SAS Open Journals

Editors, The

Buried like a Dog

€am6rt&ge " Jfournaf of (Beorge
Continued from vol. xvii. p. 130.
73.—Vol. I., p. 452.—In Fleetwood Family Records for January, 1921, 
collected and edited by Robert Woodward Buss (copy in D), there is a 
reproduction of miniatures of Charles Fleetwood (1618-1692). There is 
also a notice of the will of Hester Fleetwood, a Friend of Chalfont 
Meeting (THE JOURNAL, vii. 64), widow of the Regicide, Colonel George 
Fleetwood of the Vache (1622—1674 ?), witnessed by Thomas Ellwood 
and proved 13 May, 1714 (P.P.C. Aston, 94). There is also a reproduction 
of miniatures of Colonel George Fleetwood.
74.—Vol. II., p. 135.—We are surprised to find no note to Henry 
Jackson, but it is probable that information lacking in 1911 is forthcoming 
in 1921. There were three of the name in succession. HENRY JACKSON, 
primus (1593-1667), lived at Mealhill, township of Hepworth, county of 
York and was a soldier in the Royalist army. He had one son, HENRY 
JACKSON, secundus (1633/4-1710), who became a Friend and a Minister 
and at whose house at Mealhill George Fox held a meeting in 1669. He was 
a man of influence and wealth and built Totties Hall, Wooldale, about 1682. 
He was the founder of Wooldale Meeting. He was imprisoned at Lincoln 
in 1663, Warwick in 1663-6 and later at York. In 1665/6 (apparently 
during the time of his imprisonment) he married Katherine Cooke ( 
1695). Among his eleven children were Elihu (1669-1730), physician, of 
Mealhill and Doncaster, and also Wooldale Hall, which he built about 
1714 (his widow nee Katherine Vicars, of Doncaster, sold Mealhill in 
1739); Hannah (1675-1682) and Tabitha (1679-1682), who both died of 
small-pox and whose gravestones have, of recent years, been found in an 
outhouse adjoining Wooldale meeting house (Sunday Magazine. Feb. 
1905) ; and Henry tertius (1680-1727).
HENRY JACKSON, tertius, lived at Totties Hall. He was a prominent 
Friend and travelling Minister in Great Britain and Ireland. He married, 
firstly in 1703 Barbary Lupton (c. 1684-1717), of Bradley, near Skipton, 
and secondly, Mary, daughter of Thomas Ellwood, of Kendal. By his first 
wife he had seven children. His daughters married into the families 
of Lister, Cowell, Marsden and Arthington. His surviving son was 
Ebenezer Jackson (1715-1775), who died unmarried.
F.P.T. ; State Papers Relating to Friends ; Besse's Sufferings ; 
Biog. Memoirs, iii. 667 and other mss. in D; and esp. The Family of Jack- 
son of Wooldale in the County of York, by C. T. Clay, reprinted from The 
Genealogist, July, 1920.
75.—Vol. I., p. 49.—" I went Into ye Hand of Wana & after ye preist 
had donne I spoake to him who gott away ... I went to look for 
ye preist att his house & hee woulde not bee seene but ye people saide 
hee went to hide himselfe in ye haymowe ... & then they saide 
hee was gone to hide himselfe amongst ye standingc corne . . . but 
they coulde not finde him/'
102
THE CAMBRIDGE " JOURNAL OF GEORGE FOX " 103
X
Mr. P. V. Kelly, of Barrow, has kindly sent extracts from notes made 
by the late Mr. Harper Gaythorpe, which give the name of the minister 
of Walney above referred to :
" From the Dalton Parish Registers we find that a Mr. Soutwerk6 
was minister of Walney between 1649 and 1657. He was probably acting 
unofficially when the Parliamentary Survey was made in 1650 and was not 
duly appointed till after the grant of £50 a year was made in 1651. Mr. 
Soutwerke, like other Lancashire ministers of the time was a Presbyterian, 
the Church in Lancashire being then under Presbyterian government/'
Mr. Soutwerke's name also occurs in the History of Northscale by the 
late W. B. Kendall. printed in vol. xiii. (1899) of the Barrow Naturalists' 
Field Club Proceedings. The name also occurs in the same connection in 
the mss. of William Close, the editor of the second edition of West's 
Antiquities of Furness, which are preserved in the Manchester Public 
Library.
76.—Vol. II., pp. 217, 226n, 244. 426, 437.—The place where John 
Jay met with his accident was Porback, near Shrewsbury in New Jersey. 
The house into which Jay was carried was visited in 1786 by EUsha Kirk 
—a travelling preacher. It was then occupied by William Parker, " the 
log on which George Fox laid Jay, yet lying there with no more virtue 
in it than any other log " (Elisha Kirk's Journal in Comly's Miscellany. 
vol. vi. p. 36).
77.—Vol. I., pp. 359, 463.—Remove figure 5 from last line and erase 
note 359. 5.
78.—Vol. I., p. 427.—Of Henry Walker, Cromwell's " newsmonger- 
priest/' we glean a few more particulars from Mercurius Britanicus His 
Welcome to Hell : with the Devills Blessing to Britanicus, by Sir Francis 
Wortley, 1647 :
" To Henry Walker I beare much affection, 
Hee's red-hair'd, of Iscariots right complexion, 
Like Sheba, Bichri's son, he did rebell, 
And cried out, to your tents, O Israel, 
He was an Ironmonger at first, and then 
He turn'd Bookseller, after that his pen 
Libel'd against the King, and did incroach 
So neare him, that he threw't into his coach, 
For which he should have gone to th' Triple-Tree, 
But pity, and the Kings high clemency 
Wrote to the Parliament, that they should spare him, 
Whose power unto the Pillory did reare him. 
Since when, to shew his humble thanks the more, 
ReviJ.es the King worse than he did before. 
Writes Weekly Newes, and lies egregiously, 
And oftentimes doth preach most grievously ; 
For which I will prefer him unto thee, 
When thou com'st, he shall then thy Chaplain be."
104 THE ROWNTREE HISTORY
79.—Vol. I., p. 458.—For more respecting Col. John Wigan, see THE 
JOURNAL, xvi. 141.
80.—Vol. I., p. 419.—With the aid of the Index to the First Volume 
of the Parish Registers of Gainford in the County of Durham, 1889, recently 
through our hands, we can supply some additions and corrections to the note 
on Henry Draper, of Headlam, and John, his son. Following Steel's Early 
Friends in the North, we stated that Henry Draper married Eleanor 
Birkbeck. According to the Registers, Elliner Byrchbeck married Robart 
Meritonor Merrington, 12 April, 1631, and on 24 April, 1636, Ellin Merring- 
ton, widow, married Henry Draper. They had several children. John, 
the surviving son, being born 27 Feb. 1639/40.
" Mrs. Ellin Draper " died 22 April, 1649 and Mr. John Draper, 
Headlam, 13 Jan. 1671/2. There is no entry of the death of John's wife,
Bridget Fell, or of his father.
With the recent appearance of The Later Periods of Quakerism, 
written by Rufus M. Jones, of Haverford College, Pa., in two volumes 
of xxxvi. + 1,020 pages (London : Macmillan, 303. net), the history 
of Quakerism planned by the late John Wilhelm Rowntree has reached 
its completion. We well remember the visit of J. W. Rowntree to 
Devonshire House on a return from the United States and the energy 
with which he presented and explained his scheme to the Recording 
Clerk and the Librarian.
The first two volumes—Studies in Mystical Religion and Spiritual 
Reformers in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries discover for us an 
earlier Quakerism in the lives and writings of reformers and mystics 
of pre-Foxite periods. Then comes The Beginnings of Quakerism, 
by W. C. Braithwaite, carrying the history down to 1660. Next we are 
carried across to the New World and told of The Quakers in the A mcrican 
Colonies, by R. M. Jones. The Second Period of Quakerism (1660-1725), 
by W. C. Braithwaite, follows, and then R. M. Jones, the general editor, 
brings down the wonderful story to our days in a series of brilliant and 
scholarly dissertions.
Now, for the benefit of those who cannot or care not to read the 
seven volumes, Elizabeth B. Emmott has, in the press, A Short History of 
Quakerism, which, within the compass of about 350 pages, summarises 
the contents and revives the spirit of the nearly 4,000 pages of a work 
which takes high rank in the literature of Quakerism.


