History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 93

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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fused to allow its publication.' Sandford's way ap- pears to have made some impression, for in 1730 the Yearly Meeting went so far as to advise against the purchase of negroes "hereafter to be imported." In 1737 another essay against slavery entitled " All Slave- Keepers that Keep the Innocent in Bondage, Apos- tates," etc., by Benjamin Lay,2 was published in Phila- delphia, but seems to have met with scant sympathy or approval. The Yearly Meeting of Burlington even went so far as to publish, in Franklin's Gazette, was published with its approbation. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of 1738 ex- pressed its satisfaction because of the fact that former rules on the subject of slavery had been somewhat closely obeyed.

The general discipline of the Friends about this time was very strict. From the list of queries adopted in 1743 it appears that Friends were required to state at least once in each quarter of the year to " overseers or other weighty Friends," who propounded the in- terrogatories, whether they were regular and panetual in attendance at meetings; whether they refrained from sleeping in meetings; whether they aceustomed themselves to "snuffing" or chewing tobacco in meetings; whether they kept clear of excess in drinking drams or other strong drink ; whether they kept " company in order for marriage with those that are not of us, or with any others, without consent of parents or guardians ;" whether Friends kept clear from tattling, talebearing, whispering, baekbiting, and meddling with matters in which they were not

1 Ralph Sandiford, born in Liverpool in 1693, removed in youth to Philadelphia, and at manhood was engaged in business as a merchant. In the course of his affaire he visited the West Indies, where he wit- nessed the cruelties practiced against slaves, which excited bis aym- pathy, and caused him to adopt the opinion that the system was entirely wrong.

2 Benjamin Lay was born in Colchester, England, in 1681, his parents being members of the Society of Friends. He was in early life a sailor, and followed the sea until 1810, when he returned to Colchester. At home lie distinguished himself by opposition to the imposition of tithes, and with his own hands presented Milton'e tract in relation to removing birelings out of the church to George I., George II., and the royal family. He was of an erratic disposition, and for this cause, it is sup- posed, he lost the confidence of the Society of Friende, which dieowned hini in 1727. In 1718 he settled in Barbadoes as o merchant, where the cruelties practiced against slaves shocked his feelings and caused him to denounce the system of bondage. In 1730 he came to Philadelphia. Ilere he was noted for his eccentricity. It is said that he once came Into the Yearly Meeting with u bladder filled with blood in one hand and a sword in the other. He ran the eword through the bladder and sprinkled the blood on several Friends, saying, "Thus shall God shed the blood of those persons who enslave their fellow-creatures." Lay was a peculiar man in appearance. " His size, which was not at ve four feet; his dress, which was always the same, consisting of light. lored, plain clothes, a white hat, and half-boots; his milk-white beard, which bung upon his breast, and, above all, his peculiar principles ane conduct, rendered him to many an object of admiration, and to all the subject of conversation." He was in bis time familiar to every man, woman, and to nearly every child In Penneylvania. He died in his house in Abing- ton, 1760, nged seventy-alne years.

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

concerned ; whether they frequented music-houses, or went to dancing or gaming ; whether the poor were taken care of, and their children put to school and apprenticed out to Friends, and whether Friends put their own children out to Friends as much as might be ; whether they were careful in training their chil- dren in Quaker principles ; whether there were any who launched into business beyond what they were able to manage, and "so break their promises in not ' paying their just debts in due time ;" whether there were any belonging to the meeting that were removed without a certificate, or any coming as Friends from other parts who had not produced certificates; whether Friends observed the former advice of the Yearly Mecting not to encourage the importation of negroes, nor to buy them after being imported ; whether Friends were careful to settle their affairs and make their wills in time of health.1

The Yearly Meeting for Friends in Pennsylvania and New Jersey adopted, on Sept. 18, 1751 (O. S.), a minute concurring with a minute of the London Yearly Meeting, to the effect that Friends should thereafter reckon January the first month in the year, and should style it "First month," etc., and that they should omit the eleven days next after September 3d (O. S.), in conformity with the act of Parliament. The next Yearly Meeting was appointed to be held on Sept. 24, 1752 (N. S.).

