Job Hughes, Friends' Minister of Yonge Street, 1805-1807 Ethel
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Job Hughes, Friends’ Minister of Yonge Street, 1805-1807 Ethel Willson Trewhella (1882-1959) The sufferings of early Friends, because of early minute books could be endowed with their non-conformity, is well known. Their the power of volition and would speak of persecution during and following the Ameri- much which lies behind the brief entries on can Revolution is a record of history, but the the yellowed pages - what volumes of human years which have elapsed vividly portray the interest might they reveal; what vast move- change in thought since the then-prevailing ments had their beginnings in the weighty attitude towards war. From the beginning of decisions recorded in those epitomes of lan- Quakerism, George Fox and his followers guage! At once, would the years fall away. believed that if Christianity did not destroy Behind the gossamer veil again would pass war, then war would destroy Christianity. those valiant spirits who in the long ago had Looking back across the centuries, that testi- acted their roles in the drama of history! mony of Friends regarding respect for human Extant is a book of minutes which certifies life and rights of the individual which was that on the eighth day of the ninth month accepted in those earliest days is still the tes- 1682, at Shackamaxon, on the banks of the timony of the Society. The final minute of a Delaware River, “At this time Governor Penn historic meeting held by Friends in London and a multitude of Friends arrived here and during the crisis of 1938 re-affirms this inter- erected a city called Philadelphia” (from pretation: Janney’s Life of William Penn). Since the occasion which prompted the above minute, We have looked over the world and at several centuries have passed. At that time, home, and we have seen everywhere forces were set loose which in their silent way the denial of those standards of human have brought fundamental changes to every relationship which Jesus Christ showed corner of the North American continent. to us. Some evils stand out clearly, In a book of records of the early Friends on some we know that we are only begin- Yonge Street is another concise minute. It ning to recognize. God has met us here, appeared to be significant. From it, was and in His presence we have re- pieced together the story of that courageous affirmed the testimony of our Society Friend, Job Hughes, a Friends’ minister of against all war for whatever purpose, Yonge Street, Upper Canada, which was re- and have determined to make that tes- traced to the mother settlement of Friends timony our own today! across the border in Pennsylvania USA. Two world wars have demonstrated unmeas- 1808-01-14 The Meeting appointed ured evidence of this conviction. Amos Armitage and Thomas Linville Historians have long realized that the im- to prepare a memorial concerning our portance of the minute books of the Society deceased friend, Job Hughes, for the of Friends cannot be over-estimated. If those approbation of next Meeting. Canadian Quaker History Journal 71 (2006) 75 Job Hughes 1808-02-10 Memorial produced and lets) Hughes, was born the 15th of the 7th approved. Directed to be forwarded to month 1740. He was a birthright member of Meeting for Sufferings. Exeter Monthly Meeting, and in 1799 he was recorded as a minister of Catawissa Monthly A résumé of the genealogy of Job Hughes Meeting. Job Hughes was twice married - shows that his ancestors were all Welsh first, to Esther Wright, daughter of Thomas & Quakers. His great-grandfather was born in Sibilla (Pearson) Wright. Esther died about 1652 in the district of Gwynedd, Merioneth- 1771. Then, on the 16th of the 5th month 1776, shire, North Wales. John ap Hugh left the land in the Friends’ Meeting House at Exeter, he of his birth with his wife, Martha, and the married Eleanor, daughter of Thomas & Elea- company of a group of their countrymen, nor (Ellis) Lee. sailing from the port of Liverpool on the first In this saga of Welsh-American Friends, of May 1698. Their journey lasted nearly these colonists of the Gwynedd settlement eleven weeks - and a sad one it was - for no later made their way across country to the less than forty-five of the little party died of New Indian Purchase in northern Pennsylva- dysentery. An account by one of the company, nia. The name of Hughes is frequently found Edward Foulke, states that two or three among those of the earliest settlers in the corpses were cast overboard every day while neighbourhood of Exeter and Catawissa. it lasted. The voyage came to an end on the Prominent among these settlers was Moses 17th day of July 1698 when their ship, the Roberts, a young man who had