English

The Cambridge "Journal of George Fox"

Index and Contents for Volume 19

John Wesley and Friends' Workhouse

RICHARD KINGSTON FOX (1853-1924)
We regret to announce the death, after an operation, of 
our president, Dr. Kingston Fox. Dr. Fox was always 
willing to place his varied knowledge at the disposal of our 
Society, and he had in prospect a presidential address which 
would, doubtless, have proved of much value and interest.
He wrote on various medical subjects and gave to the 
world an important monograph on Dr. John Fothergill, 
in 1919. In many directions his help will be much missed.
dRnnuaf (Hleeftng
By invitation of Westminster Friends the annual meeting was 
held at their meeting-house on Thursday, 8th November. About eighty 
members of the F.H.S. and interested friends were present. Charles 
Lawson Smith presided. After formal matters of business were
dispatched, the chairman appealed for a wider support of the Historical 
Society. Dr. R. Kingston Fox was appointed president for 1923-4. 
After a very warm vote of thanks to Charles F. Jenkins, of Philadelphia, 
for his generosity in presenting a copy of the book on Tortola to each 
member of the Society, Edward Grubb delivered his presidential address, 
entitled : " The Evangelical Movement and its Impact on the Society 
of Friends.' 11
The Committee reported that, thanks to help received, there was 
a balance in hand of ^17 2s. yd.
frten&e gi
Our companion society over the water is full of activity. It has 
now become merged into an older historical movement founded in 1873 
and is in future to be known as the FRIENDS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 
The editor of the F.H.S. (London) is engaged in preparing, at the request 
of a Tercentenary Committee of the Association, a Supplement to his 
Cambridge edition of The Journal of George Fox, to consist of " The Short 
Journal of George Fox " and of his " Itinerary Journal (both now 
printed for the first time).
1 This address appeared in the F.Q.E. in January, 1924. Copies 
are sent to members with this issue. See p. 101.
140


