Manor of Gilberts facts for kids

The Manor of Gilberts was a special piece of land in early Pennsylvania. William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania, set this land aside for himself. It was located along the Schuylkill River, near the Perkiomen Creek. Penn officially created the Manor on October 8, 1683. He named it after his grandmother's family, the Gilberts.

What Was the Manor of Gilberts?

The Manor of Gilberts was one of the areas William Penn kept for himself. Penn was the "Proprietor" of Pennsylvania. This meant he owned and governed the land. He created the Manor by writing an official document called a warrant. This document assigned the land to himself.

How Big Was the Manor?

When it was first created, the Manor of Gilberts was very large. It covered about 60,000 acres (24,000 ha). This area stretched from below Pottstown down to what is now Norristown.

By 1687, the Manor had become much smaller. It was then about 10,000 acres (4,000 ha). This smaller area included all of today's Upper and Lower Providence Townships. It also included the towns of Trappe and Collegeville. Parts of Perkiomen, Skippack, and Worcester Townships were also part of it.

Who Owned the Land Over Time?

In 1699, a part of the Manor was given to a group called the Pennsylvania Land Company of London. This part was in what is now Lower Providence Township, east of the Perkiomen Creek. The company rented out this land to earn money.

By 1760, the British Parliament closed down the Pennsylvania Land Company. Its lands were then sold at an auction. Most of these lands were bought by the people who had been renting them. The land west of the Perkiomen Creek was rented directly from William Penn and his family.

The End of the Manor Name

The name "Manor of Gilberts" was no longer used after 1729. At that time, the area was organized into Providence Township. All the lands that were once part of the Manor were in Philadelphia County. Later, this part of Philadelphia County became Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.