Talk:Edmund Plowden (colonial governor)

good information for a biographical article

I have been asked to provide some guidance on good information to put into a biographical article. First it is good to become familiar with WP:BLP, which is a guideline for writing biographies. I have more to say but I have to leave now, I'll list more suggestions a little later. H1nkles (talk) _{citius altius fortius} 18:35, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

What is this about? How many colonial governors are still living? :-) Dougweller (talk) 19:06, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

Ah, the appropriate guideline is not our BLP one so much as Wikipedia:Manual of Style (biographies). Dougweller (talk) 19:11, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

Yes that was my mistake, I forgot the minor detail that he is dead. My fault on that one. Dougweller has given the correct MOS entry that should be followed. Now on to other suggestions:

1. Make sure the sources are credible. Peer reviewed university papers are the best. I know many people rely heavily on journals published by the subject of the article. Depending on the situation this can violate WP:PSTS, which is basically an injunction against primary source material. This can be a bit counterintuitive but for encyclopedia articles primary sources are viewed as open to potential bias. Secondary and tertiary sources review the primary sources and hopefully strip away any bias, leaving facts and information. Ironically it is primary sources that are required for Masters level research but for an encyclopedia, use of primary documents are discouraged. Not that it cannot be used and if this is the only information available then please write the article. But if you have aspirations of having it reviewed and attaining good article status or higher, then the primary source issue would need to be addressed.
2. The article must conform to the sources. Editors sometimes look to add detail unsupported by the sources. It is always best to leave sections out that do not have references.
3. Please take a look at Æthelwig, which is a good article. It gives some good information about the subject, discusses his early life, then goes into the details for which he is best known, then something about his legacy. It's a fairly simple format.
4. The sourcing in this article is also formatted correctly and consistently.

I hope this gives you some food for thought and input to help get you started. I wish you luck and please don't hesitate to give me a poke if you want me to review it. H1nkles (talk) _{citius altius fortius} 21:49, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

Article text

The Following is uncorrected ocr of The Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography", Vol.VII. 1883. (PD) I will correct this and make nice at a sister site, if someone requests it. The source is here cygnis insignis