Between the years 1750 and 1776 but one congre- gation was added to those of the society already in existence in Philadelphia. Iu 1747, Samuel Powel,

1 " These queries," says Thompson Westcott, "seem to have been modifications and amendments of queries formerly ia use, which were much more minute and particular, and which, according to a minute of Concord Quarterly Meeting, in 1711, embraced, in addition to the above matters, the following prohibitions, edvices, end inquiries,-against pro- posing marriages without Friends' consent ; that burials sball be kept solid end grave ; that parents and masters care to keep children and servants from hurtful principles and practices, and that they marry with none but Friends; against unreasonable keeping company with women, or at all, in order for marriage with such as don't profess truth ; against inviting servants to marriage, except to near relatione; against going to the marriages of any that profess truth, bot marry not among Friends; against keeping company, in order for marriage, with any oue's eervant without leave of master or mistrese; that every person shall he " clear of one before being concerned with another" in an engagement of marriage; againet being too hasty in marriage after the death of husband or wife; against marriages by prieste (is., clergymen of other denominations) ; against Friends putting their children apprentices, or otherwise, to be brought up by those who are not Friends ; that parents should often cause their children to read the Holy Scriptures, and should have them taught writing, and that they be brought up in some useful employment ; against drinking to excess, swearing, cursing, lying, etc. ; against antwerfinity of apparel and furniture in all its branches; against calling the days and months contrary lo Scripture, and against calling them by the names of the idol gods of the heathen ; that Friends should always speak the plain Scripture language of thee and thou ; against smoking tobacco in streets, roads, and public-houses, except privately ; against giving uny just occasion of trouble to the government, and against refusing to pay its tributes or assessments; against selling rum to the Indians; against buying Indian slaves ; against brother going to law with brother ; against challenging to fight, etc. ; against keeping vain or loose company in fairs, markets, drinking- houses, or other places; against vain and frothy discourses; against drinking to excess ; and against a vain costom of drinking healthe, as it Is called ; and against drinking to one another.

the younger, by his will devised to such persons as the Monthly Meeting of the people called Quakers in Philadelphia should nominate, in trust forever, a lot of ground sixty feet in width, situated on the south side of Pine Street, between Front and Second, "there to build a meeting-house on, if the members of that meeting shall agree to build a meeting, and not else." By the will of Samuel Powel, the elder, two side-lots were recommended to be given by his grandchildren, to give light and air to the meeting. They obeyed this direction, and the meeting-house lot was consequently enlarged. In 1753 the meeting- house on Pine Street was erected, and it was called in early times the Hill Meeting, in consequence of its being situated upon Society Hill.2

During this period (1750-76) the colonies were visited by many leading ministers from abroad. Among them were Jonah Thompson, in 1751; Mary Peisley (who afterward married Samuel Neale) and Catharine Peyton, in 1753; Samuel Fothergill and Joshua Dixon, in 1754; Jane Crosfield, in 1761;3 John Griffith, Thomas Gawthorp, Abigail Pike, and Rachel Wilson, in 1765; Joseph Loxley and Samuel Neale, in 1770; Elizabeth Robinson, Mary Leaver, and Robert Walker, in 1773. Most, if not all, of these spent some time in Philadelphia.

