History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 120

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 120
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 120

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In each preparative meeting there are nsually two or more Friends of each sex appointed as overseers of the flock.

There are also distinct meetings tor the care and help of the ministry, composed of ministers and elders, the latter being prudent and solid members, chosen specially to watch over the ministers for their good, and to admonish or advise them for their help. In these meetings the men and women meet to- gether; they are called meetings for ministers and elders, and are divided into preparative, quarterly and yearly.".

HISTORY OF THEIR RELIGIOUS MEETING.

The earliest history here is only traditional, there being none living who were here at the first. Hosea Doudna says that they first held meetings for worship at the house of Robert Vernon. This was probably in 1803 and the early part of 1804, after which their meetings were held at the several buildings elsewhere de- scribed, situate on the present meeting property in section num- ber nine. The same person is our anthority for the fact that a meeting was established bere with privilege to hold a prepara- live meeting in the spring of 1805, either just before his father's family came (in the Fourth month of that year) or immediately after. This meeting was organized under authority of and as a constituent branch of Concord monthly meeting, in Colerain township. As pertinent history we here introduce the follow- ing from the records, to-wit :

" At Stillwater monthly meeting, first opened and held the 29th day of the Third Month, 1808, agreeable to directions, the following extract was produced and read, viz : 'At Short creek quarterly meeting held the 12th of the Third Month, 1808, the

committee under appointment respecting the proposal for a di- vision of Concord monthly meeting report they have attended thereto, and after weighing the case according to the ability fur- nished, give it as their judgement that it may be right that the divisian take place agreeable to their request ;' which on solid consideration and after being communicated to the women's meeting, is unitedly agreed to in the following manner, viz : A monthly meeting composed of Concord particular (preparative) meeting to be held at Concord the fifth day after the third seventh day in the month. A monthly meeting composed of Plainfield and Flushing preparative meetings, to be denominated Plainfield Monthly Meeting, and to be held alternately at each of those places on the fourth seventh day in the month : at Plainfield in the odd months and at Finshing in the even months.

" A monthly meeting at Stillwater, to be called by that name, and composed of that preparative meeting to be held the third day after Plainfield monthly meeting; and that the preparative meeting of ministers and elders be held the day preceding each. * * * * These arrangements to take place *

* * in the present month. The following Friends are appointed to at- tend the opening of the several monthly meetings and to report to our next quarter, viz. : Nathan Updegraff, Malachi Jully, Wil- liam Wood. Asa Cadwallader, Samuel James, Extracted from the minutes by "JOSEPHI GIBBONS, Clerk."

" The following Friends are appointed by the women's meet- ing to attend the opening of the monthly meetings, viz., Leana Harris, Sarah Hurford, Jane Cadwallader."

George Starbuck was clerk for the day at this meeting. Dur- · ing the session Samuel Edgerton, Stephen Hodgin, Isaac Strahl, and William Patten were appointed a committee to propose names for regular clerks, and at next meeting, Fourth month, 26th, 1808, recommended that "James Edgerton be appointed clerk and George Starbuck assistant," with which the meeting conenrred, and "they accordingly appointed to serve the ensuing year."

In the regular routine transactions we find nothing to remark until the Sixth month, when James Edgerton and Sarah Mill- house were appointed elders-the first by this meeting.

27th of 9th mno., 1808 .- Benjamin Patterson was the first over- seer appointed. Elizabeth Patterson and Ruth Boswell are the only members alluded to as resident ministers prior to 1815, when Hugh Judge was introduced as one from Maryland. Geo. Starbuck was the first treasurer 31st of First month, 1809.

30th of 5th mo., 1809 .- Isaac Clendennon and Robert Plum- mer were appointed, the former to record the minutes and the latter births and deaths. These were the first records the meet- ing had. The minutes as recorded show the release of the va- rious officers in the service of the meeting, and the succession properly kept up hy the appointment of others at proper sea- sons to fill the places.