Extended content

SIR EDMUND PLOWDEN'S PATENT FOR NEW ALBION. INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY PROFESSOR G. B. KEEN. The article entitled " An Examination of Beauchamp Plantagenet's Description of the Province of New Albion," written by the late John Penington, of Philadelphia, in 1840, and published in the Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, vol. iv. pt. i. pp. 133 et seq., is not precisely the dernier mot upon the subject which the tone of the author would indicate that he regarded it. The paper was very justly criticized at that time by a reviewer in the Gentleman's Magazine (August, 1840), and afterwards by other students of history, among the latest of these being a contributor to the fifth volume of the PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, who certainly does not show himself a partisan of the proprietor of New Albion, or of his Catholic friends and relatives who most probably united with him in the endeavor to settle his Province. Since the appearance of the articles of Mr. Neill, the editor has discovered the following interesting mention of Sir Edmund Plowden in the second report of Johan Printz, Governor of New Sweden, to the Swedish West India Company, dated Christina, June 20, 1644, printed at the end of Prof. C.T. Odhner's Kolonien NyaSverigesGrundldggning (Stockholm, 1876) : " In my former communications concerning the English knight I have mentioned how last year, in Virginia, he desired to sail with his people, sixteen in number, in a barque, from Heckemak [Accomack] to Kikatbans [or Kecoughtan, the present Hampton] ; and when they came to the Bay of Virginia, the captain (who had previously conspired with the knight's people to kill him) directed his course not to Kikethari, but to Cape Henry, passing which, they came to an isle in the high sea called Smith's Island, when they took counsel in what way they should put him to death, and thought it best not to slay him with their hands, but to set him, without food, clothes, or arms, on the above-named island, which was inhabited by no man or other animal save wolves and bears ; and this they did. Never- theless, two young noble retainers, who had been brought up by the knight, and who knew nothing of that plot, when they beheld this evil fortune of their lord, leaped from the barque into the ocean, swam ashore, and remained with their master. The fourth day following, an English sloop sailed by Smith's Island, coming so 'close that the young men were [image missing] "The Order, Medall, and Riban of the Albion Knights, ofj.the Conversion of 23 Kings, their support." (Reproduced from the verso of the title-page of Plantagenet's New Albion.) Plowden 9 s Patent for New Albion. 51 able to hail her, when the knight was taken aboard (half dead, and as black as the ground) and conveyed to Hackemak, where he recovered. The knight's people, however, arrived' with the barque May 6, 1643, at our Fort Elfsborg, and asked after ships to^ Old England. Hereupon I demanded their pass, and- inquired from whence they came ; and as soon as I perceived that they were not on a proper errand, I took them with me (though with their consent) to Christina, to bargain about flour and other provisions, and questioned them until a maid-servant (who had been the knight's washer- woman) confessed the truth and betrayed them. I at once caused an inventory to he taken of their goods, in their pre- sence, and held the people prisoners, until the very English sloop which had rescued the knight arrived with a letter from him concerning the matter, addressed not alone to me, but to all the governors and commandants of the whole coast of Florida. Thereupon I surrendered to him the people, barque, and goods (in precise accordance with the inventory), and he paid me 425 riksdaler for my expenses. The chief of these traitors the knight has had executed. He himself is still in Virginia, and (as he constantly professes) expects vessels and people from Ireland and England. To all ships and barques that come from thence he grants free commis- sion to trade here in the river with the savages ; but I have not yet permitted any of them to pass, nor shall I do so until I receive order and command to that effect from my most gracious queen, her Royal Mnjesty of Sweden." The courtesy of a London correspondent has supplied the succeeding extracts from the will of Sir Edmund Plowden, preserved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury : "This nine and twentyth day of July, one Thousand Six hundred fifty-five, I, S r Edmund Plowden of Wansted in the county of Southton Knight, Lord, Earle Palatine, Governor, and Captain Generall of the Province of New Albion in America, and a peere of the kingdorne of Ireland." To be buried in Ledbury Church with "brasse plates of my eighteene children had affixed to the said monument at thirty or fourty powndes charges, together with my perfect pedigree as is drawne at my house." 