Among the American Friends of prominence who visited Philadelphia during the same period were John Woolman, of New Jersey; Abraham Farring- ton, of Bucks; William Hunt, of North Carolina ; Mary Griffin, of Nine Partners, N. Y .; Susanna Morris, wife of Morris Morris, of Richland Monthly Meeting, Pennsylvania; Peter Andrews, Burlington, N. J. : David Ferris, of Wilmington ; Joshua Evans, of New Jersey; William Matthews, of Virginia ; Mary Brook, of Maryland, sister of William Matth- ews; Margaret Elger, of Maryland, another sister of Williamn Matthews; William Amos, of Maryland ;

2 Thompson Westcott.

8 Dariag the visit of Jane Crosfield the Monthly Meeting at Phila- delphia, Oct. 30, 1761, adopted a paper certifying to her exemplary con- duct, etc., while among them, which was signed by the following: Anthony Morris, Mordecai Yarnall, Daniel Stantoa, William Brown, Benjamin Trotter, Jeremiah Elfreth, Zachariah Ferrie, John Armitt, Joshua Emlen, Hugh Evans, Samuel Mickle, John Reynell, Joseph Lownes, John Burr, Paul Kripner, Anthony Benezet, James Pemberton, Isaac Zane, Samuel Sansom, Thomas Hallowell, lereel Pemberton, Owen Jones, John Smith, Hugh Roberts, David Bacon, William Lightfoot, Jonathan Mifflin, Thomas Mattieman, Samuel Wetherill, Jr., William Calvert, John Lyno, John Pemberton, John Driaker, Isaac Greenleaf, Benjamin Hootpn, Samnel Emlen, Jr., Charles West, Abel James, Anthony Woodcock, Israel Morris, Isaac Howell, William Savory, Edward Thomas, Benajah Andrewe, Benjamin Kendal, Thomas Clifford, Job Bacon, John Armitt, Jr., Edward Jones, Samuel Morton, Edward Elam, Robert Lewie, Richard Jones, Thompson Parker, Thomas Say, Robert Parrish, Alice Hall, Rebecca Coleman, Mary Emlen, Catharine Callender, Mary Evans, Hannah Carpenter, Lowry Evans, Martha Roberts, Rachel Pemberton, Mary Pemberton, Mary Armitt, Hannah Lloyd, Hannah Allen, Margaret Haines, Hannah Logan, Magdalen Brown Sarah Yarnall, Rebecca Jones, Mary Elfreth, Sarah Jenkins, Mary Wlley, Sarah Zane, Susanna Jones, Elizabeth Shoemaker, Cath- arine Lightfoot, Elizabeth Emlen, Elinor Moode, Sarah Mifflin, Ann Thornton, Phebe Morris, Jr., Sarah Morris, Susanne Mason, Mary Pemberton, Jr.

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John Simpson, of Bucks County, Pa .; James Simp- son, of Bucks County, Pa. ; Evan Thomas, of Mary- land; Job Scott, of Rhode Island ; and David Sands, of Long Island.

A number of American Friends, many of them from Philadelphia, went to Great Britain and minis- tered to the meetings there, and elsewhere in Europe. Daniel Stanton, of Philadelphia, visited the Friends in Great Britain and Ireland in 1749-51. John Churchman, of Pennsylvania, with William Brown, a minister, sailed from Chester in April, 1750, and were engaged for some months in a mission in Great Britain, Ireland, and Holland. John Pember- ton went with them. He was not a minister, but during his stay in England he felt it was his duty to undertake the gospel service. He first spoke at Pen- zance, in Cornwall, and afterward traveled with Churchman and Brown in various parts of England, where they remained over three years, and afterward went to Holland. Pemberton came back to Philadel- phia in the early part of 1754. Churchman returned in the latter part of the same year. Samuel Emlen, Jr., visited England in 1756, and traveled with Abraham Farrington, of New Jersey. He first spoke as a public minister at a meeting in Carlow, Ireland, in 1756-57. Sarah and Deborah Morris, of Philadel- phia, were in England on a religious visit in 1772. John Woolman went to England in 1772, and Samuel Emlen went with him on another mission. During this visit Woolman died at York, Tenth month 7, 1772, aged nearly fifty-two years, having been a minister more than thirty years.