The following names, in addition to those already mentioned, appear as having been freely used in transacting the affairs of the church the first year, viz .:

Joseph Middleton, William Hodgin, Daniel Ballenger, Henry Williams, Joseph Arnold, Knowis Dondna, John Doudna, Jehu Middleton, Joseph Cox, Moses Davies, Camm Thomas, William Bundy, Jr., Robert Plummer, Henry Sidwell, Micajah Bailey, William Bailey, Isaac Hall, Sr., Joseph Patterson and William Patterson-to which may be added, as new names in the service the next year (1809), viz .: Michael King, David Smith, Jesse White, Jethro Starbuck and Joseph Patterson, Jr., making a goodly number of active members far one monthly meeting.

The first marriages, under sanction of this monthly meeting, were two the same day: Stephen Bailey and Tabitha Patterson, and Joseph Dodd and Ann Hall.

Next fallowing we give the proceedings as sanctioned by Friends among its members :

The first marriage certificate on the records (which is in the usual form) is here introduced, as it will interest many not ae- quainted with the society, and it may also be interesting to some to explain the antecedent proceedings, which are shown by the following from the monthly meeting's records of minutes, viz : 28th of 7th mno., 1808.

Stephen Baily and Tabitha Patterson appeared in this meet- ing and declared their intentions of marriage with each other. Consent of surviving parents being had, therefore William Bailey and Cam. Thomas are appointed to inquire into his (the young man's) "cleanness" (of like engagements with others) and report to onr next meeting. The same care is extended by the women's meeting, as to the young woman's clearness of other marriage engagements.

Then again the 30th day of 8th month .- "The friends ap-

NOTE,-The reader who may desire further information on these subjects is referred to tract No. 82, published by the Tract Association of Friends, Philadelphia; address, 84 Mul berry street. It consists of 20 pages, and is "a concise account of the Religious Society of Friends, embracing a sketch of their Christian doctrines and practices."

345

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

pointed to inquire into Stephen Bailey's clearness in respect to marriage, report they find nothing to obstruct his proceeding. "They are therefore left at liberty to accomplish the same agree- ably to discipline, and William Bailey and William Patten are appointed to attend the same marriage, and produce the certifi- eate to next meeting for recording." Then at a subsequent mid- week meeting (never ou First day), the marriage takes place, as is shown by the certificate, which is here given :

"Whereas, Stephen Baily, of the State of Ohio, in the county of Belmont, son of Edmond Baily and Elizabeth, his wife, de- ceased, and Tabitha Patterson, danghter of William Patterson, of the county and state aforesaid, and Elizabeth, his wife, having declared their intentions of marriage with each other before a monthly meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, held at Stillwater, according to the good order used among them, and having consent of surviving parents, their said proposal of mar- riage was allowed of by said meeting. Now these are to certify whom it may concern, that for the full accomplishment of their said intentions this Fourteenth day of the ninth month, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and eight, they. the said Stephen Baily and Tabitha Patterson, appeared in a public meeting of the said people, held at Stillwater, aforesaid and the said Stephen Bailey, taking the said Tabitha Patterson by the hand, did openly declare that he took her, the said Ta- bitha Patterson, to be his wife, promising, with Divine assist- ance, to be unto her a loving and faithful husband until death should separate them ; and then in the same assembly, the said Tabitha Patterson did in like manner declare that she took him, the said Stephen Bailey, to be her husband, promising, with Di- vine assistance, to be unto him a loving and faithful wife until death should separate them; and moreover, they, the said Stephen Baily and Tabitha Patterson, (she according to the cus- tom of marriage assuming the name of her husband) did, as a further confirmation thereof, then and there to these presents, set their hands.

"STEPHEN BAILEY, "TABITHA BAILEY."

" And we whose names are also hereunto subscribed, being present at the solemnization of said marriage * * * have, as witnesses thereto, set our hands the day and year above writ- ten. Miriam Hunnient, William Bailey, Lucy Bailey. Mary Bailey, Rebecca Bailey, Silas Patterson, Benjamin Patterson, Mary Patterson, William Patterson, Elizabeth Paterson, Mica- jah Bailey."

Doubtless there were numerous other signers, but these were legally sufficient and the recorder's page being filled, others were omitted.

" The Friends appointed to attend the marriage of Stephen Bailey and Tabith A. Patterson report they attended and the marriage was orderly, accomplished and have produced the cer- tificate for recording."

This minute made at the next monthly meeting, 27th of . the Ninth month, concluded its care in the case; afterwards the recorder copies the marriage certificate in the appropriate book of records and the original is returned to the married parties.

