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FRIENDS' MISCELLANY.

No. 3.]

SIXTH MONTH, 1835.

SETTLEMENT

[VOL. VII.

and Progress of Byberry meeting of Friends; with some account of the Keithians.

INTRODUCTION.

From the Records of a number of monthly and Quarterly meetings it appears, that some time prior to the year 1770, a direction was given by the Yearly Meeting held in Philadelphia, for Friends to collect and transmit to that body, an account of the origin and first settlement of Friends' meetings within its limits. We know not what gave rise to this concern: but, in accordance with the request, we find many meetings had such a history drawn up, and forwarded to the Meeting for Sufferings; and that it was then expected a history of the settlement of Friends meetings would shortly be published from these documents.

In the year 1770, Bucks Quarter forwarded to the Yearly Meeting the following statement and inquiries; "That as the Yearly Meeting had proposed the publishing a history of the settlement of Friends in this province, and as many Friends have taken much pains in collecting materials for that purpose, -whether it might not be proper to inquire of the Yearly Meeting what is become of that matter;VOL. VII.-9

or whether we are ever to expect to see the work perfected?"

In answer to these inquiries, the Yearly Meeting informed, that "the proposal concerning the first settlement of Friends was recommended to the Friends who have the oversight of the press and the Meeting for Sufferings, to make inquiry into the circumstance of that matter, and give their assistance towards forwarding the work.”

About the beginning of the year 1773, a minute from the Meeting for Sufferings was circulated, stating that "as the accounts that have been handed to our friend Samuel Smith, respecting the history of the settlement of meetings in these provinces, have not been so fully correct as is desired, the clerk of the Meeting for Sufferings was directed to notify each Quarterly meeting, that it is desired suitable Friends may be appointed by each monthly meeting to make out as clear and exact an account of the settlement of Friends' meetings, as may be;— that they may be sent to the Meeting for Sufferings; that when the history is published, it may be as clear from errors and mistakes as may be."

Renewed exertions were then made to have correct statements forwarded to the Meeting for Sufferings, as directed. This is the last we hear of the proposed history. It is probable, the troubles and difficulties of the revolutionary war might have prevented the publication of the work, for a time: but why it has not been taken up since, is a subject of inquiry that Friends have a right yet to make. The object of this concern must then have been considered of sufficient importance to claim the official at

tention and care of Society. It would, doubtless, have been a very interesting history.

More than sixty years have passed, since these exertions were made. The settlements of Friends, and the number of meetings have greatly increased during this period. A historical account of the first, as well as subsequent, gathering, settlement, and establishment of the meetings of Friends in America, is yet an object of increased interest. As we have no copies of the authentic and correct documents, furnished by the different meetings, sixty years ago, towards compiling such a history, it is proposed occasionally to occupy some of the pages of the Miscellany, in endeavouring to rescue from oblivion such accounts as may be gleaned from accessible records yet existing-from traditional narratives, and from the memories of persons still living.

The following historical sketches of the meeting of which the editors are members, may furnish a specimen of the kind of history of Friends' meetings and settlements, that is designed to be embraced in the attempt to offer a substitute for, or supplement of, the history contemplated about the year 1773. At this remote period, and with the limited means of collecting these accounts, inaccuracies and omissions may be expected to occur. We invite the co-operation and assistance of those who have access to correct information on the subject, and request to be furnished with materials for a concise historical view of the settlements of Friends' meetings in America, and with such other interesting matters relating to the Society, as may be usefully circulated, and are worthy of being preserved in remembrance,

The township of Byberry is situated about fourteen miles north-east of Philadelphia; a creek called Poquessing, or, as it was anciently termed, Poetquesink, dividing it from Bensalem, in the county of Bucks. Byberry contains near six thousand acres of good soil, and was first settled chiefly, or altogether by Friends, divers of whom were passengers in the ships which came with William Penn in 1682. Early after their arrival, the following persons located themselves in this neighbourhood,-viz: Giles Knight, from Gloucestershire, Mary his wife, and their son Joseph; John Carver, from Hertfordshire, maltster, his wife Mary, and daughter Mary who was born near Philadelphia, four days after Penn landed at Newcastle; John Hart, from Oxfordshire, Susannah his wife, and several children; Richard Collett and Elizabeth his wife; Nathaniel Walton, Thomas Walton, Daniel Walton, and William Walton-four brothers, young men. In 1683, came John Rush, an elderly Friend, from Oxfordshire, his five sons and a daughter;-also his son William Rush, with Aurelia his wife and three children. Soon after, we find among the settlers, John Gilbert, Florence his wife, and their son Joseph; William Nichols and wife; and William Hibbs, Walter Forrest, Henry English, Thomas Knight, Joseph English, Samuel Ellis, and Thomas Groome.

Some of these Friends had been persecuted in their native country, on account of their religious principles; and, believing that Divine Providence had opened their way to remove to this country, where they might be permitted to worship the Sovereign of the Universe in such manner as they were persuaded was acceptable to him,- they were in

duced to subject themselves to the privations attendant upon a removal from amongst their kindred and friends-to the dangers attendant upon crossing the ocean—and to the difficulties of settling and sustaining themselves in a wilderness country.Under these considerations, they sensibly felt their obligations to a superintending Providence, and entertained a humble hope that his benedictions would be continued for their preservation. Similarity of circumstances brought them into unity of feeling-they assisted each other in temporal concerns, and mingled together in their religious exercises. Meetings for worship, and for mutual edification, were held, probably at first in each other's cabins: and in the 5th mo. 1683, at a Quarterly meeting held in Philadelphia, it was agreed "that there be established a first-day meeting of Friends at Tookany and Poetquesink, and that these two make one monthly meeting, men and women, for ordering the affairs of the church." This monthly meeting commenced the 3d of 7th month following, and was held alternately at the house of Sarah Seary, in Oxford, near Tackony creek, and at John Hart's, near Poetquesink, in the southern part of Byberry. In the 10th month, 1683, a meeting was settled in or near Cheltenham, at the house of Richard Waln; and in the 12th month, 1686, it was agreed that the monthly meeting should be held at Byberry, Oxford and Cheltenham, "in course," the last week in the month, and on the days of their respective "weekly meetings"-that at Byberry being on fourth-day.

In the 1st month, 1687, it was "agreed that the monthly meeting be kept at the house of Richard Worrell junr. henceforward, on the last second-day

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