History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 64

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 64

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At Chester Mo. Mtg., 8, 25, 1703 .- " Memorandum, that tho Decds of the meeting house and Land of Springfield is Lodged in the hands of George Maris, sen'r."

At Quarterly Meeting, 6, 13, 1739, it was ordered that £18 should be paid to Friends of Springfield to help them to defray the charge of rebuilding their meeting-house, the same being the interest on Joseph Need's donation, and paid by his request.

PROVIDENCE MEETING.

At a Quarterly Meeting, 3d month 4, 1696, it is agreed that a meeting be settled at Thomas Minshall's every First and Fourth day.

3, 2, 1698 .- " Its also agreed that the meeting at Thomas Minsball's do joyne with them [those who met at Randall Vernon's once a manth] on that day."

12, 6, 1698-9 .- " The friends belonging to Thomas Minshalls meet- ing propose their Intention of building a meeting house at the bury- ing ground by Tho : Powells. This meeting upon consideration thereof think fitt to deferr the matter untill the next Quarterly meet- ing. It being the sense of this meeting that no meeting house he hereafter built upon any new situation without ye advice & consent of the Quarterly meeting."

" This meeting appoints Caleb Pusey, Thomas Worth, John Hood, George Peirce, Nicholas Pyle & Robert Carter to meet with thase ffriends belonging to Thomas Minchall's meeting, to view & consider of the most convenient place where to sett the above proposed meet- ing hause."

3 mo. 1, 1699 .- " According to the arder & request of ye Last Quar- terly meeting The friends appointed to inspect into & consider of the most convenient place to build the meeting house to answer that of Tha : Minchall's Do make return under their hands that it is their sense that at the farther end of Thomas Minchall's Land by ye high roade side is the most Convenient place for that service & aceordingly this meeting approves of ye same."

6 mo. 5, 1700 .- " Ordered that the next Quarterly meeting be held at the new meeting house io Nether Providence."

9 mo. 4, 1700-" Nether Pravidenee ffriends request that their first days & week days meeting be removed from Thomas Minchalls to their new meeting house which this meeting alowes off."

3 mo. 12, 1701 .- " Providenee meeting requesting that whereas their weekly meeting being the second 5th day of each month at Randel Vernan's it may be removed to the new meeting honse, which this meeting doth alow off."

RADNOR MEETING.

This is mentioned as early as 1686, but no house ap- pears to have been built until about 1693.

BIRMINGHAM MEETING.

At Chester Quarterly Meeting, 9th mo. 3, 1690 :

"Chichester monthly meeting being called, it being moved to this. meeting that Concord first days meeting be every fourth first day at

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

William Brinton's in Birmingham, begining the 23d of this month ; also the fourth day following if the said meating think fitt: this to continue lill further order."

At Mo. Mtg., 3mo. 14, 1694 .- " The business referr'd to this meeting concerning another meeting at Bromidgam this meeting thinkes fitt it should continew at present as it is."

8 mo. 9, 1704 .- " John Bennett and Elizabeth Webb in the behalf of friends, Inhabitants of the uper part of burningham and brandi- wine Creek with the advice of the preparative meeting of Concord did Request of this meeting that they might have A meeting att John Beonet's house this winter time because of their farr Living from Concord meeting house. This meeting wall waying and considering for the Ease of friends and service of truth did agree and coneluds, with the advice of the quarterly meeting, the first meeting to be the third first day in the 9th month next, and so every other first day untill the second first day in the first month following and also every fifth day following Except that fifth day which the preparative meet- ing is held at Concord, and then to meet together as usiall."

At Mo. Mtg., 12, 3, 1717 .- " Tbe friends of the upper part of Burm- ingham baveing had a meeting for every other first day during the winter seasons and now they saide friends doth request that they may have it the same time all the year about, which this meeting doth alow of it in order to goe to ye quarterly meeting for their approba- tion."