In the first ten years after its organization the records of the monthly meeting show fifty-six marriages, and up to the end of the year 1821, thirteen years, the mimber was increased to eighty- seven, which fills the first volume of records, all within easy reach of this writer at present.

THE OUTGROWTH.

At the request of Friends living several miles southeastward, an indulged meeting was granted, as shown by the minutes made in Sixth month, 1808, viz. : " The committee appointed the month previous to sit with Friends down Captina creek, ro- port they attended to the service and are free their regnest be granted, which the meeting unites with the privilege to continue six months

** and George Starbuck, Joseph Arnold, William Patton, Daniel Balenger, William Hodgin and Joseph Middleton are appointed to attend with them as way may open, and report their satisfaction to a future meeting." In the Twelfth month, 1808, this committee report they have attended divers times to their satisfaction ; and the Friends renewing their re- quest for a continuance, this meeting unites therewith and ap- appoints James Vernon, William Bundy, John Middleton, Camm Thomas, Isaac Strahl, Micajah Bailey, Demsey Boswell and Ben - jamin Patterson, to sit with them as wny may open and report of their care and the state of things amongst them once in three months. Similar minutes appear on the records periodically

44-B. & J. Cos.

until this became an established meeting (Captina preparative) in 1816. Also, in the Second Month, 1809, is the the following minutes: "Friends living down Leatherwood creek request they may be indulged with the privilege of holding meetings for worship among themselves." Whereupon a committee was ap- pointed "to sit with Friends there and feel after the propriety of granting their request, and report of their care to next meeting." This committee reported favorably in the Third month for the meeting under the care of a committee, and the meeting united with the report granting the request, and appointed " Stephen Hodgin, John Doudna, Joseph Arnold, William Patten, Har- mon Davies, Robert Plummer, Richard Edgerton and Camm Thomas, to sit with them at their meetings as often as they can with convenience and report of their care, and the sense they have of their meeting being kept up, to the reputation of truth, once in three months."

In the Sixth month, this committee reported "they had at- tended to a good degree of satisfaction, and the meeting was con - tinued under care of the same friends." The same care shows on the minutes from time to time until the establishment of the meeting as "Richland preparative" was allowed by the monthly meeting in 1816.

The history of Ridge meeting is similar. In the same inan- ner and care an indulged meeting was allowed at or near Ben- jamin Patterson's by this monthly meeting in the Eleventh Month, 1811, and nurtured till its establishment as Ridge Pre- parative in Ninth month, 1815.

Besides these three offshoots from Stillwater meeting there were very many members emigrated to other parts, some to Miami, some to Alum creek in Delaware county, and very many to Indiana in its early history. The meeting records of its minutes from 1817 to 1826, being lost, makes a hiatus, which the writer is unable to fill. Within this time the monthly meet- ing was divided, perhaps about 1820, or near that time, and Somerset monthly meeting set up, and as the following show Stillwater quarterly meeting established, viz .:

At Stillwater quarterly meeting, opened and held the 28th of Eleventh month, 1821, agreeable to the subjoined extract : "The report from Short creek quarterly meeting contains a proposi- tion that a division of that meeting take place in the following manner, to wit: Concord, Short creek, Smithfield and Flushing monthly meetings constitute Short creek quarterly meeting; and that Plainfield, Stillwater, Alum creek and Somerset month- ly meetings constitute another quarter, to be held at Stillwater quarterly meeting, and held the fourth day, week following Short creek quarter, which, obtaining the concurrence of the meeting, is directed to be opened at the time proposed in the Eleventh month next, under the care of John Hains, Thomas Farquhar, Jr., William Ballinger, Elisha Bates, Isaac Parker, William Wood, Thomas Rech and William Heald.

" Extract from the minutes of Ohio yearly meeting, held by adjournment from the 3d day of Ninth month to the 7th of the same, inclusive, 1821.

"BENJAMIN W. LADD, Clerk."

For many years all the meetings at Stillwater were large, up to the time of the Hicksite separation notably so. This defec- tion from the established doctrines of the society, as recognized for nearly two centuries, and which was preached by Elias Hicks for a number of years previous in the eastern states, culminated in 1827 east of the Alleghanies, causing separation in several yearly meetings in that year, and, being extended to Ohio, disrupted the society here the next year, 1828.

