SAS Open Journals

Graham, John W.

Large Gatherings of Friends

Green, Joseph J.

English

Esquire Marsh

Sharp, Isaac

Our Bibliographers I: John Whiting

Summers, W. H.

jfrien60 at QtewBurp,
In Mr. W. Honey's able and voluminous History of 
Newbury (1887) there are numerous passages relating to 
the Friends who formerly flourished in the old Berkshire 
town. On pages 523-526 there are a series of extracts 
from the Churchwardens' presentments of those who were 
charged with absenting themselves from the parish church, 
refusing to pay dues and church-rates, not receiving the 
sacrament, leaving children unbaptised, etc. These bear 
date in the years 1665, 1666, 1667, 1670, and 1675.' In 
1693 four persons are returned as refusing to pay church- 
rates. Except in one presentment, none of the persons, 
mentioned are expressly referred to as Quakers, but a 
comparison with other documents shows this to have been 
the case with several of them.
The municipal authorities in Newbury, as in some 
other boroughs, seem to have been very reluctant to put in 
force the enactments of the Government against peaceable 
neighbours, and in 1681 we find that an order was issued 
from the Court of King's Bench, requiring that the names 
of those who had been " indycted for absenting themselves, 
from Church " should be forthwith " extracted into the 
Exchequer." " This mandate," says Mr. Money, " ap­ 
pears to have had the desired effect on the Newbury Court, 
as at the next Sessions the names of the Quakers formerly 
imprisoned were called over, and so many of them as 
appeared were remanded to the Town prison into the 
custody of John Dandridge, Serjeant." Sixteen persons 
put in an appearance (all of them men). The names 
in this and the following cases will be found in the list 
below.
Two years later (1683), the same sixteen Friends, with 
two more added to their number, were called at a Court 
of Quarter Sessions, and the Oath of Allegiance was read
1 In the Churchwardens' accounts, 1681, 1682, we find :—
Red- of the Quakers .. .. .. ..320
to Hugh Kettle for prosecuting the Quaker .. 10 o
26 FRIENDS AT NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE.
and tendered to them, when they all refused to take it. 
After this tender they were re-committed to the borough 
prison, under the charge of John Dandridge, who was 
bound over in the sum of £10 each for their appearance 
at the following Sessions. At the same time the attend­ 
ance of ten females was required. Of these, five were 
wives of the men Friends, and four were " spinsters." 
The tenth was Anna Hyne, whose husband, Thomas, does 
not seem to have been a Quaker. But at the same Ses­ 
sions, Thomas Hyne, Jun., who was probably their son, 
and who carried on the business of a tanner at the adjoin­ 
ing village of Shaw, was bound over with his surety, 
Thomas Pearce, weaver, in the sum of £10 to appear at 
the same time ; and Edward Crosby, clothworker, was 
bound over in the same amount for the appearance of 
Mary, wife of Robert Gosling (not one of the men Friends 
charged).
At the next Sessions true bills were found against the 
ten women Friends and young Thomas Hyne, and Messrs. 
Pearce and William Paradise became sureties, in the sum 
of £10 each, that the accused would appear and answer 
to their indictment at the next sitting of the Court. One 
wonders whether these proceedings had anything to do 
with a decision arrived at in November of the same year 
(1683) that a common prison should be erected at the 
expense of the Corporation, the said prison consisting of 
two rooms with garrets, and butchers' stalls under­ 
neath.
In October, 1684, the retiring Constable, Francis 
Cox, presented twenty-four persons, some of them Friends 
and some belonging to the other Nonconformist bodies, 
*' jTor not repairing to the Parish Church at Newbury to 
heare Divine Service and Sermon upon the two last 
Lord's Dayes comonly called Sunday, vizt. the 5th and 
I2th dayes of this instant October." No conviction, 
however, is recorded against these persons.
At the Court held in January, 1685, Thomas Hyne, 
Jun., and ten women (probably the ten women Friends 
before mentioned) were indicted for unlawfully assembling 
for religious worship, and being found guilty, it was or­ 
dered that Mr. Mayor and the Associate Justices send for 
them by warrant. Were the other men Friends at this
FRIENDS AT NEW BURY, BERKSHIRE. 27
time in prison, and was young Thomas Hyne at liberty 
because he alone had been willing to give surety ? 2