At Quarterly Meeting, 9, 10, 1718 .- " Concord monthly meeting Layd before this meeting a proposall of Burmingham friends of Building themselves a meeting house to whom this meeting Gives Leave provided that they and their monthly meeting can agree on a place to Build it and make report lo our next meeting."

12, 9, 1718 .- " According to Leave Given at our Last meeting to Burmingham friends to Build themselves a meeting house have sig- nified from their monthly meeting that they have a Greed of a place wbereon to Build it which is upon Richard Webbs Land near the Great Road wch this meeting is satisfied with."

At Me. Mtg., 9 mo. 6, 1721 .- " The friends of Burmingham meeting Layde before this meeting a propousall for sum of their friends be- longing to their meeting to be chosen as fefees in trust upon ye ac- count of theire meeting house and ground : it's the mind of this meeting to chouse William Brinton, Joseph Taylor, Philip Taylor, John Bennett, Joseph Brinton and Nicholas ffreed."

BIRMINGHAM MEETING-HOUSE.

To these persons Elizabeth Webb, widow of Richard, con- veyed an acre of ground (10, 27, 1721) for £3, and the meeting-house was built by the next year, as the mar- riage of Joseph Webb and Ann Willis was accomplished therein 7, 13, 1722. It is said to have been built of cedar logs, and was without a chimney or stove for heating it. The date of erection of the western end of the present structure has been fixed at 1765, but Benjamin Hawley

notes in his diary (6, 13, 1763) that in the afternoon he "went to the Raising of ye meeting-house." He taught school near by at the time. The house was used as a hospital during the Revolution, as already stated. In 1818 it was enlarged to accommodate the Monthly Meeting. The western wall of the graveyard bears date 1769 in two or more places. A new house has been built by the Orthodox branch of the society.

NEWTOWN MEETING.

At Haverford Monthly Meeting, 11, 14, 1696: " Wil- liam Lewis and some other friends having proposed to this meeting to settle a meeting at Newtown, they are left to their freedom therein." Afterwards Thomas Jones was ordered "to acquaint friends of Chester Meeting that the meeting lately settled at Newton is done with ye consent of this meeting, in order to have their approbation therein."

At Chester Quarterly Meeting, 3, 12, 1701 :

"This meeting being dissatisfyad that a meeting is sett up at New- towne without the approbation of this Quarterly meeting, the meet- ing therefore orders John Bluuston & Walter ffancet to go to Haver- ford months meeting and request them that the said meeting be not Continued without the approbation of this Qrly meeting."

The subject was taken to the Yearly Meeting, which decided that the meeting should remain as it was, but that " for the future ye said Welsh friends may set up no meet- ing further w"in the said county of Chester without ye approbation" of Chester Quarterly Meeting.

At Cbester Mo. Mtg., 1, 25, 1706 .- " William Lewis of Newtown appeared att this meeting with Daniel Williamson signifying in the behalfe of their meeting their desier of being joyned to our monthly and quarterly meeting : Ordered that Caleb Pusey and Joseph Baker do attend their next monthly meeting to signiefie our willingness if they consent to it."

2, 29, 1706 .- " Caleb Pusey and Joseph Baker makes Report to this meeting that they bave been att Haverford monthly meeting Aeeord- ing to the order of the Last Monthly Meeting to sbow our Willing- ness & to know theirs in Joyning friends of Newtowne meeting to our monthly and Quarterly Meeting and that the friends of Haverford Refers it to farther consideration."

At Quarterly Meeting at Providence, 6, 5, 1706 :

" Agreed between Philadelphia QrL'y Meeting & thie that Newtowne friends shall for the future belong to Cheeler Monthly Meeting and to this Qrlly Meeting."

At Mo. Mtg., 6, 26, 1706 .- " This meeting Received a Generall Car- tificate from Mirion monthly mesting Recomanding to the Cars of our Monthly Meeting Those Particulars following,-William Lewis, Sent, Lewis Lewis, Evan Lewis, William Lewis, Rice Howell, Willism Bevan, William Thomas as members of Newtown meeting with Rec- omendation for Peter Thomas."