The Annual Meeting

72 DOCTOR AND MARY KNOWLES
by reproaching contradicting and rattling against the truth 
and the witnesses therofe, for their cheife force and power 
did now reside in their towngues, this being all that they 
could doe because their homes were broken wherewith 
they formerly we wont to push.
Above manuscript was referred to our late Friend 
and contributor, William F. Miller, who replied, under date 
8th May, 1914: " The extracts are taken in all probability 
from one of the old record books of the Edinburgh Y.M. 
entitled: ' A Remembrance or Record of the Sufferings of 
some friends of truth in Scotland/ The book was appar- 
ently commenced about 1670, but the first entry is under date 
6 mo. 1656."
©ocfotr an& Qtlatrj) Knowfee
Wm. Forster, of Tottenham, to his sister Elizabeth, at Birmingham, 
7 x. 1773 :
" Our Cousins Knowles honord us with a visit, which was very 
acceptable. . . . She far exceeds my Expectations in a chearful 
easy Behaviour, and in her many great Qualifications which made her 
Company truly agreeable. . . . Mother desires thou'lt see her and 
little George as often as thou canst, his Mother will take it very kind : 
we think him an extra fine Boy : They purpose taking a House here 
early in the Spring, for Nancy Morris & themselves."
Mary Knowles (d. 1807), nee Morris, was wife and widow of Thomas 
Knowles, M.D., of London. She is principally known in connection 
with her friend, Dr. Samuel Johnson. See Smith, Cata. ; Jnl. iv. x. xv.
From original letter in possession of Mrs. Vere O'Brien, Ennis, Co. 
Clare, Ireland, 1924.
FRIENDS' HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. We learn that Lucy B. Roberts 
has been compelled to resign the post of president, and that George Vaux, 
Junr., takes her place. Rayner W. Kelsey, Haverford, Pa., is editor of 
the Bulletin, and I. Thomas Steere, Haverford, Pa., is treasurer. The 
editor of The Journal F.H.S. has been elected an honorary member of the 
Association. The subscription price p.a. is one dollar. The office of the 
Association is located at 142 North Sixteenth Street, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania.