Mr. Honey's book does not contain any later instances 
•of persecution against the Friends. In February, 1688, 
when James II. was vainly endeavouring to conciliate the 
Nonconformists, a number of Dissenters were elected as 
Aldermen and Common Councillors at Newbury. Of 
these it is noted that " Robert Wilson refused to be sworn 
Alderman, and Robert Gosling refused to be sworn Coun­ 
cilman, whereupon their places were declared void." 
They were not to be tempted to abandon their Quaker 
principles by the prospect of municipal honours.
It was at Robert Wilson's house that the Friends 
held their meeting, as appears from the "Return of Con­ 
venticles " made in 1669, and preserved in the Lambeth 
Palace Library (Tenison MS. 639). At a later date, a 
small Meeting House was erected near Bartholomew Street. 
It has been used of late years as a candle factory and for 
other purposes. The Friends' Burying Ground is still 
preserved in Mayor's Lane, at no great distance from the 
railway station.
The following list gives the Quaker families whose 
names occur in the entries given in Mr. Money's book, and 
may be of service to those interested in Friends' genea­ 
logy :—
AVELYN.—Edward Avelyn imprisoned for refusing oath, 1681, 1683. 
BOND.—Thomas Bond presented for not attending church, 1670.
BROWNE.—Richard Browne imprisoned for refusing oath, 1681,1683: 
Elizabeth his wife also refused oath, 1683.
Cox.—Abraham Cox presented for not receiving sacrament, 1665 ; 
reported as excommunicate, 1670. Robert Cox, weaver, presented for 
not receiving sacrament, 1675 ; refused oath and imprisoned, 1681, 1683.
GOSLING.—Mary, wife of Robert Gosling, apparently refused oath,
1683. Robert, and Mary his wife, presented for not attending church,
1684. Robert refused to take oath as Councilman, 1688.
2 The objection of the early Friends to " giving surety " is illustrated 
by Thomas Ellwood's words relating to Sir William Bowyer, " We told 
him that knowing our innocency, and that we had not misbehaved our­ 
selves, nor did meet in contempt of the King's authority, but purely 
in obedience to the Lord's requirements to worship Him . . we could 
not consent to be bound, for that would imply guilt, which we were free 
from."
28 FRIENDS AT NEW BURY, BERKSHIRE.
GRAY.—Joseph Gray, weaver, presented for refusing church dues, 
1665, and, in J 675, for not receiving sacrament. John, Joseph, and 
Benjamin Gray imprisoned, 1681, 1683. Sara, Joseph's wife, refused the 
oath, 1683 ; presented for not attending church, 1684.
HUTCHINS.—Anna Hutchins, spinster, refused oath, 1683 > presented 
for not attending church, 1684, as was also Richard Hutchins, Jun.
HYNE.—Anna, wife of Thomas Hyne, Sen., refused oath, 1683, as 
did Thomas Hyne, Jun., of Shaw, who was indicted for unlawful assembly, 
1685.
JOHNS.—John, Robert, and Thomas Johns imprisoned for refusing^ 
oath, 1681 and 1683. Margery Johns presented for not attending church, 
1684.
KNIGHT.—Elizabeth Knight, spinster, refused oath, in 1683 ; pre­ 
sented for not attending church, 1684.
MARSHE.—Thomas Marshe presented for not attending church, 1670; 
imprisoned for refusing oath, 1681, 1683 ; refused to pay church-rate* 
1693.
MILLS.—Edward Mills refused to pay church dues, 1665 ; imprisoned 
for refusing oath, 1681, 1683, as was also William Mills, Jun. Maria 
or Marion, Edward's wife, also refused oath, 1683.
OSGOOD.—Mary Osgood, widow, presented for not attending church^ 
1670, and for not receiving sacrament, 1675.
PLANT.—John Woodes, a/. Plant, presented for not attending 
church, 1665. John Plant, Jun., imprisoned for refusing oath, 1681,
1683.
STEPHENS.—Bridget Stephens, spinster, refused oath, 1683 ; pre­ 
sented for not attending church, 1684.
STRONGE.—John Stronge imprisoned for refusing oath, 1681, 1683. 
Prudence his wife refused oath, 1683 ; presented for not attending church,
1684.
STYLES.—Joseph Styles imprisoned for refusing oath, 1683. 
TOVEY.—William Tovey imprisoned for refusing oath, 1681, 1683.
WATERMAN.—John Waterman imprisoned for refusing oath, 1681* 
1683.
WEBB.—Elizabeth Webb refused oath, 1683.
WILSON.—Robert Wilson, flaxdresser, and Maria his wife, both re­ 
turned as excommunicate in 1667. The Meeting was held at their house 
in 1669 (Lambeth Return). In 1670, R. W. was still excommunicate. 
He was imprisoned for refusing the oath, in 1681 and 1683. His wife 
refused it in 1683 ; and was presented for not attending church, in 1684^ 
He refused to take the oath as Alderman in 1688. Priscilla Wilson was. 
presented for not attending church in 1670.
W. H. SUMMERS.