Of the ministers of the Philadelphia meeting the more notable were George Dillwyn, born in Phila- delphia in 1738, who, after being engaged some years in mercantile pursuits, entered the ministry about 1766; Rebecca Jones, born in Philadelphia in 1739, and brought up in the Church of England, but having been affected by the preaching of Catharine Peyton and Mary Peisley, became a member of the Society of Friends, was recognized as a minister, and taught a girls' school in Philadelphia for many years; James Thornton, born in Buckinghamshire, England, about 1727, and came to America in 1750; Nicholas Walu, born at Fairhill, in 1742, was educated at the Friends' school, Philadelphia, was admitted while a minor to the Philadelphia courts with a view to his education as a lawyer, but desiring to perfect his studies went to London, where he was entered at the Temple; and returning home practiced law for seven years; but some of the cases in which he was engaged being of such a character as to raise a donbt in his mind whether he was acting as a Christian should, he de- cided to relinquish bis profession, and having dis- missed his students, and returned to his clients the papers belonging to them, and sent back the fees for cases which he had not finished, he became a con- stant attendant at religious meetings, and finally a minister.

A number of ministers of prominence in the society died during the period from 1750 to 1776. Among them were Michael Lightfoot, a member of the Phil- adelphia Monthly Meeting since 1725, who died Dec. 3, 1754; James Logan, secretary of William Penn, chief justice of the province, etc., who died Oct. 31, 1751, in his seventy-seventh year ; Israel Pemberton,1 first son of Phineas, of Bucks County, born in that county in 1684, and died at Philadelphia, Jan. 19, 1754.

Daniel Stanton died at Germantown June 28, 1770, after having served as a minister more than forty years ; Thomas Brown, died June 21, 1757, was a native of Barking, Essex, England, born September, 1696, came to Philadelphia when young, and was an active minister for a number of years; Jane Jones, of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting, wife of John Jones, of Montgomery township, Philadelphia County, died May 11, 1758 ; Benjamin Trotter, born in Philadel- phia in September, 1699, died in March, 1768; Mary Knight, wife of Isaac Knight, of Byberry, and daughter of John and Mary Carver, who came from England in 1682, died March 4, 1769;2 Thomas Wood, a member of Abington meeting for sixty-four years, and a minister upwards of forty-five years, died March 7, 1769; Isaac Child, of Abington, died April 5, 1769; Mary Evans, of Gwynedd, wife of Owen Evans, died May 20, 1769; William Foulk, elder and overseer at Gwynedd for many years, died Aug. 30, 1775; Sarah Morris died at Philadelphia Oct. 24, 1775, in the seventy-second year of her age, and the thirty-first year of her ministry.3

The discipline of the society was carefully main- tained, and testimonies regarding children and youth and marriages were kept up faithfully. In 1755 it was unanimously agreed by the Yearly Meeting that in such places where Monthly Meetings of ministers and elders had not already been settled, they should be established without delay, and that " solid women

I Israel Pemberton was taught mercantile affairs in the establishment of Samnel Carpenter, and became one of the leading merchants of the city and n man of influence in the nffaire of the province. He was a member of the General Assembly for nineteen years. His widow, Rachel Pemberton, was an elder, and survived him eleven years. She was a daughter of Charles Rend, and was born at Burlington, in 1691. Out of a family of ten children, Israel left three sons living,-Israel, James, and John,-ail of whom were eminent and useful in the Society of Friende, and were recognized as ministers. Israel succeeded bie father in politicni affairs, and was a man of great influence in directing the course of the Quakers during the difficulties which they had to en- counter in consequence of political contingencies and events between the years 1750 and 1775.

2 Mary Knight was "born in or nenr Philadelphia," says Thompson Westcott, " being one of the first children born in the province of Eng- lish parents."

3 She was born in Philadelphia, and was the daughter of Anthony nnd Elizabeth Morrie. She devoted herself to traveling. She visited meet- ings in Pennsylvanin, New Jersey, Now York, and Maryland, with Margaret Eilis. In 1764 she visited Rhode Island with Joyce Benezet nud Elizabeth Smith. In 1772 she went with Deborah Morris, her niece, to England, and traveled through the grenter portion of Great Britain preaching, she being at that time in the seventieth year of her uge. After her return she visited moetings in New Jersey, New York, and Long Island.