40 apiece to 11 parishes wherein lands. Son Francis's "sinister & undue practises," "damnifyed & hindered by him these eighteene years," " his mother a mu- table woman by him perverted." Daughter Winifred. Son Thomas. " And whereas I am seized of the province and County Palatine of New Albion as of free principality, & held of the Crowne of Ireland of winch I am a Peere, which Honor and title and province as Arundell, and many other Earledomes, and Baronies is assignable and saleable with the province and County Palatine as a locall Earledorne .... all that my province and County Palatine and Peerage as a Peere of Ireland with all Royalties, and Regalities Tribute Rents Cus- toms Profits Reversions and Services .... unto Thomas my sonne I doe order & will that my sonne Thomas Plowden & after his decease his eldest heire male & if he be under age then his guardian with all speed after my decease doe imploy by consentof S r William Mason of Grays Inne KJ^ other- wise William Mason Esquire whom I make a Trustee for this my plantation all the cleere rents & pfits of my Lands under- woods tythes debts stocks & moneys for full ten years (ex- cepted what is bequeathed aforesaid) for the planting fortify- ing peopling and stocking of my province of New Albion, and to summon & enforce according to Covenants in Inden- tures and subscriptions all my undertakers to transplant thither & there to settle their number of men with such of my estate yearely can transplant, namely Lord Monson fifty, Lord Sherrard a hundred S r Thomas Danby a hundred, Captaine Batts his heire a hundred, Mr. Eltonhead a Master in Chancery fifty, his eldest bro r Eltonhead fifty, Mr. Bowles late Clerke of the Crowne fourty, Captain Cley borne in Vir- ginia fifty, Viscount Muskery fifty, & many others in Eng- land Virginia & New England subscribed & by direction in my manuscript bookes since I resided six [years ?] there, & of policie & government there & of the best seates, profits, mines, rich trade of furrs, and wares, and fruites, wine, worme silke & grasse silke, fish, & beasts there, rice, and floatable grounds for rice, flax, maples, hempe,barly,and corne two crops yearely. To build churches & schooles there, & to indeavour to convert the Indians there to Christianity & to settle there my family kindred & posterity." Signed Albion. , Proved 27 July, 1659, in the P. C. C. % The same person has furnished these extracts from the will of Sir Edmund Plowden's son, Thomas Plowden, also to be found at Somerset House : " This sixteenth day of May in the ninth and tenth year of our lord King William .... [1698] Thomas Plowden of Lasham in the County of Southton Gent .... unto all my children sons & daughters ten shillings a piece of lawfull English money & to every of my Grandchildren ten shillings apiece of like money Item I do give & bequeath unto my son Francis Plowden the Letters Patten t & Title with all advantages & profitts thereunto belonging. And as it was granted by our late Sovereign Lord King Charles the first over England under the great Seal of England unto my ffather Sir Edmund Plowden of Wansted in "the County of Southton now deceased The province and County palatine of new Albion in America Or in North Virginia & America which pattent is now in the custody of my son in law Andrew Wall of Ludshott in the said County of Southton who has these severall years wrongfully detained it to my great Loss & hinderance and all the" rest and residue of my goods chatties & personal! Estate after my debts and Lega- cies be paid & funerall discharged I give & devise unto my wife Thomazine Plowden of Lasham." Pr. in P. C. C. 10 Sept. 1698. A copy of the very rare pamphlet circulated by Charles Varlo in America, in 1784, has been kindly loaned by the owner of it, Mr. Charles H. Kalb- fleisch, of New York City, with permission to reprint the title and the only portion of it not contained in Ebenezer Hazard's Historical Collections (vol. i. pp. 160 et seq.), and the " parergon" to Mr. Peniugton's essay, above referred to. These are as follows : The Finest Part of America. To be Sold, or Lett, From Eight Hundred to Four Thou- sand Acres, in a Farm, All that Entire Estate, called Long Island, in New Albion, Lying near New York: Be- longing to the Earl Palatine of Albion, Granted To His Predecessor, Earl Palatine of Albion, By King Charles the First. *#* The Situation of Long Island is well known, therefore needs no Description here, New Albion is a Part of the Continent of Terra Firma, de scribed in the Charter, to begin at Cape May ; from thence Westward 120 Miles running by the River Delaware, closely following its Course by the North Latitude, to a certain Rivulet there, arising from a Spring of Lord Baltimore's, in Mary- land. To the South from thence, taking its Course into a Square, bending to the North by a Right Line 120 Miles. From thence also into a Square inclining to the East in a right Line 120 Miles to the River and Port of Readier Cod, and descends to a Savannah or Meadow, turning and in- cluding the Top of Sandy Hook ; from thence along^ the Shore to Cape May, where it began forming a Square of 120 Miles of good Land. Long Island is mostly improved and fit for a Course of Husbandry. N. B. Great Encouragement be given to improving Tenants, by letting the Lands very cheap, on Leases of Lives, renewal for ever. 5r" Letters (Post paid) signed with real names, directed for F. P. at Mr. ReynellV Printing-Office, No. 21, Piccadilly, near the Hay-Market, will be answered, and the Writer directed where he may be treated with, relative to the Conditions of Sale, Charter, Title Deeds, a Map, with the Farms allotted thereon, &c. &c. Just Published, and may be had as above, (Price One Shilling) A True Copy of the Above Charter, With the Conditions of Letting, or Selling the Land, And other Articles relating thereto. Conditions for Letting or Selling, Lord Earl Palatine of Albion's Estate, New Albion, in America. I. Wood or unimproved land, which lies above ten miles from any sea-port or navigable river, will be sold at 51. 100 acres, or let on a lease of lives renewable for ever, at 21. 10s. 100 acres, paying a fine at the fall of a life. II. Unimproved or wood land, which lies less than ten, or more than five miles from a sea-port or navigable river, will be sold at 101. 100 acres, or let at 51. 100 acres, on leases for lives renewable for ever, to pay a fine at the fall of a line. III. Unimproved wood land, which lies within five miles from any sea-port or navigable river, will be sold at 151. 100 acres, or let at 71. 