Friends at Newbury, Berkshire

Editors, The

BREWERS YARD BURIAL GROUND. 37
persuaded possibly by her husband's friends, or wishing 
to lay the child beside him, buries him in the Friends' 
Burial Ground, to the grief of Mr. Thompson, who baptised 
him. 2
FRANCIS CLEMENT NAISH.
(^uriaf
1682. Aug. 25, Kirkham. There is a place in this 
parish, wee call Brewers-yard, four or five miles distant, 
where the Quakers (the most incorrigible sinners I know) 
doe use to bury. . . I desire you, therefore, you may 
procure this may bee spooken of at Sheriff's table, that 
there places may be laid wast, or if not soe, some other 
remedy may be thought of for the preventing of their 
diabolical infatuation and infection.—RICHARD CLEGGE 
to ROGER KENYON.
From the MSS. of Lord Kenyon, quoted in Pryings 
among Private Papers, 1905.
2 " Michael Raven, tho' baptized by me, Francis Thompson, Vicar, 
on yc eighteenth day of last March, was interred among ye Quakers in their 
Burying place in this parish, near his Father (who died an obstinate 
Quaker), January ye i."
In the entry of baptism, Michael is described as " son of Matthew 
Raven, a Quaker, and Mary, his widow, a Christian woman.0
1 There is little doubt the above title refers to the ancient Friends' 
Burial Ground at Little Eccleston, an isolated village five miles from 
Kirkham, twelve miles N.W. from Preston, situated on the high road from 
Garstang (six miles) to Poulton. The small plot of ground, with an old 
building, part of which was the original Meeting House, has been recently 
sold by Preston Monthly Meeting ; restrictions as to building on the Burial 
Ground, etc, were inserted in the conveying deed. A stone, dated 1774, 
formerly part of the horseblock at Little Eccleston Meeting House, is now 
on the Preston Meeting House premises.
1669. By Indenture dated May, 1669, William Brewer, of Little 
Eccleston, yeoman, conveyed " a little garden or croft out of a close of 
land," containing " four falls of land or thereabout, to John White and 
Thomas Moone, of Wood Plump ton."
1690. An Indorsement of the same deed, " under the hand of John 
White, the survivor to the above parcel of land," states that " it was 
bought with a publick charge of Friends belonging to Fild Meeting for a 
burying place; and he did give grant and pass over the Premises . 
unto Richard Coward, Timothy Townson, Thos. Tomlinson, and Henry 
Tomlinson, all belonging to the said Meeting. 1 '
The last interment was in 1825.—DILWORTH ABBATT, Preston.