5, 28, 1707 .- " Newtown meeting desireth that their meeting now kept att Lewis Lewis" may be held att Evan Lewiss which this meet- ing agrees to and that the friende appointed to attend the Quarterly meeting move itt there for their approbation."

At Mo. Mtg., 8, 30, 1710 .- " Newtown meeting Laid before this moeting their Intentions of building a mesting house by friends burial yard in Newtown which this meetting approves of and Re- queste the approbation of the Quarterly mecting."

8, 29, 1711 .- " They also signifie that their meeting house is neare finished and Desire that their meeting may be Removed from Evan Lewis' to the meeting house which this meeting approves of, and in order thereunto this meeting think fitt to Lay it before the Quarterly mesting for their approbation."

GOSHEN MEETING.

At Quarterly Meeting, 12, 2, 1701 .- " Some ffriends dwelling at Goshen makeing application to this meeting for to have a meeting for

RESIDENCE OF BENJAMIN THOMPSON, M.D., NEW GARDEN.

RESIDENCE OF RICHARD B. TAYLOR, WEST CHESTER.

RESIDENCE OF OLIVER J. STRODE, WESTTOWN.

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SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

worship setteled amongst them. This meeting Considering thereof thinks fitt te refer it to the next Qrtly meeting it being the first pro- pesall of it & by reason of a great flood but few friends appeared."

3, 4, 1702 .- " The friends dwelling at Goshen Continuing their ap- plication to this meeting that they may have a meeting of worship setteled amongst them, This meeting taking the matter inte Consider- ation thinks fitt that they may have a meeting every other first day there at ye house of Griffith Owen, the first meeting to be ye next first day, and this meeting orders thom to belong to Chester months meeting."

6, 2, 1703 .- Goshen Friends requested liberty from the Quarterly Meeting to make some change in their meeting, but were advised first to agree among themselves, and then lay it before Chester Monthly Meeting.

Chester Monthly Meeting, 6, 30, 1703 .- " Att the request of freinds from goshen this meeting doos agree and appoint yt there be a meet- ing of Worship the Last first day of tenth month & first fourth and seventh months at ye house of Thomas Jones and on every first day of ye week besida throughout ye yeure att geshen meeting house wheare allco is apoynted that ye weekly meeting be cept Every sixth day of Je week if ye quarterly meeting approve of ye saime."

At Quarterly Meeting, 9, 1, 1703 .- " Chester month's meeting being called, the frds appointed to attend this meeting sigoifie that ye friends ef Gushen bnve acquainted ym that they have agreed Conserving the setteling of a meeting there, To be kept every first dny at the meeting bouge except ye Laat first day in every 10th Ist 4th & 7th months at which times they have agreed that it shall be kept at David Jones's at Whiteland in the great Valley : And alse a week days meeting every sixt day at the meeting house at Goshen, to all which their sd months meeting did acquiesce with, which this Quarterly meeting after a due Consideration thereof do also approve off untill further order."

At Chester Monthly Meeting, 1, 27, 1704 .- " Ellis David and Cad- walader Ellis Informed this meeting that David Jedes belonging to Goshen meeting aome Lime aince did unhappily Cooive or Give way to his servant te worke in his Team some of his neighbours Creatures without their Consent, and desired the advice of this meeting Ceo- gerning this matter, and this meeting having Considered the saime Ceocladeth thereupon, first, that the meeting now kept at David Jones'a house if the Quarterly meeting approve of itt bee for time to come keept att Goshen ; secondly, that the sd David Jones do condemn the ed action by a paper uoder his hand to bee brought te the next monthly meeetiog, and Lastly, that hee make Reasonable satisfaction to the ownera of the ed Creatures."