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

elders should be appointed to sit therein." With re- gard to the care of youth, the Yearly Meeting, in 1760, declared that " one prevailing danger" was " the frequenting of public companies, such as are too often met with in taverns, at fairs, and at all places of public diversion." The society was careful to protect its members from improper marriages, and the Yearly Meeting, in 1766, advised that "when per- sons having some right of membership are under immediate dealing by the overseers or by the meeting for conduct, and are publicly reproached, and in that situation are likely to propose intentions of marriage, they should be advised against making such propo- sals until they have offered such condemnation of their misconduct as the Monthly Meeting shall think sufficient; and if, notwithstanding such advice, any person so situated shall offer such proposals, we think the meeting should demand such an acknowl- edgment before they show so much of unity as to admit such proposals." When declaration was made before the society of an intention to marry, which was not followed by the consummation of the cere- mony, it was usual to inquire the reasons, and if the latter were not satisfactory to deny "full unity" with the person thus offending. Marriages were occasion- ally celebrated with great feasting, a practice which, on account of the extravagance resulting, was con- demned by some of the meetings.1

The testimony of the society against oaths was now extended to the administration of oaths by Friends as civil magistrates, and Friends were exhorted by the Yearly Meeting of 1771, "in all places carefully to avoid electing or promoting their brethren to such stations in civil government as may subject them to the temptation of violating them, and where any members show an inclination or desire of soliciting or accepting such offices, faithful Friends should take timely care to discourage and caution them against it." 2

1 " The early marriages of Friends," says a writer in the Christian Ob- server, published in Philadelphia in 1853, "took place in private dwell- inge, prior to the erection of the first meeting-house, and are now to be found on record in the hands of Caleb Canby, a well-known citizen, who resides at the southeast corner of Branch and Fourth Streete, above Race. I have examined the fist volume, commencing with the year 1672 and ending with 1758, and found, on page 62, the registry of my great-grandfather's marriage in 1709. The volume is in excellent pres- ervation, and contains some of the finest specimens of good writing I have ever seen." These records are how in the possession of the Monthly Meeting at their meeting-honse on Arch Street, where they are carefully preserved in a fire-proof vault. A custodian is regularly appointed by the meeting-one of the overseers-whose duty it is to read the certificate at the time of the wedding, and see that it is prop- erly signed-the witnesses to the " solemuization and subscription" also eigning their names. The certificate, with the signatures of the hus- band and wife, and also the names of the witnesses (sometimes in great numbers) are afterward duly recorded by him in the books designed for that purpose. Caleb II. Canby performed this duty very acceptably for many years,-up to the time of his death, in 1852. The " Arch Street Meeting" being the "old original," kept possession of the old records, so that Mr. Canby had control of them for the time being, and could have properly shown them to any one wishing to examine them.

2 Thompson Westcott.

With reference to the question of slavery more radical action was also taken. In 1750 the society disapproved the practice of importing negroes from Africa or buying such as were imported, but made no formal declaration concerning the buying, hold- ing, or selling of slaves born in the country. During the same year Anthony Benezet opened an evening school in which negroes were taught gratuitously, and began the publication of writings on the subject of slavery. In 1754 Yearly Meeting issued an epistle concerning slavery which declared that " where slave keeping prevails pure religion and sobriety decline," and discountenanced the purchase of negroes either born in the country or imported as contributing "to a further importation, and consequently to the up- holding of all the evils above mentioned."3

In 1758 it was declared by the Yearly Meeting that " there was a unanimous concern prevailing to put a stop to the increase of the practice of importing, buying, selling, or keeping slaves for a term of life." In order to enforce these sentiments, John Woolman, John Churchman, John Scarborough, John Sykes, and Daniel Stanton were appointed to visit "and treat with all such Friends who have any slaves ;" and it was declared further that "if, after the sense and judgment of this meeting now given against every branch of this practice, any professing with us should persist to vindicate it and be concerned in importing, selling, or purchasing slaves, the respective Monthly Meetings to which they belong should man- ifest their disunion with such persons by refusing to permit them to sit in meeting for discipline, or to be employed in the affairs of truth, or to receive from them any contributions toward the relief of the poor, or other services of the meeting."