Brewers Yard Burial Ground

Penney, Norman

jfrien&0 in Cumnf
The first Bulletin of Friends' Historical Society of 
Philadelphia (Phila : Leeds and Biddle, 8vo, pp. 48) is 
to hand. It contains an Introduction by the President of 
the Society, Dr. Isaac Sharpless, articles by Amelia M. 
Gummere and Joshua L. Baily, and other matter. A. M, 
Gummere's article, " An International Chess Party," 
shows, in a forcible manner, the influence which such 
Friends as Dr. Fothergill, David Barclay, and others, 
exercised in public affairs during the period when the 
relations between the Mother Country and her American 
Colonies were very strained. Joshua L. Baily's paper is 
entitled, " The Progress of the Temperance Cause among 
Friends of Philadelphia," and is full of interesting re­ 
miniscences of action in reference to this important subject. 
The Society does not propose at present to publish its 
Bulletin at stated times. I feel doubtful whether there is 
yet room for another periodical of the same kind as THE 
JOURNAL, though the increasing interest taken in Friends* 
history on both sides of the Atlantic may, in time, warrant 
two independent publications.
Headley Brothers have just published another cheap 
edition, the sixth, of Early Church History, by Edward 
Backhouse and Charles Tylor, 8vo, pp. 292.
Poor Raoul and other Fables is the title of a little book 
by T. Edmund Harvey, M.A. (London : Dent, small 4to, 
pp. 48).
A selection from the poems of John Greenleaf 
Whittier has been made by Arthur Christopher Benson, 
son of a late Archbishop of Canterbury, and the com­ 
piler has contributed an Introduction (London : Jack, 
8vo, pp. 283). He says, " Whittier stands out as probably 
the most aboriginal among the poets of America. . . 
The American can lay his hand on Whittier and say 
that this poet, at least, is a pure and ingenuous production 
of the very soil and climate of the country. . ." There 
is a portrait of the poet, and several illustrations. Among 
the latter is one intended to represent the breaking up
42 FRIENDS IN CURRENT LITERATURE.
of a Friends' meeting, in which persons are seen shaking 
hands in all parts of the house ; the poet's words,
The elder folks shook hands at last, 
Down seat by seat the signal passed,
in " The Meeting," might, however, be so interpreted 
by one not versed in Quaker methods.
Henry E. and Rachel M. Clark. A Memoir by one 
of their Daughters (Edith M. Clark) is a new record of 
missionary life, published by Headley Brothers (8vo, 
pp. 95). Henry E. Clark and his wife, with their two little 
girls, sailed for Madagascar in 1871, and their connection 
with Friends' mission work on that island lasted to the 
end of their lives. R. M. Clark died on the island in 1904, 
while on a visit with her husband, and H. E. Clark's de­ 
cease took place at his home at Doncaster, in 1906.
In McClure's Magazine for November there is a 
twelve-page article on " The Hanging of Mary Dyer," by 
Basil King, which is admirably written and should be 
widely read. The three accompanying coloured illustra­ 
tions are from paintings by Howard Pyle, and represent 
Mary Dyer speaking in a meeting, standing before Governor 
Endicott, and being led forth to death ; they are striking 
and beautiful. The introduction of the renunciation by 
" Jeffrey Pryde " of his Friends' principles on the scaffold 
brings out in sharp contrast the fortitude of Mary Dyer, 
but is there historical foundation for any such sad fall 
from Truth ?
Lewis H. Berens has dedicated his new book, The 
Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth, as 
revealed in the Writings of Gerrard Winstanley, the Digger, 
Mystic and Rationalist, Communist and Social Reformer 
(London : Simpkin, 8vo, pp. 259), to " the Society of 
Friends (the Children of Light), to whom the World 
owes more than it yet recognises . . ." When 
preparing his book, Mr. Berens was in frequent communi­ 
cation with D, but he failed to find any reference to 
Winstanley in the writings of early Friends, although 
the opponents of Quakerism noted a resemblance between 
the followers of Winstanley and Fox. 1 The author,
1 See Bennet's Answer, 1711 ; Dean Coomber's Christianity no En­ 
thusiasm, 1678 ; and for further particulars of Winstanley, see Trevelyan's 
England under the Stuarts ; also Wisdom of Winstanley the Digger.
FRIENDS IN CURRENT LITERATURE. 43
however, states his belief that the " most characteristic 
tenets and doctrines of the early Quakers " were drawn 
from Winstanley's writings. There were Friends named 
Winstanley living in Gerrard's native county of Lancaster, 
see THE JOURNAL, ii. 100, and Robson MSS. in D.
Some Little Quakers in their Nursery (London: 
Simpkin, 8vo, pp. 112), illustrated by the author,2 is a
•delightful word-picture of infant Quaker life some half- 
century ago, as it was manifested at home, at school, 
at meeting, in the street and on other occasions.
John Dalton, by J. P. Millington, M.A., B.Sc., appears 
in " English Men of Science " series (London : Dent; 
and New York : Button, 8vo, pp. 225).
M. Elizabeth Brockbank's illustrations in Headley's 
reprint of The Children's Meeting, by M. Efngland], are
•excellent, and are sure to help the circulation of this little 
narrative, founded on the words of Thomas Curtis, 
4t Our little children kept the meetings up when we were 
all in prison, notwithstanding that wicked justice."
Helen (Cadbury) Alexander's life of her father, 
Richard Cadbury, of Birmingham (London: Hodder, 