At Quarterly Meeting, 3, 1, 1704 .- "Chester Montha Meeting being called, Bartholomew Coppock, Randall Vernon & Caleb Pusey appeared & Ioformed this meeting that it was the sence of their monthly meet- ing, for some reasons now offered, thet the first days meeting formerly ordered to be kept at David Jooes's house in ye great valley near Goaben should be kept for the future at the house of Robert Williams as formerly untill further order; which this meeting doth acquiesce with."

At Chester Monthly Meeting, 9, 25, 1706 .- " Goshan meeting Pro- posseth to this meeting the Building a meeting house and grave yard near Edgmont Road it is Left to the Consideration of the next monthly meeting."

8, 27, 1707 .-- " Friends of Goshen meeting Layd before this meeting their Intention of Building a meeting-house near Robert Williams by the buriell Ground, which thia meeting hath nothing to object against, But orders friends appointed to attend ye Quarterly meet- ing do move itt there for their Concurrence, and they further Desire that their meeting may be kept once in a month att White Lend wbich this meeting aasente te, and that itt bee Layd before the Quar- terly meeting accordingly."

The subject was continued under consideration for some months, but the Quarterly Meeting decided, 12, 2, 1707, that the meeting-house should be built at the burial ground near Robert Williams', and that a meeting for worship should be held once in six weeks at the house of James Thomas, in the Great Valley, beginning in the month fol- lowing. The new meeting-house was ready for occupancy

8, 31, 1709, and permission given for the meeting, then held at Robert Williams', to be removed thereto, and held on the First and Sixth days of the week.

At Chester Mo. Mtg., 5, 30, 1716 .-. " The Representatives of Goshen meeting Requests that the six weeks meetting kept ott Jemes Thomas be laid aside att present and setled att Goshen and Youghland untill further order which this meeting thinks well ef and Requests the approbation of the Quarterly meetting."

This was approved by the Quarterly Meeting in the fol- lowing month.

James Thomas, at whose house the valley meeting was held, was a nephew of David Jones. It was in what is now East Whiteland, but had no connection with the pres- ent Whiteland Meeting. In 1736 a new meeting-house was erected in place of the former one, and remained until a few years since, when it was torn down and rebuilt on the same site. Among the early members of this meeting were Robert Williams, Ellis David, Cadwalader Ellis, David Jones, James Thomas, Thomas Garrett, William Garrett, George Ashbridge, John Cadwalader, Edward Kinnison, Isaac Malin, David Davis, John Haines, and Isaac Haines.

EAST NOTTINGHAM MEETING.

At Concord Mo. Mtg., 2 mo. 9, 1705 .- " Two friends of Netiogham desiering on the behalf of the Rest A firat dayes meeting att the house of William Brown and A fourth dayes meeting once in A mooth, to which this meeting doth aqueese, Leaving it to the next quarterly meeting for their Approbation."

At Quarterly Meeting, 3 me. 7, 1705 .- " Chichester monthly meeting being called the fr'da appointed to attend aqunint this meeting that ye fr'da settling at Nottingham desier a meeting of Worship every firat day at William Browne's house, & ooce a month on the fift day before Chichester months meeting; which this Quarterly meeting approves off uotill further order."

At Mo Mtg., 3, 13, 1706 .- " Robert Pyle and George Pearce ia Ap- pointed to goe down to Notingham and take with them the order of the Quarterly meeting for the setling of A meeting there, and also the severall heads out of the book of disciplin, so farr as may auit their cercomstances in order for setliog A preparative meeting and the carrying on of Church government Among them According to the good order of truth and in order thereunte thia meeting appoints Will Brown and Joho Churchman, Katherin Brown and Mary Bales [Beal] to be overseera of the said meeting uotill farther order, first Receiving a certificate from Chester monthly meeting on the behalf of Andrew Jeb and John Churchman and their families, and make Report thereof to the next monthly meeting."

