Old City in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Hannah Callowhill Penn

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 14, 2010

1. Hannah Callowhill Penn Marker

Inscription. Born in 1671, she married William Penn, 1696. They lived at Pennsbury, and in the Slate Roof House here, 1699–1701. During his final illness, 1712–18, and until her death, 1726, she was Pennsylvania’s acting proprietor. She was the only woman to control a British proprietary colony for so long.

Erected 2000 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Women. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1671.

Location. 39° 56.844′ N, 75° 8.652′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Old City. Marker is on South 2nd Street south of Chestnut Street, on the left when traveling south. It is at the site of the Slate Roof House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 129 Sansom Walk, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Slate Roof House (here, next to this marker); Thomas Bond House (a few steps from this marker); Welcome Park (a few steps from this marker); The names of the streets… (a few steps from this marker); The City Tavern

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); William Penn (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named City Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); John Drinker House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . .
1. Hannah Callowhill Penn - Wikipedia entry. “Hannah Callowhill Penn (11 February 1671 – 20 December 1726) was the second wife of Pennsylvania founder William Penn; she effectively administered the Province of Pennsylvania for six years after her husband suffered a series of strokes and then for another eight years after her husband’s death. She served as acting proprietor from 1712 until her death in 1726.

Miss Callowhill was born in Bristol, England, the daughter of Thomas Callowhill, a merchant there. A Quaker, she married William Penn March 5, 1696 when she was 24 and he was 52. She was pregnant with their first of eight children when the couple embarked from England for their three-month voyage to America in 1699. She lived in great style, both in Philadelphia and in Pennsbury Manor, a beautiful estate located in Bucks County, on the Delaware River. When William Penn died at

Marker and the Thomas Bond House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 14, 2010

2. Marker and the Thomas Bond House

Welcome Park, the plaza on the right, is where the Slate Roof House stood.

age 73 on July 30, 1718 his will gave full control of the colony and his fortune to Hannah Penn. William Penn’s oldest son by his first marriage, William Penn, Jr., sought to set aside his father’s will to obtain control of the colony. His suit was unsuccessful and Hannah Penn remained in charge until she died from a stroke at age 55. Her deputy in Pennsylvania from 1718 till 1727 was Sir William Keith.” (Submitted on June 27, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

2. Hannah Callowhill Penn - Behind the Marker. ExplorePAHistory.com (Submitted on July 21, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

3. Hannah Callowhill Penn at FindAGrave.com. (Submitted on July 21, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Hannah Callowhill Penn (1671–1726) image. Click for full size.

Wikimedia Commons Collection

3. Hannah Callowhill Penn (1671–1726)

Wife of William Penn; acting proprietor of the Pennsylvania Colony, 1712–1726.

“The Slate Roof House Was Here” image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 14, 2010

4. “The Slate Roof House Was Here”

Welcome Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 14, 2010

5. Welcome Park

The model of the Slate Roof House is on the stone pedestal on the left. 2nd Street is in the distance. The statue of William Penn is on the white pedestal in the center of the park, obscured by the tree.

Penn's Residence in Second Street, Below Chestnut Street image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

6. Penn's Residence in Second Street, Below Chestnut Street

From The Great American Book of Biography, 1896.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,286 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 27, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 6. submitted on December 16, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.