8vo, pp. 448), is a worthy record of a valuable life. It 
is a very readable book, of sustained interest from first 
to last, and is well illustrated. The author says,
In a life overflowing with work and activities of all kinds, Richard 
Cadbury found time to compile a book, which is now valued as one of the 
family's greatest treasures. It is a large, solidly bound volume, entitled, 
" The Cadbury Pedigree," and contains the details of family history which 
were thus collected for the first time in comprehensive form. From early 
manhood to the last year of his busy life, Richard Cadbury studied the 
records of his ancestors with thoroughness and affection . . .
Unhistoric Acts: Some Records of Early Friends 
in North-East Yorkshire, by George Baker, of York, is 
an excellent example of what research can do to illustrate 
the history of a family (London : Headley, 8vo, pp. 242). 
A large amount of valuable information has been brought 
together and set forth in this book, both in the text and 
in the numerous illustrations by Joseph Walter West, 
R.W.S., Adelaide Hoyland, Fanny Elizabeth Baker, 
and by means of photographs by the author, which adorn
a The authorship is known, but I respect the author's wish to remain 
anonymous.
44 FRIENDS IN CURRENT LITERATURE
this volume. The Baker family, naturally, occupies 
considerable space, but members of the Hartas, Hedley, 
Fletcher, Thistlethwaite, Bowron, Pearson, and other 
families receive full treatment. Various family manu­ 
scripts, as e.g., Caleb Hedley's account of his journey 
to the Yearly Meeting in 1770, Sarah Hedley's memoranda 
of rather later date, and Joshua Hedley's journal of 
1815, supply lively touches of every-day life in bye-gone 
periods. The author's desire to illustrate his history 
from contemporary events has led him somewhat un­ 
necessarily far afield, as in the case of the long account 
of the last days of John Wesley (p. 75).
Headley Brothers have just published a collection of 
essays by Maria Catharine Albright, of Birmingham, with 
the title, The Common Heritage (8vo, pp. 137). The 
essays are as follows: The Open Secret, The Significance 
of Beauty, The New Comer, Claimants for the Heritage, 
The Throes of Earth, Incarnation, The Storehouse, The 
Eternal Now.
John J. Cornell, member and Minister of Baltimore 
Yearly Meeting, Park Avenue, has written his Auto­ 
biography (Baltimore, Md. : The Lord Baltimore Press, 
large 8vo, pp. 498). It contains " an account of his 
religious experiences and travels in the ministry " over 
many years. I have not had an opportunity to study 
this portly volume, but one extract (p. 383) will show the 
extent of the author's labours :—
I stated that in the past fifteen years I had visited all the Meetings 
of Friends of our branch in the United States but two, had attended each 
of the Yearly Meetings at least three times, and this had involved 50,000 
miles of travel by public conveyance, and had taken fully three years 
of the fifteen of time.
The book is "dedicated to my beloved wives, Judith 
H. and Eliza H. Cornell," and contains portraits of the 
author taken at various ages, and a view of his home at 
Mendon, N.Y.
The Literary Causerie of The Academy (London) of 
July 28th, has Robert Barclay and his " Apology " as 
its subject, and is written by a lineal descendant, Edward
FRIENDS IN CURRENT LITERATURE. 45
J affray. The author deals principally with the address 
to King Charles II. One of the several paragraphs 
quoted is described as " grand and dignified, if stilted," 
and the summing up represents Barclay as " a great 
master of English/'
A Directory of New York Yearly Meeting (Ruther­ 
ford Place) has reached me. It is a useful little publica­ 
tion, giving brief statements of the various activities of 
the Yearly Meeting, and lists of members under Monthly 
and Preparative Meetings.
" William Penn was born in his father's house ' upon 
Great Tower Hill, on the east side, with a court adjoining 
to London Wall,' in 1644." " At No. 21, ' the house on 
the south-west corner of Norfolk Street, Strand, the last 
house in the street, and overlooking the river ' (the site 
of which is now occupied by the Arundel Hotel), William 
Penn lived for a time." I insert the above on the 
authority of Elsie M. Lang's Literary London (London : 
Laurie, 8vo, pp. 349).
The. following appears in Old Norfolk Inns, by G. 
A. B. Dewar, London, 1906 :—" The Star Hotel of Yar­ 
mouth is a house of little distinction. . . The Nelson 
room upstairs has carved panelling nine feet high, black 
almost as bog-oak. . . It is called the Nelson room 
merely because Keymer, a member of the Society of 
Friends, which still meets there each year, was allowed to 
paint a portrait of Nelson, still hanging on the wall." 3
On the general subject of Anti-slavery, Sir Harry 
Johnston, in his book on Liberia (London : Hutchinson, 
2 vols., 4to, pp. 1183), commends the work of Friends ; 
but, with one exception, the connection of individual mem­ 
bers of the Society with the early history of the country 
is not referred to. This omission has been noticed by 
several interested persons, and some study of the lives of 
Samuel Gurney, Hannah Kilham, Eli and Sibil Jones, 
and others is proceeding in D., with a view of supplying the 
omission. The exception above-mentioned is given in 
the following words (p. 155) :—
3 Annie Youell, of i, Broad Row, Yarmouth, informs me that she 
never heard of Yarmouth Friends meeting in the " Star " room, but she 
