Category: Transcriptions

We are pleased to be advised that Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College will make images of men’s and women’s minute books from Muncy Monthly Meeting in Pennsylvania. Muncy Meeting (formerly Catawissa Monthly Meeting) was the source meeting of many Quaker migrants who relocated in Upper Canada at the beginning of the 19^th century.

Once the images are transcribed, the information will be of particular interest to descendants of Quakers who established the Uxbridge, Ontario Monthly Meeting. Members of the Catawissa Monthly Meeting found themselves unwelcome in their community in the years following the American Revolution. In the early 1800s, the Catawissa Quakers of Muncy Meeting moved in a group to present day Uxbridge.

We would like to express our appreciation to Friends Historical Library for their continuing support of CFHA transcription work. Transcriptions of various minute books and documents related to Nine Partners Monthly Meeting and its associated meeting Ferrisburgh Preparative Meeting previously provided by Friends Historical Library have been transcribed and are posted on the CFHA website.

Watch this space for news about transcription of the Muncy minute books.

As always, we want to acknowledge and express our appreciation for the work of our wonderful volunteer transcribers who so productively generate text-searchable versions of these minute books. If you are interested in joining our transcription team and getting up close and personal with Quaker minute books, get in touch!

We’ve just added a new transcription – Pelham Monthly Meeting 1834 – 1866 (H-7-4).

A proposition from Michigan Quarterly Meeting to Erase the word “of Ministers and Elders” from a paragraph of the Discipline 22ndpage was considered and united with & the womens Meeting have informed us of their concurrence the proposed change is accordingly adopted The paragraph in future will read thus When a Minister has a concern to make a religious visit to Europe? or to other foreign parts as the clearest evidence should be obtained in this undertaking the concern together with the certificates of the Monthly & Quarterly Meetings are to be laid before the Yearly Meeting for its approbation & of that be obtained a certificatethereof Signed by the Clerks Should be given.

Thanks as usual to our volunteer transcribers!

We’ve just shared two new transcriptions! Pickering Prep Orthodox 1828-1852 minutes book (O-6-1) and Norwich Monthly Meeting Women’s 1819-49 (H-5-1) are now online. Thanks as always to our wonderful transcription team!

Please note we’ve also made an update to the Pickering Orthodox Monthly Meeting 1842-1870.

The committee to inspect into Phebe Dunkins Clearness in regard to marriage engagements report no obstructions Gilbert Stover and Phebe Dunkin appeared in this meeting in a public manner and renewed their intentions of marriage with each other they having consent of Parents and nothing appearing to obstruct they are left at liberty to proceed Anna Cornell and Sarah Haight are appointed to attend the marriage See that it be orderly conducted and report next meeting

– Norwich MMW, 1820

The “Tidbits” included in this issue of The Meetinghouse are all taken from transcriptions of meeting minutes recorded at various times and location in the meetings then established in Upper Canada. The excerpts broadly relate to items of business which came before and “claimed the aattention” of the Preparative (PM) or Monthly (MM) meeting. Quaker meetings then, as now, applied considerable attention towards aligning meeting discernment with established principles. As can be seen below, earlier meetings maintained, by common consent, a diligent oversight of all aspects of their members personal behavior. These excerpts provide a glimpse into the hopes and challenges experienced by individuals and meetings in these earlier times. 

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Concerning Care of Children (1)

Yonge Street Preparative Meeting 1804- 1862 CYM Archives Designation O-11-1

“The Committee appointed to take into consideration the accomadations on the meeting ground report their sense that it would be right to enclose a yard for each sex the length of the meeting house and 20 feet back with a board fence and a necessary convenience in each apartment, with which this meeting unites. “

Concerning Care of Children (2)

From Leeds MM 1838-55, 0-4-6 image 103 

“Leeds Monthly meeting held at Farmersville 12^th 2^nd mo 1852

The Com^t appointed to collect the information required by the yearly meeting respecting schools report as follows viz  That the most of the schools within our limits at which most of the children of Friends are receiving their Education are Sectional Schools (commonly called District schools) in which no Teachers are Licensed to teach except those of good morrals, as for the religeous character of the schools we think it would be best explained by an extract from the 14^th section of the School act which in substance is as follows, nor shall any perfect?

in any such School be required to read or studdy in or from any religious book or join in any exercise of devotion or religion which shall be objected to by his or her parents or gardions and shall be allowed to receive such religious instruction as their parents or gardions may desire

          The number of children of an age suitable to attend school is 14 most of which are attending Sectional Schools 2 friends Boarding School,  We believe they are all in a way to acquire the necessary portion of school learning except one which is incapable of being taught in our schools being deaf and Dum whos care we believe should claim the particular attention of the monthly meeting, Which having been read friends have full unity there with, and in regard to the child alluded to in said report This meeting would taking into consideration the pecuniary state of its members and the lowness of its funds lay her case before the Quarterly meeting for and trust it will claim its particular attention  she is in the strict sence of the word an orphin left by her mother under the care of Friends, her father having been disowned by friends pays no regard to her education nor contributes in any way to wards her support”

 [ Editors note:the  identity of the special needs child has so far not been found. ]

Concerning  Marriage (1)

“At Pelham Monthly Meeting of women friends held at Black creek 4 of 7 mo 182Proposals of marriage were produced to this meeting between Daniel Birdsal and Gulielma Willson with consent of parents this meeting appoints Sarah Spencer and Mary M. Taylor to inquire into Gulielma’s clearness of preengagements and report next month where they are left to appear for an answer”

“At a Monthly Meeting of women friends held at Pelham 1^st of 8^th Mo. 1827.

