Call Number:

000.028

Repository:

Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections

Extent:

0.01 linear ft. (1 folder)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

David Thomas letter to Thomas Evans (HCS.000.028) Quaker and Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.

Date:

1833 August 7

Creator:

Thomas, David and Evans, Thomas, 1798-1868

Form:

Correspondence

Abstract:

A handwritten letter dated August 7, 1833, from David Thomas to Thomas Evans about faculity openings at the Haverford School.

Thomas Evans was born on February 23rd, 1798 in Philadelphia to Jonathan Evans, Jr. and Hannah Bacon. He was a descendant in the third generation of the Gwynedd group of settlers in Pennsylvania. The Evans family resided in Philadelphia and the seven children were reared in the traditions of the Society of Friends. Evans was educated at the Academy at 4th and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. By 1819, he established himself as a druggist at 3rd and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia and in 1834 Evans married Catharine Wistar (d. 1871), the daughter of John and Charlotte Wistar of Salem, New Jersey. During Evans' early adulthood (1820-1835) there occurred several heated religious controversies in the Society of Friends. He communicated with many like-minded Quakers through the schisms and helped pass on information from the Northeast to the South and Midwest, as well as to and from Quakers in England. In 1837, Evans embarked by steamer to Charleston, South Carolina to look after some property owned by the Society of Friends. During the trip a violent storm struck the ship and Evans injured his spine, never entirely recovering. During the winter of 1867-1868 he took ill and by early spring was entirely confined to his room. Thomas Evans died on May 25th, 1868 in Philadelphia at the age of 70.

David Thomas inquires about his son Joseph Thomas acquiring a position as a Greek and Latin teacher at the Haverford School. He lists Joseph's previous acomplishments as a student at Yale and suggests Joh Griscom as a character witness.