Doctor and Mary Knowles

of
Y courtesy of Sir Alfred E. Pease, Bart., we have 
had in our hands a copy of his type-written book 
on The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, dated 1907. 
It is a thick quarto volume opening with an 
introduction to the Gurney family, with genealogical tables, 
and then occupied with letters of Joseph Gurney (1757- 
1830) see xx. 7iff), of Lakenham Grove, or The Grove, 
Norwich, and Index to his Journals. Sir Alfred Pease has 
readily given leave for extracts to be taken and we have 
freely availed of this permission as our readers will soon 
discover and, we hope, appreciate.
The following are some matters of interest culled from 
this book.
tn jEeefce (NUefttt$
Joseph Gurney to his sister, Rachel Barclay, at 108, Cheapside, 
London, gth August, 1776 :
" We got to Leeds ; being first day we accordingly went to meeting 
with our host Eman1 Elam, & at the conclusion of it shook hands with 
numerous FJs who gave us numerous invitations to numerous houses. 
Indeed this place for freedom & hospitality puts me the most in mind 
of my own native city than any I have been in. Each Friend has 
connection with the other, & every door is open for the reception of 
strangers. If I was inclined to account for this amiable sociability in any 
other way than as it proceeds from goodness of heart, I shou'd say that 
the number of old Batchelors promoted it, who, having no Companion 
to share their solitary hours, are prompted to fly to the Company of 
Strangers for relief, there being in this meeting but 22 married Couples 
out of 80 Familys." (The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 5, p. 31.)
The Elam family was a well-known Quaker family of Leeds, from 
about 1710. (The Friend (Lond.), vol. 21 (1881), p. 122.) There is a 
news-cutting in D which describes Emanuel Elam as " a considerable 
American merchant in woollen -cloth. He retired from business several 
years before his death in 1796 with a fortune of near ^200,000 . . . 
His brother Samuel . . ."
Qfleafe
Joseph Gurney to Elizabeth Gurney, " 24th June, 1783 " : 
" I left Cork last seventh day after taking leave of many Friends at 
whose houses I had been entertain'd with great attention. Sam1 Neale
20 THE GURNEYS OF LA KEN HAM GROVE
lives in a most delightful situation on the side of a hill & has a garden 
in which he takes great delight, the best stock'd with fruits of all kinds 
& in the highest perfection, with which he seems to profit  both in body 
& mind  in mind as it affords him a comfortable retreat & in body as it 
supplys his table amply with good vegetables, & fruits the most 
delicious ; indeed he seems the most perfect emblem of peace & plenty 
I think I know. I am sorry to say it is very different with poor Ebenr 
Pike. . . ." (The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 8, p. 18.) 
For Samuel Neale, see vols. ii, vii, x, xiii, xvi, xx.
(KJaffter
If the following refers to Elizabeth Walker of New York State, it must 
have been less " fearful " than supposed, as this Friend died in 1827 (not 
1821 as given in xvi. 15, xxi. 40).
Joseph Gurney to Jonathan Hutchinson, of Gedney, Lines, 25 xii. 
1824 :
" I heard at Needham some fearful news of poor Elizabeth Walker. 
She had been at Petersburgh 2 or 3 days, probably not suffer'd to remain 
there, and left it in a small unaccomodating vessell. I think to Embden 
a voyage of about 3 days. But the Vessel had not been heard of for a 
month, the fear is that it is lost, but I yet hope something may turn up.
The ravages of the Floods in that city [presumably, Peters- 
burg] have been dreadful ; the Wheelers are safe. In the midst, our 
Frd Ths Shillitoe sat in his lodgings unconscious of the extremity of the 
case, whilst 3 women were drown 'd in the very next house to him." 
(The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 17, p. 6l.)
Beaver
Joseph Gurney to his mother, from Cardiff, vii. 1776 : 
" On our way to the Passage we took a meeting which Mary Lever 
had appointed at Kingsneston . She is an excellent Minister and a most 
facetious sensible Woman." (The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 5,
P- 3-)
Joseph Gurney to his brother, John Gurney, from Sheffield, viii. 
1776:
" We went through the works of a Fr1 whose name is Wyland 
[Hoyland]. He introduced us to his sister, Easter Took, wth whom we 
spent, in a most agreeable manner, that afternoon, and smoak'd a pipe 
wth her in the evening." (The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 5, p. 39.)
In a long letter from Joseph Gurney to his mother at Robert 
Barclay's, 108, Cheapside, London, dated viii. 1776, we read :
" At Matlock we soon got acquainted with several, and particularly 
the brother of Catharine Phillips [n6e Payton], an old Batchelor, who 
has many peculiaritys, mixed with a number of good qualitys. He
THE GURNEYS OF LAKENHAM GROVE 21
attended us all the time & shew'd us all the civilitys in his power. 
(The Gurneys ofLakenham Grove, sect. 5, p. 54.)
"
QUaeeep
Joseph Gurney, at Spalding, to his wife, 8 x. 1805 : 
" I am now under the roof of a kind and wealthy Friend, in a house 
perfectly neat, with manners in part after the old fashion & in part par- 