At Quarterly Mtg., 3 me. 2, 1709 .- " The months meeting of Chich- ester moves te thia meeting yt whereas the meeting of worship that hath to this time been kept at the house of William Browne io Not- tingham, may for the future be kept at the new meeting-house there built fer that end & purpose, every weekly first & fift days, wch this meeting approves off untill further order."

John Beal and Robert Dutton were appointed overseers, 1, 13, 1709-10, and were succeeded by William Brown, Sr., and James King, 2, 14, 1712. The majority of the settlers at Nottingham were from Concord Monthly Meet- ing, for which reason the new meeting was considered a branch thereof, and this continued until 1715.

4, 13, 1715 .- " Nottingham ffriends renewed their former request that they might be joined to the moothly meeting of New-work & Laid down these reasons,-that the sd meeting being much nearer & te be come at with leas difficulty, & supposing they may be of more ser- vice ene to another than they are or can be te this meeting ; & oft when they have past by that meeting te come te this it has been with Reluc- tance, being all one People and deeming that their proper place."

After some consideration their request was deemed reason- able, and referred to the Quarterly Meeting, which, on the

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1st of 6th month, 1715, sanctioned the proposed ehange. The meeting-house, built in 1708-9, was replaced by one of brick in 1724. John Churchman, in his journal, says that the latter was destroyed by fire, and that the meetings were held in a private house in the winter of 1748. When rebuilt a stone addition was made to the brick, but this structure, in 1810, was also burned. In 1811 the present building was erected, and although one-half stone, has always borne the appellation of the " Brick Meeting." The title to the land was granted by Penn, but on the settle- ment of the line the property fell into Maryland. This was formerly a large and influential meeting, and among the members at various times were several prominent min- isters in the society.

HOWELL JAMES' MEETING.

In 1709 the " ffriends about ye Iron Hills," near Elk River, were allowed to have a meeting once a month at the house of Howell James. In 1714 it was allowed to be held every First-day, but in 1716, after the death of Howell James, it was discontinued.

KENNET MEETING.

Samuel Smith, in his history of the meetings, says that in 1707

" Vincent Caldwell, Thomas Wickersham, Joel Bailey, Thomas Hope, Guyan Miller, and others, being settled in Kennet and the east end of Marlborough, had liberty to keep a meeting for worship some- times in private houses. To the year 1710 a piece of land was pur- chased and a meeting-house built, which was enlarged in 1719; in 1731 it was further enlarged."

Some of the early records are rather indefinite, but we quote from the minutes of Newark (now Kennet) Monthly Meeting, as follows :

7, 30, 1709 .- "The request of ffriends belonging to Malsbrough meeting is to this meeting yt it would grant yt they may for this winter season have their meetings kept there every first & fourth day, to wch request this meeting Condescends."

9, 5, 1709 .- " Its ye request of this meeting yt our meetings he kept every first and fourth day at ye Center at Malsbrongh and at Newark this winter season."

11, 6, 1710-11 .- " The Request of Mallbrough ffrde to have ye meet- ings up there to be Considered on till ye next meeting."

At Chester Quarterly Meeting, 3, 7, 1711 :

"The monthly meeting of Newark Requesteth that ffriends of Mal- borough & thereabouts may mect Every first & fourth days at KanDet meeting house; and also that frinds of Newark meet two at the Center first & fourth days, & those of ye Center to meet with them of Newark one, which this meeting approves of till further order."

6, 5, 1717 .- " A request from Newark monthly meeting for advice for settling a place to Build a new meeting house for Kennett this meeting appoints Thomas Bradshaw, Josiah ffearn, William Lewis, Aaron James, Henry Obourn, & John Bezer to hear and advise with the said friends and make Report thereof to the next Quarterly meet- ing."

9, 11, 1717 .- "The ffriends that wear appointed to seek & settle a suitable place in Kennett to Build a meeting house upon reports thet that part of Vincent Caldwell's Land that Lyes betwixt the two roads that goes to Notingham and into the woods seems to them most Proper, but some of the friends of that meeting Request another Quarter's time for Consideration, where they may settle the same to their Generall satisfaction."