presented a “Robert & Elizabeth,” arrived at the port of certificate of removal from Gwynedd to Exe- Philadelphia where they were warmly re- ter Monthly Meeting. In this Meeting, he mar- ceived by a number of their countrymen who ried Jane Lee, a sister to Eleanor, wife of Job had come earlier. This particular group Hughes. Some five years earlier to 1780, this founded the community of Gwynedd in Penn- young man had purchased land from Ellis sylvania, naming it after their home district. Hughes, a brother of Job. Moses Roberts kept Ellis Hughes, the son of John ap Hugh, was a Journal which contains an account of his born in Wales in 1687 and died in Pennsylva- concern for removal to Catawissa where he nia in 1764. At Gwynedd Meeting, on the 4th later was joined by Job Hughes. of the 5th month 1713, Ellis Hughes married When reading the Journal of Moses Rob- Jane Foulke, daughter of Edward Foulke. He erts, one is touched with a feeling of tender- and his wife were both staunch Friends. Jane ness towards the underlying spirit of meek- was an Elder of Exeter Monthly Meeting for ness and transparent sincerity which were about thirty years, and the same Meeting characteristic attributes of the Friends of that published a testimony to the high qualities of day. It well illustrates that in-dwelling mysti- the character and work of her husband. The cism of spiritual guidance and illumination of second son of Ellis & Jane Hughes was Wil- the divine way - that obedience to the dy- liam Hughes, born 1716 and died 1760. At namic revelations of the Inner Light. From Exeter Meeting, on the 4th of the 1st month the inception of the Society, individuals have 1738, he married Amy Willets. Our subject bowed to this compelling force; they have was their second child. steadfastly maintained the efficience of that Job Hughes, son of William & Amy (Wil- unique Sermon on the Mount as the criterion Canadian Quaker History Journal 71 (2006) 76 Job Hughes of social re-adjustment. As such, this sketch much into the New Purchase, and with of the activities of Job Hughes must present the consent of Friends I several times him as an integral part of the great movement visited them and had meetings for wor- of Friends when, from the time of George ship near Catawasey aforesaid, and Fox, heroic souls had held the torch aloft. always felt the sweet return of inward They faced the horrors of primitive ocean peace with God in my soul for my obe- travel to a new land; they trekked across the dience. And still it often worked in my frontiers to the rugged Indian country of mind, both day and night, that I should northern Pennsylvania; and again to a still endeavor to settle a meeting for wor- more recent wilderness in Upper Canada. ship of the Lord Almighty in the New Through these intrepid Quakers time has Purchase. I removed with my family made manifest a distinctive purposeful lead- and settled on a piece of land near ing through avenues of philanthropic service Catawasey, and we concluded to meet to an awakening of a militant public con- together twice in the week to worship science. the Father in Spirit and in Truth, ac- “So at this roaring loom of time we ply, cording to Christ’s direction to the And weave the garment, ye see God by!” woman of Samaria. To quote the Journal - This small group consisting of the families My mind and inclination drew me of Moses Roberts and Job Hughes together Thomas Moran (American, 1837–1926) On the Catawissa Creek, 1862 Canadian Quaker History Journal 71 (2006) 77 Job Hughes with neighbors and friends formed the origi- nal body of Friends to settle and found a Meeting in those remote regions around Catawissa. Both Moses Roberts and Job Hughes were outstanding leaders in this pio- neer settlement as well as in the establishment of the Meeting - they were intimately associ- ated in the events of that place and time. The traditional site which Job Hughes se- lected for his home lies about three miles to the south of Catawissa in the Roaring Creek Valley where the Susquehanna River peace- House at Catawissa, the building of which Job Hughes had been a zealous helper. Here, fully curves through a country of lush farm and meadow land. It is literally a ‘watered he and Eleanor had joined with Friends in quiet worship. garden’ surrounded by hills and wooded slopes which stretch far beyond in a pano- Incidently, this Meeting House, built in rama of scenic beauty. In the Indian language, 1789, is still standing. It is very well- preserved, largely due to an intelligent inter- Catawissa is a corruption from Gattawissa - ‘growing fat’ - probably from the Indians est by the council of Catawissa and its public- spirited citizens who have long realized its having killed a deer along the creek when the deer fatten.