Born in 1644 and died in 1718, William Penn’s lifetime spanned major historic events in Europe and America. The unsettled times in which he lived shaped his beliefs and inspired his vision for a new kind of colony in America.
In the summer of 1682, William Penn’s cousin, William Markham purchased the area which became Pennsbury Manor. He chose well. Located on a bend on the Delaware River, Pennsbury Manor was Penn’s beloved country retreat.
William Penn loved his beautiful home but was only able to live here for a few years. Originally built in 1683, his home fell into neglect and ruin. Renewed interest in the importance of William Penn to American history led to its reconstruction in the 1930s.
William Penn welcomed many visitors to Pennsbury. Penn needed settlers with many different skills to help his new colony succeed. Thousands came to Pennsylvania, which quickly became America’s most diverse colony.