Germantown 
Gardens and Gardeners 
FORMATIVE PERIOD 
1683— 1740 
In the year 1681, Captain William Markham wrote 
of Philadelphia's vicinity, — "It is a very fine country if it 
were not so overgrown with weeds." In this year, north of 
the "town" and covering the level grounds near "Three 
Mile Run," stood a great forest, while the hills northward 
and westward were sparsely wooded, showing many open 
stretches, wherein were numerous sparkling springs. German 
Towne did not exist, and so far as known, the only visitors 
to the heights were Indians, who by long usage had beaten 
a trail through " Laurel-bushes" in their passage from 
Shackamaxon to Wissahickon, to Schuylkill River, and to 
other more distant camps beyond. By this Indian trail came 
Francis Daniel Pastorius, who "laid out," and who founded 
the town, whose development, floriculturally we are about to 
consider. 
Francis Daniel Pastorius was born at Sommerhausen, 
Franconia, September 26, 1651. He was a lawyer, a teacher, 
one of the most learned men who came to the Province, and 
he came as agent for "the German Company," after 
known as the "Frankfort Company," to distinguish it from 
the "Crefelt Company," — whose lands adjoined. Pastorius 
set sail from Deal, England, June 10, 1683, in company with 
seven servants and landed at Philadelphia, August 20, 1683. 
The next day he called upon William Penn, and although 
warmly received, had difficulty in securing desirable tracts, 
for the "German Company" had been promised lands upon 
a navigable stream, and all grounds upon Delaware River 
