This dataset was created from a volume listing quit rents due in Philadelphia County, 1 March 1688/9, held within the Penn Family Estates Collection at the American Philosophical Society Library. Quit rents (also quitrents or quit-rents) were fees collected by proprietors of the British colonies, in this case William Penn, to reinforce power and ownership over the land rented by farmers. They also represented a way for the English Crown to keep hold over the colonies. The dataset lists names of individuals and their status (first purchaser, renter, etc.), quantity of land in acres, dates of survey and dates of purchase, amount and form of payment of rent, and other details.

This dataset is a part of the Magazine of American Datasets (MEAD). To view more of the collection, visit https://repository.upenn.edu/exhibits/orgunit/mead.