Subject: Society of Free Quakers -- History / Place: United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 - Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

Start Over Subject Society of Free Quakers -- History Place United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783

Extent:: 0.41 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:: Samuel Wetherill (1736-1816), a Philadelphia manufacturer of cloth, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, was a birthright Quaker born in Burlington, N.J. During the Revolutionary War, he actively supported the military effort and was disowned from Philadelphia Monthly Meeting in 1779. In 1781, he, along with other disowned Quakers, founded an independent Quaker meeting, called the Society of Free Quakers. This collection contains correspondence primarily from another group of disowned Quakers from Sandwich Monthly Meeting in Massachusetts. This New England group was centered on Timothy Davis (1730-1798), a respected Friend and minister, who published a pamphlet in 1776 concerning the payment of taxes to the new government. He was disowned in 1778. The collection includes business and personal letters as well as those which deal directly with the cause of the Free Quakers. Of particular interest are a letter from Hannah Barnard in which she laments the way she was treated by Hudson...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Extent:: .1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet 36 x 26 cm. (1 v. ))
Abstract:: This volume contains the collection of Joseph Scattergood of original and manuscript copies of documents relating to the Free Quakers, bound by his son George Scattergood. The Free Quakers disagreed with the strict disownment policy for members of the Society of Friends who fought in the Revolutionary War. Led by Samuel Wetherhill, this group wanted to practice Quakerism without the strict rules of discipline and disownment. The papers in Scattergood's collection include petitions, published editorials, accounts of prominent members of the Free Quakers and correspondence. Primary correspondents and writers include Samuel Wetherhill, Thomas Say, and others.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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