitioners and others in order for the erecting a town on a small neck of land lying between the rivers of Brandywine and Christiana in the county of New Castle aforesaid, have been at great charge in the purchasing of lots, building of houses and removing their families; and whereas, by the industry of these petitioners, who are now become as new adventurers, the said place begins to give the pleasing prospect of thriving and increasing, there being already divers houses built and others a putting forward; and whereas the said river of Christiana, near which these improvements are made, hath a convenient landing place, the whole being well accommodated (as these petitioners conceive) with proper encouragement will prove a place advantageous for trade, and be a very considerable addition to the improvements already made within this province and territories:

These petitioners therefore pray, the premises considered, that the proprietor will be pleased so far to extend his favour to the inhabitants and owners of lands there, as to erect the same into a town or borough, that they may be authorized to keep markets on such days as may be thought convenient, that they may be impowered to chuse burgesses and inferior officers as shall be found necessary for the encouraging virtue, preserving the king's peace, and the detecting of vice; that they my be enabled to form and enact such ordinances for the regulation of the market and streets, and cleansing and mending the streets and highways within the precincts of the said town or borough, as may prove commodious and advantageous both to the said town and country adjacent; that the precincts may be bounded, and that the proprietor will be pleased of his good favour to grant them such of these, or such other privileges as in his wisdom he shall think and esteem expedient, and these petitioners shall as in duty bound ever pray, &c.
  

Source:  A History of the Original Settlements on The Delaware, Benjamin Ferris, Wilson & Herald, 107 Market Street, Wilmington, 1846,  pages 206-208. 

Other Resources: