In June, 1701, William Penn, in company with Isaac Norris, made a journey to the Susquehanna to meet with the Indians at Conestoga. On his return trip, he came to the Schuylkill and got lost among the woods on the hill near present-day Valley Forge. He did not know where he was until he reached Valley Creek. Getting a glimpse of the Schuylkill and the area to the south, he regained his way, and named the former hill Mount Misery and the latter Mount Joy.
On this occasion there is reason to believe he selected the tract which made up what was to be called the manor of Mount Joy, containing seven thousand eight hundred acres, located on the south/southwest side of the Schuylkill, adjoining the Welsh tract. This area he patented to his daughter, Letitia, on October 24, 1702, ten days before his last return to England. In this grant, Penn states as included, “all the powers of Court Baron, Court Leet and Frankplege.”