knows the name of Keymer as that of an artist. Was he a Friend, as stated 
above ?
46 FRIENDS IN CURRENT LITERATURE.
In 1835, the Pennsylvania Young Men's Society * interested itself in 
the emigration to Africa. It was a Quaker organisation, and had very 
practical ideas on the subject of colonisation. This Pennsylvanian body 
therefore dispatched to Liberia one hundred and twenty-six Negro colonists,, 
who were entirely men of their hands—blacksmiths, carpenters, potters, 
brickmakers, shoemakers, and tailors. . . They were bound by vows 
of total abstinence. . . Strong efforts were made to obtain for the 
Pennsylvania Young Men's Society tracts of land at Grand Basa. The
_ • _
Basa chief, Joe Harris, was induced to sell an island in the St. John's 
River in front of Edina. Here the one hundred and twenty-six emigrants 
sent out by the Quakers established themselves in a village called Port 
Cresson. But the Spanish slave traders, who still possessed great in­ 
fluence over the Basa chiefs, incited them to attack this Liberian settle­ 
ment. The head of the little colony at Port Cresson refused to resort 
to arms. Consequently, when his settlement was attacked by the Basa 
people, eighteen of the colonists were killed, the houses all destroyed, and 
the rest of the colonists were obliged to flee for their lives to Edina. But 
another Basa chief, Bob Gray, was faithful to his engagement towards the 
Liberian Government. He assisted the settlers of Edina to repel the people 
of Joe Harris, and even to frighten the latter into suing for peace. Joe 
Harris himself rebuilt the Quaker village on a site farther to the north 
on the St. John's River, where it received the name of Basa Cove.
Women's Work and Wages. A Phase of Life in an 
Industrial City, is the title of a new book dealing with 
industrial problems, prepared by Edward Cadbury (of 
Birmingham), M. C6cile Matheson, and George Shann, M.A. 
(London : Unwin, 8vo, pp. 368). The book is dedicated 
to Dorothy (Mrs. Edward) Cadbury.
The American Friend, 8 mo. 30, contains an Account of the opening 
of Western Yearly Meeting in 1858, from the pen of William Wood of New 
York. In the same paper, dated 12 mo. 6, there is an article by Amelia 
M. Gummere on " England at the Time of Fox."
The Independent Review, London, October, has an article by Joseph 
Marshall Sturge, of Charlbury, on West Indian Slavery.
The Contemporary Review, London, October, contains an article by 
Maurice Gregory on " Polygamy and Christianity/ 1
The Westonian, Westtown, Pa., for Tenth Month, contains a lively 
article by Joshua L. Baily, on " Personal Reminiscences " of school-life 
at Westtown from 1838.
There is a useful ten-page biographical sketch of Countess Conway, 
of Ragley Castle, who was convinced of Friends' principles in the early 
days, in The Gentleman's Magazine, for November, under the title of" A 
Pupil of Van Helmont the Younger."
* I have not been able to obtain information of a Society so-named, 
but George Vaux, of Philadelphia, in answer to inquiries, has sent some 
particulars of the Pennsylvania Colonisation Society, which undertook the 
colonisation in Africa of American negroes, but which has now, I gather, 
ceased operations. It does not appear that Friends were specially promi­ 
nent in its management.
FRIENDS IN CURRENT LITERATURE. 47
A twelve-page article by T. Edmund Harvey, entitled, "TheFailure 
and Hope of the Church," appears in The Social Mission of the Church, 
edited by C. Ensor Walters (London : Law, 8vo, pp. 219).
Extracts from William Penn's Some Fruits of Solitude have appeared 
in " The Leaves of Life Series " (London : Foulis, oblong, pp. 105). They 
form a dainty little book, printed in two colours.
An interesting Companion to Thomas a Kempis and the Imitatio Christi 
has been written by Frederick Goldsmith French (London: Marlborough» 
8vo, pp. 61). The author is a Baptist minister, at Lee, Kent; he came 
into touch with Friends while residing at Hitchin. Woolman and Whittier 
are quoted and Fox and Penn referred to.
Mary O'Brien Harris, D.Sc., a member of London and Middlesex 
Q.M., has written a little book, entitled, Seasonal Botany (London: Blackie, 
small 8vo, pp. 56).
A story entitled, " The Weavers," written by Sir Gilbert Parker, 
M.P., is coming out in Harper's Magazine. The so-called Quaker 
characters and the Quaker setting of the story are quite unlike any phases 
of Quakerism known to me.
A portrait of Edward Verrall Lucas, the well-known writer, a member 
of London Y.M., appears in The Review of Reviews, for October.
Ernest E. Taylor, of Malton, Yorks, is rendering 
valuable service to the cause of Friends' literature. Under 
the auspices of the Yorkshire 1905 Committee, of which 
he is hon. sec., he has published several pamphlets, in­ 
cluding What does the Society of Friends Stand For ? by 
William C. Braithwaite ; For Fellowship and Freedom, by 
Joan M. Fry ; Applied Christianity and War, by Joshua 
Rowntree; The Spiritual Legacies of George Fox, by 
Charles H. Spurgeon ; The Test of a Church, by Rufus M. 
Jones ; The Lay Ministry, by J. Wilhelm Rowntree.
Charles W. Dymond, F.S.A., of Sawrey, S.O., 
Lancashire, proposes to issue by subscription, a volume 
of about 120 pages, entitled Memoir, Letters, and Poems 
of Jonathan Dymond, the well-known author of Essays 
on Christian Morality. The price will be 35. 6d. (postage 
extra). Prospectuses and order forms may be obtained 
from the author.
Books for review, and information suitable for future 
articles, will be welcomed.
NORMAN PENNEY.


