QUAKER RECORDS

I. Historical Background

The sect was founded by George Fox about 1652. It was mostly centered in central and northern England (strongest in Westmoreland, Northwest Yorkshire and North Lancashire); expansion first into London and the southwest, Bristol, Norwich; then Scotland and Ireland and finally spread to Europe and North America. Persecution increased during the Commonwealth; William Penn was an outspoken advocate for the Quakers—in 1682 the king, Charles II, granted Fenn the right to charter a colony} and Pennsylvania-became a Quaker settlement.

II. Record Sources and Time Periods Covered

A. Regl;ters—The majority begin before 1669 and last until 1837. 1837-1851 registers had to be surrendered to Recording Clerk's Office, Lond:a. Before they were turned in, they were gathered at the Quake:* Society in London and duplicates were made and put into Di^^ts. Therefore, many of the pre-1837 records are to be found i.i these Digests. (85 vols.)* 'J21 Contents: birth, marriage, and death records. In 2339, use of birth and burial notes became standard—see example sheets.)

B. Minute Books

Contents: 1. Marriages (1/4-1/3 of all minutes) 2. admission to membership—mid-18th century 3. disownments—from outset of sect 4. removal certificates—from mid or late 18th century 5. testimonies to deceased members—from 1740-1872 Hi-fy C. Membership Records "Not until the latter part of the 18th century did accurate membership lists become general and many meetings did not commence such a list until 1836." (p. 625 of NIPR) Sufferings Books Include notes about imprisonments, seizures of property, etc. Not very valuable, pedigree-wise, but can provide useful inform- ation about individuals.

Account Books and Deeds Prom early Quaker period on.

*3ee location under "where to write". 2

F. Parish Registers

These contain very few marriages (Quakers were disowned for marrying "before a priest.") Fair number of births and deaths. (If buried in Anglican graveyard, names often not mentioned in the parish register, just "the fact that a nonconformist was buried. By the end of 17th century most Quaker meeting houses had their own burial grounds.)

G. Yearly Meeting Records

\ London yearly meeting minutes printed from1 1857 and printed index is available for 1857-1906.at the Friends Library, London.

H. The Annual Monitor Began 1813-1919/20. Obits. Index (1813-1892) published as Quaker Records, ed. Joseph J. Green.

I. The Friend

Be£; in in 18 13. Announcements of marriages and deaths. Births included fr^m Vol. 8 (1850).

J. Quarter Sessions Records Often contain reports of Quakers brought to trial under the Quaker Act and other anti^Quaker laws.

SOURCES TO CONSULT AT B.Y.U.

Generally, the 289.6 section and the 922.86 section, both on level 4.

Quakers in Pennsylvania, Applegarth—gives good picture of customs and way 905 of life. J62 Ser..10, #8-9

Quaker Biographies, pub. in London, 1760. three copies at B.Y.U. ^r 922.86 F915q

A Collection of Testimonies Concerning Several Ministers of the Gospel... Public Friends Deceased 922.86 F915c

The Annual Monitor—Obits, from Great Britain and Ireland (1843-1908). 922.86 An78 3

Memorials of Deceased Members (1787 or 88-1864), compiled by Susanna Corder. 922.86 C811m

Testimonies of Deceased Ministers (1837-39, 1853-60) 922.86 F915t

A Short History of Quakerism, Emmott 289.6 Em68

London Yearly Meeting (1618-1817) 289 6 f28q 289.9 6 ' F915 e 1858 1796

Manchester Yearly Meeting (11-15 Nov. 1895) 289.6 F91rc

Guide to Irish Quaker Records (1654-1860), Goodbody 929.3415 Dublin: 1967. G6llg

List of Certificates of Removal—Irish Quakers (1682-1750), Myers 929.373 M992i

Friends...Tottenham Monthly Meeting (Testimony of Rebecca Bevan) 922 86 London: William Phillips, 1818.

Memoirs of Many Eminant Friends Deceased...to Year 1696. 922 86

W589p London: James Phillips, 1791.

First Hertford Quakers. Rowe 289.67.25 Filby's—HeR794f f .4 (p. 309-4561-63) 929.016 F472a

National Index of Parish Registers 929.096 Ref. 4 (pp. 601-690) St32n V.2 4

WHERE TO WRITE FOR INFORMATION

1 Library, The Friends House, Euston Road, London, N.W. 1. (Set of the Digests; records of the Yearly Meetings; letters and diaries; Dictionary of Quaker Biography)

County Record Offices

(Local copies of the Digests; Quarterly Meeting records.)

1 Friends Historical Society (Same address as the Library, above.)