taking of the new. For instance I had a most excellent room and bed 
but no water in it. I went down to wash in a very neat kitchen & in a 
pewter bason. Thou hast perhaps heard of Willm Massey, my present 
Landlord, son by marriage to Jno. Bateman." (The Gurneys of Lakenham 
Grove, sect, n, p. 16.)
J(o(Jn ftenbaff of Cofcfleefer
Joseph Gurney, at Brentwood, to his wife, year only given, 1814 : 
" Our first visit of interest [at Colchester ?] was to John Kendall. 
He is nearly bed-ridden & not so neat in bed as I wish to see old people, 
but his faculties were alive & his love peculiarly so. I think he may live 
some time [he died early in 1815, aged 88 years]. He ask'd me to kiss 
him which I cou'd not refuse tho 1 it was not just what I lik'd, though I 
felt much love to him/ 1 (The Gurneys ofLakenham Grove, sect, n, p. 23.)
(preacher an* |&c#ooftna0fer
Joseph Gurney to his wife, from London, 20 v. 1794 : 
" I met my fd P. Tucket and a very clever man, Taylor of Bristol, 
who came from the Dissinters into Society. He was a famous (I believe) 
preacher amongst them and now says a few words amongst us. We 
had much discourse together & thy Husband's active member was very 
busy. He seems master of all the Priestlian & other Doctrines even of 
more modern philosophy. Such a man bearing the simple standard 
of Quakerism felt therefore like encouragement to me, with whom the 
art of reasoning has, secretly, too great an influence." (The Gurneys of 
Lakenham Grove, sect, n, p. 2.) See vol. xviii. 81.
£farft0on'0 Btfe of $enn
Joseph Gurney, of Norwich, to Priscilla H. Gurney, at 2, Queen's 
Parade, Bath, 20 ii. 1813 :
" I yesterday called on Uncle Bland. He has had much to do of late 
in looking over some sheets of Clarkson 's Life of William Penn. It seems 
as if it wou'd be a pleasant and an useful work. Uncle B. has furnished 
some anecdotes and is a good corrector." (The Gurneys of Lakenham 
Grove, sect. 13, p. 19.)
Joseph Gurney to Priscilla H. Gurney, 24 i. 1819 :
" E. Fry has lately been to Blackwell [village near Darlington] with 
her two boys [probably, John Gurney, b. 1804 & William Storrs, b. 1806] 
to place them under the care of Fredk. Smith, Jr., who has a promising
22 THE GURNEYS OF LA KEN HAM GROVE
school there. Our eldest grandson [Jonathan (1812-1820), son of Jonathan 
and Hannah (Gurney) Backhouse] goes with them and Hannah seems 
pleased with the opportunity of bestowing her guardianship to them all. 
(The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 13, p. 257.) See xix. 105, 107, 
xx. 25.
n (JUvouft
Joseph Gurney Bevan, at Hackney, to Joseph Gurney, at Norwich, 
xii. 1774 :
" I do not know whether I told thee John Revoult was in Exeter 
Gaol. His Creditor, it seems, has consented to let him out provided 
he can pay his fees, for which end he had only about a third of their 
amount. D. Bell & myself have directed the remainder, about 4 guineas, 
to be advanced towards the release of our former preceptor." (The 
Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 14, p. 5.) See xix. 25, 28, xx. 82, 86.
among (Burnepe
Joseph Gurney Bevan to Joseph Gurney, 8 ii. 1775 : 
" The joy on the occasion of Jack's offer to Katherine will be very 
general. Everybody loves him, therefore every[one] will be pleased to 
see their favorite united to a woman of whom either acquaintance or fame 
must have taught them the excellence. . . . Thy observation of 
the great influence of Cupid in your family is just. ... I do not 
seem inclined to claim my privilege as a Gurney & put in for a share of the 
little archer's influence & I think thou may pass at least two or three 
years more in celibacy without any slight to the power of love." (The 
Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 14, pp, 7, 8.) J. G. B. married in 1776 
and J. G. in 1784.
fo tefi^afiefg $*p'0 eon J[o#tt
Emma Gurney, aft. Pease, at Wanstead, to her sister, Hannah C. 
Backhouse, at Darlington, " June 20, 1818 " :
" Edward Chapman has just called here with an account that John 
Fry [1804- ] had set fire to a pound of Gunpowder and blown up his 
face in a terrible manner. His hair was singed and his eyebrows and lashes 
off, which Astley Cooper says will not grow again. They say that had not 
the window been open the room would have been blown up where all 
the children were in bed. Rachel Fry dashed a bason of water into his 
face which they say was of the greatest use, as it prevented the Gunpowder 
from shrivelling up the skin. Edward says he is a most curious figure, 
his face entirely covered, with a slit for his mouth. They are fearful 
that he is feverish to day." (The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove.)
" <B (perfect Qtlobef of
Joseph Gurney, at Waterford, to Elizabeth Gurney, at H. Thrale 8c 
Cos, Southwark, London :
" Reach'd the house of Richd Shackleton at Ballitore, where he resides 
King of a colony of Friends, who are plac'd in & about that delightful
THE GURNEYS OF LAKENHAM GROVE 23
Village, which is situated in a pleasant Valley, well cloath'd with trees A 
water'd by a lucid brook. The houses are chiefly inhabited by branches 
of his family & the stile they live in is the most perfect model of true 
hospitality & primitive simplicity I ever was witness to. 'All Friends 