Friends, sound in the faith of their forefathers in Ohio, were in many monthly meetings, enabled, through much tribulation and suffering, to maintain the integrity of their meetings.

: As leading members of this monthly meeting who joined with the separatists in holding and giving encouragement to meet ing's held not in the order of the society's discipline, they were dis- owned in regular way before the organized rupture took place, which occurred here at the Eighth month quarterly meeting in 1828. There was no disturbance in the preceeding monthly meeting.

They, the Hicksites, were sufficiently numerous, however, to keep np a meeting at Stillwater for many years, and persistent ly occupied one end of the building, whilst Friends sat in the other, on public meeting days, very much to the discomfort and annoyance of Friends meetings.

In course of a few years after the separation, some emigra- tion of members commenced to Morgan county, in this state, and gradually increased until ultimately they became sufficient . ly numerous there to establish a quarterly meeting there, which

346

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

was accomplished in 1854 by the division of Stillwater quarter, and the new quarterly meeting of Pennsville set up. And again out of these two quarterly meetings mainly has grown an- other quarterly meeting in lowa, viz: Hickory Grove, now a constituent member of Ohio yearly meeting, at Stillwater.

THEY WERE TEMPERATE.

"As early as 1808. a minute reads, 'Received an extract from the minutes of our last quarterly meeting impressing on Friends to attend to the advice handed down in the extracts (from the yearly meeting's minutes) in regard to spiritnous liquors. Therefore this meeting appoints, ( here follows the names of a large committee to extend a care in the case where they may find it needful, and report to our meeting in the 8th mo. next.)

1809. 8th mo. 29th .- "This committee report they have met several times and conferred on the subject, and find no com- plaint in regard thereto amongst us."

1809. 12th mo. 26 .- With a large quarterly meeting's commit- tee in attendance on this subject, a large committee was ap- pointed to extend care towards our members, and report their care and how they find matters amongst us, to this meeting in the 8th month next.

1810. 8th mo. 28 .- This committee, they have extended care on the subject, and though all our members are not clear of the too common use thereof, yet it is thought our testimony is gain- ing ground.

1810. 12th mo. 25th .- Another large quarterly meeting's committee in attendance on the same subject, and a large com- mittee appointed "to have a care and oversight among our mem- bers, and to extend labor where necessary, and report," &c.

1811. 8th mo. 27th-Report care and duplicate last year's re- port .- These are probably sufficient quotations, to show the care exercised by this people over their members in reference to this subject. In more modern time the discipline prohibits mem- bers of the society from the mannfacture, sale or unnecessary use of spirituous liquors, and it is a rare case to find a member of the society who indulges to any extent the nse thereof as a bev- erage. It may safely be remarked, now seventy years after this neighborhood was begun to be occupied by Friends, that the impress of their temperate habits was deeply made on the community, so forcibly indeed, that although many, not of them, are now located among and around them still that impress dis- tinguishes theirs in a marked degree from surrounding commu- nities. Ou the subject of education, too, in the early history, they were in advance of their surrounding cotemporaries, nor do they lag now, but strive to keep abreast with the age-but the great advance on this subject by the state and general com- munity has been so rapid in the last half century, that Friends have ceased to appear conspicnous thereabont.

A Friends' school was taught in Stillwater meeting honse as early as the winter of 1805-6 by Samuel Berry, a Friend.

THOMAS SHILLITOE.

To show the condition of the society of Friends and their feelings of its membership as produced by the teachings of Elias Hicks, as well as to give a history of that most trying epoch in the annals of that society, we will here present to our readers very liberal extracts from the diary of Thomas Shillitoe, who was an eye-witness of the scenes of which he gives an account.

Mr. Shillitoe was an Englishman, and was born in Holborn, London, in Second Month, 1754. At first he was put as a clerk to a grocer, then to a brandy house, but disgusted at the scenes about him, he apprenticed himself to a shoemaker, and followed the business of shoemaking while he pursued secular affairs. His parents belonged to the Church of England, but he pre- ferred the worship and doctrines of the Friends. His parents opposed him bitterly, but he persisted in attending the Friends meetings, and became a member of that society in a short time. He became a minister among them. Gradually he arose to em- minence as a traveling minister. He journeyed munch, doing inost of it on foot. He visited the Continent, went to Scotland, and journeyed in Ireland on foot as a minister of the Word, and in 1826, at the advanced age of seventy-two, he made a religions visit to Friends in the United States and Canada. He remained among them about three years, witnessing the distressing events occasioned by the most terrible conflict of opinions that has ever befallen that body of professing Christians. He died the 12th of the Sixth month, 1836, in the eighty-third year of bis age.