10s. 100 acres, on a lease of lives renewable for ever, paying a fine at the fall of a life. IY. Any cleared or improved land will be sold or let cheap, in proportion to its value. !N". B. A bargain may be made, and leases executed in England, for any lot or quantity of land that may be fixed upon, and should the said lot fixed, be engaged by any prior lease, or not liked by the tenant when he arrives in America, and views the premisses, he shall then have any other part of ground at the same rent or quality he pleases, that is not prior engaged. In 1881 Mr. G. D. Scull spoke, in his Evelyns in America (pp. 361 et seq.), of having met with a volume in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, containing a copy of the charter of New Albion in the original Latin, with written opinions of certain " able and learned lawyers/' consulted by Edward Bysshe, " Garter Principal King of Arms of Englishmen," favorable to the validity both of it and of the claim to the Irish peerage, made by Sir Edmund Plowden, all of these being recorded by Bysshe, Jan. 23. 1648-9, '* in the office of arms, there to remain in perpetual memory." Already, however, in 1880, it had occurred to Mr. Brinton Coxe, of Philadelphia, to have a search instituted in the proper office at Dublin for the same letters patent, said by Yarlo to be on record in that city, and almost by return mail had been received the certificated copy of the paper, which we take satisfaction in reproducing literatim in the MAGAZINE. The prime importance of the document all who have any knowledge of the topic will appre- ciate. For the information of persons not familiar with the language, or at least with the abbreviated style of the manuscript, it may be stated that the English translation of this charter, printed in Charles Varlo's pamphlet before mentioned, and reprinted in Hazard's Collections, is sufficiently accurate for all purposes of historical inquiry. CERTIFIED COPY OF PORTION OF A. RECORD IN THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE OF IRELAND, ENTITLED "PATENT ROLL," CHANCERY, 10 CHARLES I. P? I. [the document is in a comment out, available in edit mode] Plowden's Patent for New Albion. 65 Provincie incolis & inhabitant^ in Portubus crecis aut littor* p 9 dict' & p 9 sertim in boscis rbm crescentibs aliqualit r fiend* Et si quis humoi fecerit dampn' aut iniuriam gravis indig- nacois nre hered' et success' nro> debiteq' legum castigacois piculum penamq' subeat VOLUMUS insup statuim' ac ordinam' ac p p 9 sent' p nobis hered' & success' nris concedim' p 9 fat' Eddo Plowden milit' hered' & assign' suis qd p 9 fat' Edmundus hered' & assign' sui de tempore in tempus imppm heant & gaudeant oia & singula subsidia custum' & imposicbn' in por- tubus naviii stationibs ab locis p 9 dict' infra Provinciam p 9 dict' solubiles sive emergent' p mercundinis & rebus rbm onerand' ac exonerand' Et ulterius volum' ac p p 9 sent' p nobis hered' & success' nris convenim' & concedim' ad & cum p'fat' Eddo Plowden milit' hered' & assign' suis qd nos hered' & success' nri nullo unquam tempore imposter' aliquam imposicoem cus- tum' & al' taxacoem quamcunq' imponem' & imponi faciem' aut causabim' in & sup incolas aut inhabitantes Provincie p 9 dict' aut aliqua terr' tent' bona seu catalP in & infra Pro- vinciam p 9 dict' aut in & sup aliqua bona seu merchandizas infra Provinciam p 9 dict' aut infra port' aut Naviii station' dee Provincie onerand' aut exonerand' Et hanc declaracbem & concession' nram in oibus Cur' & coram quibuscunq' judi- cibs nris hered' & success' nroy p sufficient' & Htftma solucbe liberacoe & acquietam' & de tempore in tempus recipi & allo- cari volumus ac p nobis hered' & success' nris iubem' et mandam' p 9 cipientes oibus & singul' officiar' & ministr' nris hered' & success' nroy sub gravi nra indignacoe iniungentes ne quid in contrariu p 9 miss' ullo unquam tempore attemptare audeant aut eisd' ullo modo contravenient' sed p 9 fat' Eddo Plowden militi lohi Lawrence mil' et Barronett' Bowyer Worsley milit' Carolo Barret aro Rogero Packe Willo Inwood lohi Trusley Thome Ribread & Georgio Noble ac p'fat' novi Albion incolis & mercator' p 9 dict' eoy servis ministris facto- rib3 et assign' in plenissimo huius Charte nre usu & fruitione omn' tempore auxilient r & assistent put decet Et si forte im- poster' contigerit dubitacoes aut questiones circa verum sen- sum & intellect' alicuius verbi claus' vel sententie in hac p 9 senti chart a nra content' generari earn semp & in oibs inter- VOL. vi L 5 66 Plowderfs Patent for New Albion. pretacoem adhiberi et in quibuscunq' Cur' nris obtinere volum' p'cipim' & mandam' que p'fat' Eddo Plowden milit' & assign' suis sociisq' suis p'nominatis aliisq' novi Albion incolis be- nignior' utillior' & favorabilior' esse iudicabit r PROVISO semp qd nulla fiat interpretaeio p qra sacro Sancta dei & vera xpi- ana religio aut ligeancia nobis hered' & success' nris debita iminucbem p 9 iudiciu aiit dispend' in aliquo patiant r Eo quod expressa mentio de vero valore annuo aut de certitudine p 9 miss' vel eoy alicuius aut de a? don' sive concession' p nos seu p aliquem pgenit' seu p'decess' nroi/. p'fat' Edmondo Plow- den milit' ante hac temper a fact' in p'sentibs minime fact' existit aut aliquo statuto actu aut ordinacon' pvisione pcla- macoe sive restriccoe antehac fact' habit' edit' ordinat' sive pvis' aut aliqua re causa vel mater' quacunq' in contrar' inde in aliquo non obstant' IN cuius rei testimoniu has Iras nras fieri fecim' patent' TESTE p'fat' . Deputat' nro general' Begni nri hibnie apud Dublin vicesimo primo die lunii anno regni nri decimo p If s de privat' Sigillo. I certify that the foregoing is a true and authentic copy made purs* to the statute 30 & 31 Vic. ch. 70. W. M. HENNESSY, Certifying Officer under the act 39 $ 40 Vic. cap. 58. 18th June, 1881. Jeremiah Langhorne. (57