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Virginia Yearly Meeting Records

Notifications

Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Virginia Yearly Meeting was established in 1672 and at various times included thirteen Monthly Meetings. In 1777, Friends in Virginia made the decision to disown members who enslaved people. By 1784 Friends persuaded the Virginia legislature to pass a law permitting manumission and within six years nearly all Quaker enslavers had freed the people they enslaved. Life in states where slavery was legal became difficult and many Quakers from Virginia and surrounding states migrated west.

There was no Hicksite Separation in this area. Virginia Yearly Meeting was laid down in 1843. At this time the Meeting was assumed as a Half-Years Meeting under Baltimore Yearly Meeting (Orthodox).

In 1912, because the group wished to meet four times per year rather than two, they established themselves as the Virginia Quarterly Meeting. But in 1976, they opted again to meet only twice per year and the name changed once again to Virginia Half-Year's Meeting.

Records of Virginia Yearly Meeting, 1674-1887. Includes men's minutes 1702-1844, women's minutes 1763-1838, Worship & Ministry and its Predecessors 1758-1853, vital records 1674-1885, committee records 1811-1840, and miscellaneous 1740-1887. Most records after Virginia Yearly Meeting was laid down and assumed as a Half-Years Meeting by Baltimore Yearly Meeting are described in QM-B-V574.

Divided into series: 1.Men's Minutes; 2.Women's Minutes; 3.Worship & Ministry and its Predecessors; 4.Vital Records; 5.Commtittee Records; 6.Miscellaneous.

Deposit, Baltimore Yearly Meeting.

Organization
Subject
Place

Publisher
Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Date
2009
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Access may be provided via digital or microfilm copy, per repository policy.

Use Restrictions

Information on reproduction policies available in the Library.

Collection Inventory

HC.BY.V.02.001 (1116/152). Minutes, 1702-1724.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Transcribed from the original "which was very much injured and defaced".

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: B21B
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B215
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.002 (1116/152). Minutes, 1702-1837.
Scope and Contents

Incomplete, Minutes 1724-1737, were lost in a fire.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: B21B
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B215
Physical Description

1 volume

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.003 (1116/153). Minutes, 1702-1843.
Box 1
General

Typed copy.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B215
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.003a (1116/153). Minutes folder 2 of 2, 1702-1843.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.004 (1116/154). Minutes, 1705-1722.
Box 1
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B215
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.005 (1116/Box 6). Minutes, 1737.
Scope and Contents

Includes Minute on refusal to cooperate in enforcing slavery.

General

Item stored in a folder with a committee record discussing whether or not to lay down the yearly meeting.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

RG2/B/Vy. Minutes, 1737-1758.
Volume B/Vy
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B213
Physical Description

1 volume

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

HC.BY.V.02.006 (1116/Box 6-B). Extracts from Minutes, 1759-1800.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Incomplete.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.007 (1116/156). Minutes, 1769-1830.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Incomplete.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

1116/159. Minutes, 1770.
Scope and Contents

Minute from a Yearly Meeting held at Curles, 1770.

General

One pkg. contains two folders.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 pkg.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.008 (1116/159). Minutes, 1779.
Scope and Contents

Minute from a Yearly Meeting held at Curles 1779, concerning the extrication of a young girl from a state of slavery.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.009 (1116/Box HW-3v). Minutes, 1791-1829.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Also includes epistles, correspondence, and other documents.

General

Incomplete.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.010 (1116/157). Minutes, 1803-1810.
Box 2
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B215
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.011 (1116/157). Minutes, 1804.
Box 2
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B215
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.012 (1116/157). Minutes, 1838-1843.
Box 2
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B215
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.02.013 (1116/157). Minutes, 1844.
Box 2
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.03.001 (1116/162). Minutes, 1763-1825.
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B214
Physical Description

1 volume

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.03.002 (1116/163). Minutes, 1763-1825.
Box 2
General

Typed copy.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B214
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.03.003 (1116/Box 6-B). Women Friends: Epistles to and from Virginia Yearly Meeting, 1767-1838.
Box 2
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.04.001( 1116/166). Meeting of Ministers and Elders, 1758-1774.
Box 2
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B218
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.04.002 (1116/166). Meeting of Ministers and Elders, 1824-1853.
Box 2
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B218
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.01.001 (1116/Box HW-3v). Memorials from Virginia Yearly Meeting, 1674-1858.
Box 2
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.01.003 (1116/167). Marriages, 1674-1728.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Includes testimonies.

General

Pages are fragile.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.01.002 (1116/159). Memorials, 1748-1885.
Scope and Contents

Mary Woodson died 1762, Robert Pleasants died 1772, John Pleasants died 1773, Thomas Pleasants died 1775.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.04.003 (1116/164). Minutes of Meeting for Sufferings, 1811-1818.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Items laid in.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B218
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.04.004 (1116/165). Minutes of Meeting for Sufferings, 1822-1835; 1839-1840.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Minutes from 1839-1840 laid in.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B218
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.001 (1116/Box 6-B). Miscellaneous Epistles, 1740-1800.
Box 3
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.002 (1116/Box 6-B). Epistles to Virginia Yearly Meeting from Maryland Yearly Meeting, 1748-1797.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Incomplete.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.003 (1116/171). Book of Miscellaneous Photostats, 1749-1827.
Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence, marriage certificates, discipline, and accounts.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 volume

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.004 (1116/Box 6-B). Epistles from Virginia Yearly Meeting, 1751-1801.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Incomplete.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.005 (1116/Box 6-B). Epistles to Virginia Yearly Meeting from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1751-1842.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Incomplete.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.006 (1116/168). Correspondence: Letterbook of Robert Pleasants, 1754-1797.
Scope and Contents

Includes loose letters, ca. 28 items, received 1746-1797.

Annotated index available on pages 13a-a3i of the in-house finding aid at Haverford College Quaker Collection.

General

Microfilm includes loose letters received 1746-1797.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: B23B
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B219
Physical Description

1 volume

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.007. Correspondence: Letterbook of Robert Pleasants, 1754-1797.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Inlaid items from bound volume, and annotated index

Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Seperation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.008 (1116/159). Minutes of Conference Meeting, 1756.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Original minute of a conference Meeting held at Curles, concerning the Act of the Virginia Assembly in regards to military service and a discussion of holding slaves.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.009 (1116/159). Correspondence, 1756-1842.
Box 3
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.010 (1116/Box 6-B). Epistles to Virginia Yearly Meeting from London Yearly Meeting, 1757-1887.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Incomplete.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.011 (1116/Box 6-B). Book of Discipline, 1758.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Copied by Benjamin Butterworth in the 1790's.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.013 (1116/169). Proceedings of the School Company at Cedar Creek, 1790-1799.
Box 3
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B216
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.014 (1116/160). Correspondence, 1796-1829.
Scope and Contents

A record of correspondence with other Yearly Meetings, also includes memorials of deceased friends, certificates for Ministers, and other loose papers.

Items laid in. Including a report from the Committee of the Meeting for Sufferings, appointed to aid in promoting the total abolition of the slave trade and slavery 1828.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 volume

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.012 (1116/170). Book of Discipline, 1801.
Box 3
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.015 (1116/Box 6). Petition to the Legislature of Virginia, 1810.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Regarding militia laws.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

1116/Box HW-43. Rules of Discipline of the Virginia Yearly Meeting, 1814.
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: No Film
Physical Description

1 volume

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

HC.BY.V.05.016 (1116/161). Correspondence, 1829-1840.
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location:

  1. Haverford: No Film
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-B218
Physical Description

1 volume

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

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