Proprietary Party

The Proprietary Party, also known as the Gentleman's Party,[1] was a political party in the Pennsylvania Colony, primarily concerned with Anglicanism and supporting the rights of the colonies hereditary proprietors, the Penns.[2] They were typically in opposition to the Quaker Party, which sometimes resulted in violence.[3]

They were originally called the Proprietary Party, changed their name to the Gentlemen's Party in the 1740s, and reverted to the Proprietary Party in the 1750s.[2][4]

The Paxton Boys' March on Philadelphia was preventing from entering by a delegation of Philadelphians with the promise that the legislature would discuss their complaints; however, this did not happen, and the party took advantage of publicizing it in 1764.[5]

The party opposed the Stamp Act of 1765, allying themselves with Benjamin Franklin's opposition to the Act and placing themselves in leadership positions.[4] They later opposed Franklin's appointment to the position of Colonial Agent in London.[6][7]

## Ideology and policies

[edit]

The Proprietary Party primarily focused on supporting the Penns, in political and property rights.[2] They also wanted military defense for the province,[2][8] including the drafting of indentured servants,[3] as well as the ability to print paper money.[8] They attempted to comparatively weaken the Quaker party in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania by appealing to those on the Frontier.[2][4]

## Notable individuals

[edit]

James Logan was the first leader,[2] as the Proprietary Council's Secretary,[8] and mobilized Proprietary supporters.[4] In the 1740s, William Allen became the party leader,[2][8][9] and lead with Richard Peters.[8] Nicholas Scull II was a Placeman for the party in the position of Surveyor General of Pennsylvania.[8] George Thomas, a Proprietary governor, led a Quaker assembly.[3]

## Andrew Hamilton and Isaac Norris

[edit]

Andrew Hamilton, of the party, abdicated from the assembly in 1739.[10] Isaac Norris and Hamilton had an enmity.[11] This abdication led to increased determination on William Allen's part to attain power in the assembly.[10]

## Election day riot

[edit]

Main article: Philadelphia Election riot

On October 1, 1742, Election Day in Pennsylvania, a physical fight over voting occurred between the Quakers and the Proprietary Party, each respectively represented by Isaac Norris and William Allen in the election for the Inspector of Elections.[9][3] The Philadelphia County Courthouse was the only place to vote.[9] Quakers arrived first and blocked Proprietary voters.[9][3] Many more votes for Norris were cast (by physically standing near him), but, before the election was finished, 60 sailors, thought to be employed by Allen,[8] armed with clubs entered and began attacking Pennsylvania Germans.[9] They responded, and a vigorous fight between the two occurred, with the Proprietary sailors losing and retreating.[9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Thayer, Theodore (1947). "The Quaker Party of Pennsylvania, 1755-1765". The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 71 (1): 20. ISSN 0031-4587. JSTOR 20087883. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
2. ^ a b c d e f g Adams, Christine; Censer, Jack Richard; Graham, Lisa Jane (1997). Visions and Revisions of Eighteenth-century France. Penn State Press. ISBN 978-0-271-01637-5.
3. ^ a b c d e Parsons, William T. (1969). "The Bloody Election of 1742". Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies. 36 (3): 290–306\. ISSN 0031-4528. JSTOR 27771792. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
4. ^ a b c d Klein, Philip S.; Hoogenboom, Ari Arthur (2010-11-01). History of Pennsylvania. Penn State Press. ISBN 978-0-271-03839-1.
5. ^ "Paxton Boys uprising | United States history | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
6. ^ Olson, Lester C.; Finnegan, Cara A.; Hope, Diane S. (2008-03-20). Visual Rhetoric: A Reader in Communication and American Culture. SAGE. ISBN 978-1-4129-4919-4.
7. ^ "Founders Online: John Dickinson and Others: Protest against the Appointment of …". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
8. ^ a b c d e f g Berry, Jefferson (January 2011). "The Schemes of Public Parties: William Allen, Benjamin Franklin and the College of Philadelphia, 1756" (PDF).
9. ^ a b c d e f "History's Headlines: Mayhem was the name of the game in the bloody Pa. election of 1742". WFMZ.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
10. ^ a b "Andrew Hamilton - PA House of Representatives". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
11. ^ Carter, Katherine D. (1980). "Isaac Norris II's Attack on Andrew Hamilton". The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 104 (2): 139–161\. ISSN 0031-4587. JSTOR 20091455.