The committee appointed to inquire into Gulielma Willsons clearness of preengagements report their is no obstruction on her side, but their is on his and she requests to have their proposals withdrawn with which this meeting concurs”

Concerning Marriage (2)

Pelham MMW 1810-42 H-7-5 reel 42

“Pelham Monthly meeting of women friends held 5 day of 12 mo 1838

The friends to prepare a testification against Mary Hairett forwarded one to this meeting which read approved and signed by the clerks – Hannah Page is appointed to hand her a copy and report

            Mary Hairett Having had a right in membership with friends has so far deviated as to neglect the attendance of meetings and to be dissatisfied with her husband which appears to be without a cause – for which she has been treated with without the desired effect – we therefore disown her her [sic] from being any longer a member amongst us –

            Signed in and by direction of Pelham monthly meeting held the 5 day of 12^th mo 1838

                                           Isaac Willson clerk for the day

                                          Ann Morris – clk to the meeting this year”

Concerning Attending Non-Quaker Marriage(3)

Yonge St MM Bk 3 1828-51 H-16-3

“Yonge Street Monthly Meeting of friends held at yonge Street the 15^th of 10^th mo 1840

This meeting recieved the following communication (to wit)  We the undersigned having attended a marriage of a member who went out from us (the most of) from want of proper consideration and under the impression that from the late alteration and wording the Query in that particular that such attendance was not a breach of Discipline  We therefore request the Overseers to inform the monthly meeting the circumstances and that we are desirous to be found Supporting the Discipline in evry respect as the same is or may be established by the yearly meeting

Signed by  Nathan Dennis, Thomas N Watson, James Armitage  Elizabeth Dennis, Clarissa Watson, Mary Armitage, Elizabeth Phillips, Dorcas Hughes, Edith Hughes  Elmira Armitage  after deleberating on the aforesaid communication the meeting concluded to accept the same as Satisfactory and appointed Peter Willson, Mordica Widdifield, and Samuel Hughes, to inform them of this conclution and report to next meeting”

Concerning Marriage (4)

“Pelham Monthly meeting of women friends held at Black Creek 6^th of 1^st month 1830

Gulaelma Birdsall formerly Willson had had a right of membership amongst Friend but being so regardless of her right as to accomplish her marrige contrary to our Discipline for which this meeting disouns her and she is not to be considered a member of our society until she condemns the same to the satisfaction of Friends

            Signed in and by order of pelham Monthly Meeting held at black creek the 6^th of the first mo 1830

                                                            Isaac Willson } Clerk

                                                            Rebecca L. Pound Clerk for the day”

The following is the list of postings of new minute book transcriptions and other documents which have been added to the CFHA website since the last issue of The Meetinghouse. This list includes new previously unavailable transcriptions of 13 meeting minute books. The list indicates the date of posting followed by the document title. Thanks are due to the transcribers and contributors Carman Foster, Doug Smith and Randy Saylor.

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• Jun/19 – Yonge St Register Births Deaths 1803-66
• 18 Jun/19 – Uxbridge Prep Mtg 1817-1840
  

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• 23 May/19 – Leeds MM 1838-1855
• 13 May/19 – Quakers who were Loyalists
  

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• 8 Apr/19 – Pickering MM Register Marr & Removals 1845 – 1874
• 5 Apr/19 – Pickering MM Register 1845-1908
• 27 Mar/19 – Pelham Prep Meeting 1802-79
• 13 Mar/19 – Pelham Monthly Mtg Women 1810-42
  

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• 10 Mar/19 – Pelham Prep Women Mtg 1810-78 
• 17 Feb/19 – Timothy Rogers Jr: Quaker to Slave Master: his wife Phebe Royster and sister Martha Rogers and the slaves emancipated to Liberia.
• 3 Feb/19 – Norwich Prep Women Mtg 1828-43
  

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• 13 Dec/18 – Norwich Prep Meeting 1829-48
• 20 Nov/18 – Pelham Register Book B, Marr 1807-1906, Births 1739-1857 C-3-54
• 1 Nov/18 – Hugh W. Zavitz Diary, from 1874 to 1901
• 5 Oct/18 – Norwich Monthly Meeting 1834-52
• 30 Sept/18 – Norwich Monthly Meeting 1822-34

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Transcribing is a rewarding and informative contribution to CFHA activities. Transcribers work at their own pace using images of original hand0written documents provided by the transcription coordinator. Basic guidance on the conventions and practices used is provided. Previous transcription experience is helpful but not essential, and new individuals are always welcome to join the group. If interested please contact [email protected].