& all Strangers find a welcome here, & whilst there remains a place at the 
board or half a bed in the house, no one is turn'd from the door. The 
evening we got there, there were so many in the house that even man & 
wife were obliged to be separated to make room for lodging. And the 
true motherly kindness the excellent woman (R. S.'s wife show'd to all 
her guests was peculiarly pleasing, as her care of them was accompanied 
with a chearfulness which remov'd all fear of giving her trouble ; whilst 
her good husband was alike attentive to every individual but without 
any of those shackles [!] which frequently make such attention irksome." 
(The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 8, p. 8.)
of JfoeepS 500*er> 1814
•
A letter from Joseph Gurney to his wife, dated from Brick Lane, 
Spitalfields, London, 5 mo. 24, 1814, gives some account of the appeal 
of Joseph Foster:
" The Committee on Appeals reported they were ready with their 
decision on Joseph Foster's business. The appellant had a long wail. 
He began, however, about 12, spoke an hour and the meeting adjourn'd. 
We began again this afternoon at 4 and he held out till ± past 6. The 
respondents are to begin their reply tomorrow at 4. . . . The subject 
is really important, conducted on his part with much ability & temper, 
& I expect we shall find the respondents not less able than himself. Our 
J. J. G. has been Clerk to the Committee and an able agent in it. The 
subject is interesting. The real question is within a nutshell but the 
branches are very extensive. I am pleas'd to find our Sons interested in 
it and not a little knowing, at least so Henry appeared to me in our 
walk. The subject, thou knowest, is on what is call'd the Divinity of 
Christ and a thin partition tho' important, I think, divides us.
" Tomorrow morning we are in expectation of the Dutchess of 
OWenburghs Company at Devonshire House. This intimation is given to 
Samuel Gurney thro' Charles Buxton, who has been with her Russian 
connections." (The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect, n, p. 24.)
Joseph Foster (c. 1761-1835) lived in state at Bromley Hall (xvi. 10,13). 
He was a well-known philanthropist. William Ball has some verses on 
" Joseph Talwin Foster and his Father, Joseph Foster (of Bromley)" in 
his Notices of Kindred and Friends Departed, 1865. William Ball writes :
" The Father to Christ's cause was bound,
And fitting was his word, 
' I die a Christian/ when the sound 
Of sudden call he heard ! "
Joseph Foster died suddenly at Dorking.
24 DR. ARNOLD ON QUAKERISM
Joseph Gurney, to Jonathan Hutchinson, of Gedney, Lines., 
1827 :
11 J- J- G. travels in admiration [i.e. wonder] from day to day of his 
dear sister's powers & self-possession. Their introductions & their views 
have been peculiar  from Friends to the Secretary of State, and from 
him to the Vice Regent  from both assured of their utmost protection 
and giving them facilities to visit all prisons & public Institutions. 
Marquis Wellesley appointed a private interview with them and his 
Lady (deem'd very high & a Roman Catholic, had Betsy to console her in 
her sick room, who found her most quiet & humble. . . . They have 
had their conference with Catholic priests & Bishops\(ii I am right) with the 
Archbishop of Dublin, Maghee, (the writer on the atonement) and many 
other Divines  with the Judges of the Landon Capital punishment . 
& so countenanc'd altogether that E. Fry was plac'd by the side of the 
Judge of Assize at his desire when the prisoners were tried. 
Their way has been studded with many anecdotes [for one see G. K. 
Lewis's Elizabeth Fry, 1909] but one of the most curious is from London- 
derry. They arrived at the Hotel there before they were expected, but 
as soon as known, the Bells of the Cathedral began to ring, & when they 
went forward to visit the Jail, the Mayor & Corporation huddled on 
their gowns & follow'd them in all haste. They afterwards dined at the 
Bishops, and the next morning when they were to have a public meeting, 
the Bishop & his Wife were the persons personally to inspect the pre- 
parations for it. The Bishop then advis'd a Meeting in the Dissenters 
Meetinghouse. It was held in the evening, & the Bishop, his Lady & many 
others from the palace were perceiv'd by J. J. G. & E. F., seated just before 
them  seated in a Dissenters Mt. house & heard the Quakers preach, & 
two of those Quakers females. Some symptom of toleration ! " (The 
Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, sect. 17, p. 66.) A different view of this 
visit to Ireland appears in Mrs. Greer's Quakerism, 1851, pp. 165 ££.
. dflrnofd on Quafteriem
Dr. Arnold wrote to Rev. F. C. Blackstone, in 1835 :  
" I have always thought that the Quakers stand nobly distinguished 
from the multitude of fanatics, by seizing the true point of Christian 
advancement, the development of the principles of the Gospel in the 
improvement of mankind. It is a grievous pity that some foolishnesses 
should have so marred their efficiency, or their efforts against wars and 
oaths would surely ere this, have been more successful."
From Dean Stanley's biography of Dr. Arnold, of Rugby, yd ed., 1890,
p. 264.
Forwarded by J. Ernest Grubb.


