Some Early American Ornithologists 



II. WILLIAM BARTRAM 

 By WITMER STONE 



ON the thirtieth of September, 1728, a thrifty Quaker farmer by the 

 name of John Bartram purchased a" tract of land on the banks of the 

 Schuylkill river at Kingsessing, near Gray's Ferry, now within the 

 limits of the city of Philadelphia, erected with his own hands a substantial 

 stone dwelling, and laid out a garden. 



Here he indulged his interest in botany, planting trees and shrubs from 

 all parts of the world, and in this attractive retreat, surrounded by birds and 

 flowers, he passed his years in the enjoyment of nature, while he corre- 

 sponded with botanical friends abroad, especially with Peter Collinson. Here 

 the famous Swedish naturalist Peter Kalm stopped on his travels and enjoyed 

 the hospitality of a host with kindred tastes. 



•And here, on February 9, 1739, was born a son, William Bartram, who 

 was destined not only to continue the care of the botanic garden but to give, 

 both directly and indirectly, a great impetus to the study of American birds, 

 in which he became deeply interested. 



Young Bartram's surroundings were well calculated to make a natu- 

 ralist of him, in addition to which his father took much interest in his educa- 

 tion, fostering his love of nature and encouraging his efforts at drawing. 



When the boy was sixteen years of age, the father writes of him^ " I 

 design to set Billy to draw all our turtles," and later he sent samples of his 

 drawings to his friends abroad. 



The question of an occupation for young Bartram troubled the father 

 not a little; he wished him to make his own living, but did not desire to 

 interfere with his drawing or his studies. Benjamin Franklin, who was a 

 friend of the family, offered to teach him printing, and other suggestions were 

 made, but William finally entered a business house, and, after a few years, 

 removed to Cape Fear, North Carolina, where his uncle had previously set- 

 tled, and here established himself as a trader. 



The elder Bartram had at various times made explorations in different 

 parts of the country in search of curious plants and seeds, which he sent 

 abroad along with garden and vegetable seeds. In 1765, through the efforts 

 of his English friends, he was appointed by King George III Botanist of the 

 Floridas, at a small salary. He at once prepared for an excursion into this 

 little -known territory, and took his son William with him. The latter 

 was delighted with the country and its strange plants and birds, and deter- 

 mined to revisit it if possible. Accordingly, in 1772, at the expense of Dr. 

 Fothergill, of England, he began a much more extended tour of Florida, 

 Carolina and Georgia, which lasted for some five years. His collections, 



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