Friends in Current Literature

Alexander, Samuel

Visits of American Ministers to Europe

Manners, Emily

(ttleeftnge in
In part reply to the query of Morgan Bunting, in THE 
JOURNAL, vol. iii., p. 46, 1 send the following information : 
Copied from the earliest Quarterly Meeting Minute 
Book in possession of Friends at Nottingham, dated 30th 
of ist Month, 1668 : 
4< The constitution of Meetings and how they are 
joyned in two Monthly Meetings and one Quarterly 
Meeting: 
" The Sand Meeting, The Clay Meeting, the Trent- 
side Meeting, Joyned in one Monthly Meeting for the 
north side of the countie.
" West side ff orrest Meeting, East side jiforrest Meeting, 
Nottingham Meeting, Vaile Meeting, Joyned in one 
Meeting for the south part of the countie."
This appears to have been the general division of the 
county, and the Meetings mentioned under must have 
been included in one or other of the above districts.
MANSFIELD.
Evidently no Meeting House, for the meeting was held 
at the house of Tymothy Garland. John Firth, vicar of 
Mansfield, 1654-1699, in his report of conventicles held in 
his parish, says : 
At the Quakers meeting about twenty ordinarily, and at some extra- 
ordinary times, three score. The quality of the Quakers is mean, most 
of them women and inhabitants of other parishes. The Quakers are said 
to meet at the house of Tymothy Garland for the most part and it is said 
they are all speakers.
Every Quarterly Meeting from the first held, 30 i. 
1668, to the 34th, 26 iv. 1676, had been held at Mansfield, 
and, from the following extract, apparently at the house of 
Tymothy Garland : 
At a monthly Meeting at Nottingham, u vii. 1676.
Agreed that Wm. Wood and John Theaker speak to Tymothy Garland 
and wife, and acquaint them that the men's Quarterly Meeting is to be 
removed from their house at Mansfield to Nottingham for the next time, 
and for the future as it may be considered of.
Twelve years later, in 1688, the Quarterly Meeting 
was still held at T. Garland's house.
153
154 EARLY MEETINGS IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
I have found no record as to when Friends first had a 
Meeting House in Mansfield, but in 1800,
The undermentioned Meeting-houses and land were sold, with the 
concurrence of the Quarterly Meeting and the Trustees, having become use- 
less to the Society as such, and the money arising therefrom appropriated 
to the re-building and enlarging of Mansfield Meeting-house, so as to reader 
it commodious for the Quarterly Meeting, viz. :—
South Leverton to Thos. Hodgkinson for the sum of £20.
Oxton to William Sherbrook for the sum of ^50.
Kersall to John Hopkins for the sum of ^63.
Halam to Wm. Wilkie for the sum of £80.
Skegby.
Markham for the sum of £26 53.
The present Meeting House at Mansfield bears the 
date 1800 over the entrance.
MANSFIELD WOODHOUSE.
A meeting was held at the house of Richard Bingham, 
and marriages were celebrated there. In the Digest 
Register at Nottingham, we find that Robert Moore 
married Eliz. Bingham, at Richard Bingham's, Mansfield 
Woodhouse, 28 i. 1668.
Fra. Chapman, vicar of Mansfield Woodhouse, in 
1669, in his report of Conventicles, writes : 
In reply to your worshipful Archdeacon's letter, I know nothing but 
this : that in Mansfield Woodhouse we have no conventicle but one of 
Quakers, at the house of Robert Bingham (excommunicate for not 
comynge to church), but who they are who frequent it I cannot say.
At Skegby, alsoe, there is a conventicle of Quakers at the house of 
Elizabeth Halton, widow, 1 but I cannot learn who they are who fre- 
quent them, they being all of other towns. In the same town of Skegby 
alsoe there is another conventicle reputed Anabaptists and JFith monarchy 
men, held at Mr. Lyndley's (excommunicate alsoe), but I know neither 
their speakers or hearers. Sir, your most humble servant.
FRA. CHAPMAN.
SKEGBY.
A meeting was held at the house of Geo. Cockerhanu 
Joshua Ely, of Mansfield, and Mary Sinear, of Mansfield, 
were married there 29 viii. 1673. A Quarterly Meeting 
was held at Skegby, 7 v. 1679.
HtJCKNALL.
*
It seems probable there was a Meeting House here, as 
shown by the following extract from the Minute Book 
kept recording the Sufferings of Friends: 
1 Perhaps it should be Elizabeth Hooton, if she was a widow at that time.
EDITORS' NOTES. 155
" Wee being mett together peaceably in the feare of 
the Lord at Hucknall in our meeting house upon the i6th 
of second month, 1676," etc.
FARNSFIELD.
A burial ground was purchased 29 x. 1673. Presumably 
there was a Meeting House, as we find a Monthly Meeting 
was held here 10 vi. 1698.
BLYTHE.
There is a disused Meeting House in this village 
belonging to Nottingham and Mansfield Monthly Meeting. 
In the early Q.M. minute book mention is frequently 
made of Blythe and of the Friends of that Meeting.
I fear this is not a complete list of early Nottingham- 
shire Meetings, as when the notes were made no special 
notice was taken of the different Meetings.
EMILY MANNERS.
The Editors have on hand for next year's volume 
several articles of considerable interest, among which 
may be mentioned: " A Glimpse of Ancient Friends 
in Dorset," by Elizabeth B. Rutter; "Friends in 
Barbadoes," by C. Dickinson Sturge; several articles on 
Friends in Nottinghamshire, by Emily Manners; a his- 
tory of Friends' property in Somerby, Leicestershire, by 
the late Mary Radley, edited by Henrietta Ellis; " Thomas 
Areskine, Brewer, of Edinburgh," by William F. Miller; 
an account of Richard Cubham, of Bickerstaffe, Lanes.; 
"Bernard Barton's Dream," by J. J. Green; "Remin- 
iscences of Manchester Meeting."
Various early documents relating to Friends, pre- 
served in the Public Record Office, London, are being 
copied, and it is hoped that these may be printed in 
extenso, from time to time, by the F.H.S.


