Facts for Pennsylvania

Originally settled by Dutch and Swedes. Came under English control in the 1664 and was granted to William Penn by Charles II in 1681. The Dutch lay claim to Pennsylvania in 1609. Since water was sometimes impure, all members of the family drank milk and whiskey. Compared to New England, the soil was much more fertile and less rocky. This influence included tolerance in religion, and resulted in New Netherland's success as the commercial center of the eastern North American colonies. There were many brick buildings in the Middle Colony due to the amount of clay along the riverbanks. The Middle Colonies had a plentiful supply of fish, oysters and lobsters. In the woods, boar was the game of choice. Wild turkeys roamed everywhere and were ripe for the picking.Flax produced linen and deerskin was used to make breeches, shirts, jackets, and moccasins.