The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove

Curmncj (pfmn
BETTERS and Journals of the Gurney family of about one and a half centuries ago, contain interesting records of movements among birth- 
right Friends in the direction of a closer adherence 
to the outward semblance of Quakerism in life, dress and 
speech, accompanied with a closer attachment to its 
religious obligations.
In volume xx we printed several letters from Joseph 
Gurney (1757-1830) to his cousin, Joseph Gurney Bevan 
(1753-1814), which gave a glimpse of the youthful life, at 
that period (1772-1776), of prosperous Friends of the gayer 
type.
Letters between J. G. Bevan and J. Gurney in 1774-1775 
of the same type appear in The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove, 
sect. 14, dealing much with horses, excursions and other 
subjects dear to the youthful aristocrat. From 1775 to 1791 
there is a drop in this correspondence. Meanwhile the 
cousins have married and more serious subjects form their 
correspondence, as will be seen in the following letters :
Joseph Gurney writes from Norwich to his cousin, 
Joseph Gurney Bevan, at Row Court, Lombard Street, 
London, " gth nmo. 1791 " :
" If I am to be bro1 to a plain & honest confession, as 
a man of common reflection I really feel shame that my 
resolution is yet too weak to break off from the sports of the 
Field, tho* I cannot but look upon them as enemies to my 
peace. Hunting I have left off & coursing I seldom follow, 
but the Gun sticks by me & I fear swallows up the reward 
I might have felt for giving up the others ; and thus by 
being but half willing, that evil part which remains grows 
stronger & stronger. ... I can leave off shooting, but 
to make covenant staggers my will, and with the next 
excursion the glee for the sport revives, tho' the day does 
not end in quite such vivid colours as it was wont to do. 
. . . Something of the same nature thou hast had to 
struggle with tho' not so long resisted nor of so deep a dye.
26 ON TURNING PLAIN
. . . A word in due season is some times a help, but I do 
not wish to save my Pheasants by encreasing thy scruples, 
tho' I wou'd not have thee expect any more as they are 
rather a rare article with us."
Joseph Gurney became a Minister and travelled as such, 
but he was never so exact a Friend as Joseph Gurney Bevan, 
who received from James Jenkins the title of " our chief 
disciplinarian " (xx. 7iff). Later letters deal with tithes 
and taxes, religious education of children, a naval militia, 
first cousins marriage, 1 plainness of speech, etc.
Joseph Gurney writes to his cousin, 26 vii. 1808, 
respecting his daughter Hannah, later Hannah Chapman 
Backhouse (1787-1850), the travelling Minister :
" . . . Our dear Hannah, I may inform thee, continues, 
we trust, to endeavour after the right thing the change in 
her has been with us a matter of mingled joy & anxiety 
& perhaps of suffering too; at least it has placed us in a 
spot in some measure novel, in which whilst we participated 
with her in her sacrifices, we had to be watchful over our- 
selves least any thing in us or from us should stimulate or 
discourage beyond the safe boundary, & from this, thou 
mayst suppose we have left her much to herself. She is 
now at Earlham & I do not find she desires to withdraw 
from her usual associations, whether in or out of Society, 
or that she seeks the fostering countenance of those more 
nearly devoted to it. She appears to be a Girl of a strong 
mind & of sound good sense, not so likely to take anything 
upon trust, as to follow her own convictions. I desire that 
she may not soar above her guide. I have confidence that 
whether she walks in a more or less narrow path than her 
parents have done before her, they will have strength of mind 
to rejoice. I trust with joy unfeigned." Thankfulness is 
expressed that the other children are " keeping aloof from 
the common gaities of life . . . Tho' their views may 
as yet be more circumscribed than their elder sister."
1 John Gurney, of Earlham (1781-1814), married his first cousin, 
Elizabeth Gurney, of Keswick (1784-1808), in 1807. J. G. Bevan's attach- 
ment to Rachel Gurney, sister of Joseph (of The Grove), circa 1770, was 
broken off, they being first-cousins. For such marriages see London 
Y.M., 1675, 1747, 1801.
ON TURNING PLAIN 27
J. G. Bevan writes to J. Gurney, 7 i. 1808 : "No friend 
in his full senses ever thought that plainness of speech 
behaviour and apparel made up the whole cross. ... I 
have not yet seen many "spiritually] baptized friends who 
have not a considerable degree attended to those outward 
things. I therefore am apt to think them, rightly under- 
stood, important things: though I know that the disposition, 
that rather piques itself on looking down on them, slips in 
readily enough."
The same to the same, 14 ix. 1812 :
" I have been gladdened, according to my measure, by 
hearing that thy name-sake [Joseph John Gurney] had 
assumed the speech & appearance of a friend."
He concludes:
" I am generally at the house of my cousin Paul at 
Tottenham, whose wife, now with me, is the writer of this 
& my principal caretaker," owing to the loss of his wife and 
to his blindness.
On the other hand J. G. Bevan wrote, in Tenth Month, 
1806 :
" I am sorry to see so many of my young cousins 
hastening away from the restraints of what I think truth., 
to the spirit and liberties of the world, yet I retain an interest 
in their concerns & if I could have my own wishes should 