12, 10, 1717 .- " According to our Last meetings allowing Kennett friends Time for Consideration, where they might settle a meeting house to their Generall Satisfaction, they at this meeting Reports That the meeting is to be Continued at Kennett meeting house."

A Mo. Mtg., 10, 2, 1721 .- " The Deed of Kennett Meeting House

heing in the possession of Gayen Miller, and the Bond securing the same for the service of the people called Quakers left in the hands of William Lewis."

NEW GARDEN MEETING.

At Chester Quarterly Meeting :

12, 2, 1712 .- " Newark monthly meeting requests that there may be a first & fifth Days meeting settled at John Miller's. This meet- ing, considering thereof, thinks fitt to Refer the further Consideration thereof to the next Quarterly meeting."

3, 4, 1713 .- " This meeting, Considering further of settleing a meeting at or Dere John Miller's, Do allow that a first and fifth Dayes meeting be kept at John Miller's Dwelling House for this Ensuing Quarter, or untill further order, and the said meeting to Belong to Kennet Preparative meeting for the Present."

6, 3, 1713 .- " Also the said meeting Requests that the ffriends of the meeting kept at John Miller's may have Liberty to Build a meet- ing house near Michel Lightfoot's, which this meeting, takeing into Consideration, do allow the same ffriends of that meeting so to do, aod oot to Exceed half a mile from the said Michel's."

At Newark Monthly Meeting, 10, 3, 1715 :

"ffriends belonging to Newgardin first day's meeting, having re- quested of this meeting the Liberty of houldiog a preparitive meeting at the meeting house of Newgarden, this meeting aproves their Request and grants them the Liberty of houlding such a preparitive mecting."

In 1743 the south end of the present brick house was ereeted in the room of the former log one. The north end was added about the year 1790.

The Orthodox Friends erected a new brick meeting- house a short distance south of the old one, and on the opposite side of the road.

UWCHLAN MEETING.

At Chester Monthly Meeting :

2, 28, 1712 .- "The Representatives of Goshen meeting moved to this meeting the Request of several friends that Lives ut a Place Called Youchland to have a meeting at the house of John Cadwalle- ders and in order that friends may receive some further satisfaction whether it may be Convenient to settle a meeting there this meeting appoints Jacob Simcock and Ephraim Jackson to visit them in order thereto and to make report to the next monthly meeting."

3, 26, 1712 .- " The two friends appointed the Last meeting to visit some friends at and about John Cadwalleders Reports that they hadd a meeting there and friends finds some Incouragement to answer their Request of haveing a ineating settled there so the Consideration thereof is Left to the next monthly meeting."

4, 30, 1712 .- "The friends of Youchlands Request is Coationed untill the next meeting."

5, 28, 1712 .- " This meeting haveing taken into Consideration the friends Request of haveing a mecting settled at John Cadwallader's above the Great valley every first and fifth dayes, Except when the meeting is kept at James Thomas's, which this meeting is satisfied with, orders thet a Request be carried to the Quarterly meeting for there approbation of it ; they meeting once in six weeks with the Great Valley friends att James Thomases and to Continue of Goshen Pre- parative meetiog att the Present."

2, 26, 1714 .- "Goshan Meeting Proposeth that friends of Youghland be a preparative meetting of themselves which this meeting is con- senting to and Requests the mind of the Quarterly meetting therein."

Uwchlan Meeting began to send representatives to the Monthly Meeting in the 8th month, 1716, but the name for some time is written " Youghland." The following persons were representatives between 1716 and 1720: Joseph Helsby, James Pugh, Thomas John, Thomas Fell, Hugh Davis, Isaac Vernon, Joseph Phipps, Robert Ben- son, Griffith John, Peter Taylor, Samuel Jobn, Cadwalader Jones, Thomas Davics, Thomas James, John Cadwalader, David Cadwalader, Samuel Phipps.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 64

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162