Early Meetings in Nottinghamshire

160 EARLY COLLECTIONS.
a century before the coming of the Quakers ; no Friend was directly put 
to death in this country for his religious principles; the hanging of Mary 
Dyer and her companions took place in New England. Lord Lister 
(p. 21) was never a Friend as such, he resigned his membership as Joseph 
Lister. Sir Richard Tangye was never actually a member, as he himself 
once told me when I was at his house at Kingston-on-Thames.
Mr. Hebblethwaite's second pamphlet had better have omitted refer- 
ence to Friends on its title page as there are fewer references to Friends 
than to others.
A second edition of The Lloyds of Birmingham has recently appeared.
NORMAN PENNEY.
Coffecfione.
Quarterly Meeting held at Dolobran, 28th of ye 5 th 
mo., 1668 : 
Ordered that in all ye several meetings in the three 
counties of Shropshire, Montgomeryshire and Merioneth- 
shire, there be weekly collections for raising of money for 
a Stock to be kept and brought to ye Quarterly Meeting for 
ye supply of ye Poor and requirings of Truth.
Ordered likewise y* Charles Lloyd and Thomas Lloyd 
doe register all Births, Marriages, deaths, and sufferings 
of Friends of all kinds, judgements y* fall on ye heads of 
Persecutors, and likewise to give notice of all ye priests 
thereabouts that have turned. Books to be translated 
into Welsh for the benefit of Wales, with the consent of 
George Fox, by Evan Jones.
Friends present : Charles Lloyd, Richard Moore, 
Richard Davies, Owen Lewis, Thomas Lloyd, Thomas 
Ellis, Evan Thomas, Owen Humphreys, William Lewis, 
Thomas Overton, John Simpson, Richard Owens.
Quarterly Meeting held at Dolobran, 27th of 2nd mo., 
1669 : 
It is desired a particular collection be ordered through 
the three counties as a supply to Shrewsbury Friends in 
purchasing a Meeting-room and inclosure for a Burying- 
place, and which, according to their ability may, in time, 
be paid back into the stock.
From information supplied by W. G. Norris.


Early Collections

Braithwaite, William C.

The Westmorland and Swaledale Seekers in 1651

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