see them oftener."
The private Journals of Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845), 
nee Gurney, also bear evidence of this interesting movement 
among Friends:
1798. Aet. 18, a year after her conversion under the 
ministry of William Savery :
" Ra & I had a very serious talk to-day upon religion 
& quakerism, she fearing I should turn plain and I giving 
reasons for it. . . . I do not believe that she or any one 
else can prevent my being a true Quaker if I think it right 
to be one.
" This day I have said thee instead of you."
" Charles Lloyd was here. I felt calling him by his 
name and saying thee to him."
" I still continue my belief that I shall turn plain. 
. . . I find it almost impossible to keep up to the
28 ON TURNING PLAIN
principles of friends without altering my dress & speech. 
. . . They appear to me a sort of protector to the 
principles of Christianity in the present state of the world. 
. . . I think I am a Quaker at heart. ... I should 
never be surprised to see us all quakers."
" It is odd to me & I believe it is to herself [" Chrissy 
Gurney "] that she is not a Quaker, but she is good without 
it, but I think she would be happier with it."
1799. Aet. 19. Visiting at Hampstead:
" I think I really tryed to act right. It was about 
wearing a cap which is a step to appearing like a friend, & 
when the cap is once worn the fasson of the head does not 
require so much attention. I first put on my cap, then I 
fear'd I was mistaken. I did it without sufficient authority 
in my own mind, & I felt it my duty to consult the feelings 
of dear Rachel & I took my cap off, put on my turbon, 
determined to try to do right about it. However, after much 
uncertainty I felt most easy to appear like a quaker & wear 
my cap which I did."
" I did one thing this morning that required a little 
courage. I put my handkerchief over instead of under my 
gown. It was rather a cross to me. Dressing plain is not 
much a cross to me. I have felt it at times humiliating, but 
more often I think I wish to have my dress more simple."
" To-day I took up a little cross in dress which was 
leaving off the band to my cap. If I believe it right, I 
hope not to wear it again, but yet if I don't see it better not 
to wear it, do not leave it off."
There are also references in Elizabeth Fry's Journals 
to the " turning plain " of other Friends :
1798. " I met a young woman, Elizabeth Pryor, who 
I believe is turning plain."
" Yesterday I was with a girl turning plain. She & I 
had much talk & I did not quite like the foundation she 
appeared to go upon."
At Earlham, 6 mo. 23 and 24, 1808, E. Fry entered in 
her diary the same information as that afore given by her 
uncle:
"On ist day D. Darby & R. Bird were at meeting 
& cousin S. Alexander. I certainly do believe that there 
is an advancement spiritually in the family & a drawing
ON TURNING PLAIN 29
nearer to friends. I heard yesterday that dear Anna 
Buxton had begun the simple language & I believe means 
to alter her dress.
" Yesterday I dined at the grove & my aunt told me 
that dear Hannah meant to alter her language and put on 
caps and handkerchiefs. This I think gave me more 
comfort than the news of yesterday about dear Anna. I 
did not look for it in her. Truly there appears a great 
revival & a striking visitation amongst the youth. . O Lord 
preserve them/'
Anna Buxton, afterwards wife of William Forster, 
was a birthright Friend, but early taught the accomplish- 
ments and introduced into the gaities of fashionable life. 
The following is taken from the Memoirs of William Forster, 
chapter xvii:
Anna Buxton was a fine, lovely girl of remarkable refined and 
elegant manners, and George III. noticed her with much kindness and 
affability. [She was living with her mother at Weymouth, see vol. xiii. 
p. 165.] But continued intercourse with the fashionable world soon lost 
its charm. . . . Without any marked human instrumentality, strong 
religious convictions had already taken hold of her mind and these were 
confirmed by the death of her first-cousin, Elizabeth Gurney, wife of John 
Gurney, Jun., of Earlham.
The modern Friend may smile at the importance felt 
by the Friends of this period of things which to him seem of 
little moment, but to the Friend of the " middle-age " the 
outward appearance was closely allied with the spiritual 
life the Quaker dress with the Quaker faith and the one 
helped the other. We may well believe that Elizabeth Fry's 
Quaker dress was a distinct aid to her philanthropic work ; 
her personal appearance, as she sat in the Mansion House 
at dinner, conversing with Prince Albert and Sir Robert 
Peel, supported the inward beauty of her life, as also 
when at a cold luncheon, she sat by the King of Prussia, 
who told her that she was the best friend he had in the world 
and must pay her a visit at her own house.
There are forms of worldliness from which the Friend of 
to-day is called to " turn " if he would follow the leading of 
Truth. May he act as conscientiously as they did of whom 
we have written.


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Buried like a Dog

The Cambridge "Journal of George Fox"

Index and Contents for Volume 19

John Wesley and Friends' Workhouse

The Annual Meeting

Doctor and Mary Knowles

The Gurneys of Lakenham Grove

On Turning Plain

Some Data Respecting Leeds Meeting

Meetinghouses Licensed under the Toleration Act

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