In 1774 the Yearly Meeting resolved that "such professors among us who are or who shall be concerned in importing, selling, or purchasing, or who shall give away or transfer any negro or other slave, with or without any other consideration than to clear their estate of any future encumbrance, or in such manner as that their bondage shall be continued beyond the time limited by law or custom for white persons, and such members who accept of such gifts or assignments, ought to be speedily treated with in the spirit of true

3 During the same year, Joho Woolman, of Burlington Monthly Meeting, published a work entitled "Consideration on the Keeping of Negrves." It was recommended to the professors of Christianity of every denomination. A second part was added io 1762. Woulmao seems to have been concerned in regard to this practice of slave-keep- ing from an early age, and his convictions were strengthened by his observations during his travels, In 1746 or 1747 he wrote his treatise on slavery, which he showed to his father, Samuel Woolman, nud which was approved by him. It was offered to the society in 1753, was ap- proved by the overseers of the press, and was ordered to be published and paid for out of the Yearly Meeting stock.

4 In 1767, Anthony Benezet published "A caution to Great Britain ail her Colonies Relative to Enslaved Negroes in the British Domio- ions." In 1772 he published "Some Historical Account of Guinea, with an Inquiry into the Rise and Progress of the Slave Trade, its Nature and Lamentable Effects."

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love and wisdom, and the iniquity of their conduct laid before them." In regard to those who had not yet complied with former admonitions, and who still held slaves in bondage with views of temporal gain, and could not be prevailed with to release from cap- tivity such slaves as were found suitable for liberty, Quarterly and Monthly Meetings were advised to unite "in a speedy and close labor with such members." 1

We come now to the period of the Revolutionary war, during which the supremacy of the Society of Friends in Pennsylvania was overthrown. Up to this time their principles and practices had possessed the weight of authority, and while they accorded toleration to all sects, the administration and the Leg- islature during the rule of the first proprietary were governed by Quaker influences. Penn favored them with valuable grants of land, distinguishing them in this respect from the Church of England, the Presby- terians, and the Baptists, who acquired property slowly and through the personal efforts of their mem- bers until the proprietary interest was transferred to the control of churchmen. This change was largely brought about by the humiliation which William Penn, Jr., the eldest son of the founder, received at the hands of the Quaker magistrates. In 1704 he was arrested in Philadelphia for riotous conduct, and treated by the authorities without due regard to his dignity. After this occurrence, it was reported that he had "fallen quite away from Friends," and his defection carried the descendants of the founder, after the latter's death, back to the Church of Eng- land, to which Admiral Penn, the father of William, had belonged. The result was "continual contro- versies and sometimes bitter quarrels between the As- semblies, Lieutenant-Governors, and proprietaries."2 The proprietary's representatives in the government were churchmen, antagonistic to the Society of Friends, who, compelled to be tolerant, were yet de- termined to grant no concessions or privileges beyond what the Constitution and frame of government al- lowed. The offices under their control were filled either with churchmen or with persons who were not Quakers ; and toward the latter part of the eighteenth century there were few members of the Society of Friends in the Governor's Council. The Assembly, however, continued under the control of the Quakers, and there was naturally an irreconcilable divergence upon almost every important public question, as well as most minor matters between that body and the anti-Quaker executive. In 1756 the Assembly un- dertook to establish a representation at the British Court, in order, if possible, to counteract the influ- ence of the proprietary and his deputies, and with that end in view appointed Isaac Norris and Benja- min Franklin its agents at London. But little was accomplished by this step, as the passage of the

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 93

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992