New Castle in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Landing Place of William Penn

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 24, 2017

1. Landing Place of William Penn Marker

Recently repainted

Inscription. Near here October 27, 1682, William Penn first stepped on American soil. He proceeded to the fort and performed Livery of Seisin. “He took the key, thereof,…we did deliver unto him 1 turf with a twig upon it, a porringer with river water and soil, in part of all.”

Erected 1932 by Historic Markers Commission. (Marker Number NC-25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 27, 1682.

Location. 39° 39.51′ N, 75° 33.753′ W. Marker is in New Castle, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker is at the intersection of Delaware Street and The Strand, on the right when traveling west on Delaware Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Castle DE 19720, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gunning Bedford House (a few steps from this marker); New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Packet Alley (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Delaware Street Wharf Reconstruction

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(about 400 feet away); Home of George Read (about 400 feet away); Crossing the Delaware (about 400 feet away); New Castle Harbor (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Castle.

Regarding Landing Place of William Penn. “Livery of Seisin is an archaic legal ceremony, once practiced in England and in other countries following English common law, to convey property. The common law in those jurisdictions once provided that a valid conveyance of a fee interest in land required the physical transfer by the transferor to the transferee, in the presence of witnesses, of a piece of the ground (often, in the literal sense of a hand-to-hand passing of an amount of soil), a twig, key, or other symbol.” — from Wikipedia

Also see . . . The Freeman. (Submitted on November 13, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota.)

Photographed By Roger Dean Meyer, October 8, 2006

2. Landing Place of William Penn Marker

Photographed By Adam Margolis, September 1, 2019

3. Landing Place of William Penn Marker

Photographed By Stephen J Duncan, September 10, 2011

4. Landing Place of William Penn Marker

Looking north along The Strand

Photographed By Stephen J Duncan, September 10, 2011

5. Landing Place of William Penn Marker

The property the marker sits upon

Photographed By Stephen J Duncan, September 10, 2011

6. Landing Place of William Penn Marker

Looking east, from the marker, toward the Delaware River

William Penn Statue at "Landing Place" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Frankie, October 31, 2010

7. William Penn Statue at "Landing Place"

Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2007. This page has been viewed 3,623 times since then and 107 times this year. Last updated on September 15, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on April 8, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on November 13, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. 3. submitted on February 2, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 10, 2011, by Stephen J Duncan of Wilmington, Delaware. 7. submitted on June 1, 2018. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.