Mr. Shillitoe was a man of only limited education, yet of fine intellectual powers, and led a life of eminent piety. The sim- plicity, force and unetiousness of his religious writings, placed them almost on a level with Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. He was an adhering Friend, and as such was a partizan against Hicks and his party, but his character puts his narrative of events above suspicion of bias only so far as it is inevitable to the most exalted. enlightened, and religions human nature.

THOMAS SIILLITOE'S DIARY OF QUARTERLY MEETING AT STILLWATER.

"Third day, 26th of Eighth month, 1838. Attended the select quarterly meeting held at Stillwater: The meeting was inform . ed before it was fully gathered, that some persons were on their way who had been members of this select meeting, but who had been disowned in consequence of uniting themselves with the Separatists. On their making the attempt to enter the house, and the doorkeepers preventing them, they assembled ou the meeting honse lot, where they held their meeting, preaching and praying. so much to the annoyance of Friends, that they were obliged to close the windows of the meeting house.

"Fourth day, 27th of Eighth month, 1828, the day of Stillwa- ter quarterly meeting .- My companion (James Emlen) and myself on proceeding towards the meeting house, observed a vast crowd of people assembled; the nearer we approached, the more awful the commotion appeared ; the countenances and ac- tion of many manifested a determination to make their way into the honse by resorting to violent means, if no other way would effect their designs. By pressing through the crowd we gained admittance. The tumult increased to an alarming degree ; the consequences of keeping the doors fastened any longer were to be dreaded, as the mob were beginning to break the windows to obtain an entrance, and to inflict blows on some of the door- keepers. It was therefore concluded to open the doors. The door of the men's house (room) being opened, to attempt to de- seribe the scene to the full, would be in vain. The feelings awakened in my mind were such as to almost to overpower my confidence in the superintending care of a Divine Protector. The countenances of many as they entered the house, seemed to indicate that they were ready to fall upon the little handful of us in the minister's gallery, there being few others in the house. Some of their party forced open the shutters between the men's and women's house (room), as if they would have brought the whole of them to the ground; others ran to the doors which had been made secure, seizing them, tearing them open and some off the hinges. The like outrage they committed in the women's house (room.) The cracking and hammering this occasioned for the short time it lasted, was awful to me, not knowing where or in what this scene of riot and wickedness of temper would end. The house was very soon crowded to an extreme, the Separatists taking possession of one end of the men's house (room ) and Friends the other.

Trying as our situation was, it appeared best to proceed with the business amidst the host of opposers and strangers present. The representatives were called over, the answers to the queries, and a summary prepared. Had I not been present, I could not have conceived it possible for the Friends to conduct the busi- ness of a quarterly meeting so quietly, circumstanced as they were-the Separatists going on with the business of their new quarterly meeting at one end of the house (room) and Friends at the other. The Friends were favored' to get comfortably through with their business."

FRIENDS BOARDING SCHOOL HOUSE AT STILLWATER.

The Supreme Court of Ohio, having decided that the O. Y. M. of F. boarding school house and farm at Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, in its opinion rightfully belonged to the "Bunns party," or the "Gurney Division of the O. Y. M. of F., the adhering Friends, or the Hoyle party, as they were called in accordance with that decision, delivered up the possession in the summer of 1874.

At the yearly meeting of adhering Friends for that year a committee was appointed to take the subject of building anoth- er boarding school house into consideration, and to report at an other sitting. The committee reported in favor of proceeding at once to raise funds and erect another boarding school house within the limits of Stillwater quarterly meeting "for the re- ligiously guarded education of our children." The committee also suggested that a building committee be appointed out of which a committee should be nominated to circulate subscrip- tion papers throughout the limits of Friends' church in Ohio ; and that when sufficient money was raised that they buy a site not

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 120

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728