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Salem Quarterly Meeting (N.J.) 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
In 1682, two quarterly meetings were established in New Jersey: one at Burlington and one at Salem. In its early years, Salem Quarterly Meeting was sometimes called Salem and Newton Quarterly Meeting, and was referred to as Gloucester and Salem Quarterly Meeting beginning in 1723.
In 1794, there were many meetings reporting to Salem Quarterly Meeting and a new quarterly meeting, Haddonfield, was set off from it. After the division, the new Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting included the monthly meetings for Evesham, Upper Evesham, Haddonfield, Great Egg Harbor, and Cape May. The monthly meetings of Woodbury, Pilesgrove, Salem, and Greenwich remained with Salem Quarterly Meeting.
The 1828 Separation split Salem Quarterly Meeting (and its monthly meetings) into Orthodox and Hicksite branches, although the majority of members affiliated with the Hicksite branch. In 1904, the Orthodox Salem Quarterly Meeting was laid down and its remaining members and meetings were transferred to the Orthodox Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting, which was renamed Haddonfield and Salem Quarterly Meeting.
After the reunion of the Hicksite and Orthodox Philadelphia Yearly Meetings, their quarterly meetings were realigned. Salem Quarterly Meeting (United) was determined to comprise the monthly meetings of Greenwich, Mickleton, Mullica Hill, Salem, Salem (at Woodstown), Woodbury, and Woodstown.
Salem Quarterly Meeting is an active meeting.
Records of Salem Quarterly Meeting and its predecessors, the pre-Separation, Hicksite and Orthodox meetings, since 1681. Files include minutes (men's, women's, and joint) from 1697-2015 with some gaps; records of Worship & Ministry and its predecessor bodies; Salem First Day School Union records, 1890s-1940s; assorted committee records (including the Steering Committee) from 1980s-2010s; records of the Friends Boarding Home (now Friends Village) from 1897-2005; and the meeting newsletter (first a paper journal and then an e-bulletin) from 1974-2024.
In addition to the above, in 1964 Salem Quarterly Meeting deposited a box of 18th century records (primarily related to membership, including traveling minutes, clearness for membership and marriage, transfers, disownments etc.) that were related to Salem Monthly Meeting members. Other records from this deposit include property records for the meeting house and property at Salem (1684-1840), extracts and query responses for the quarterly and yearly meetings (including on the early days of the Westtown School), an account of the Separation at Greenwich Monthly Meeting, the manumission certificate of Antram Ferris, and a freedom paper for Amos Bell.
Post-2000 records are primarily digital; files are accessible to TriCollege accountholders or on-campus users.
Salem Quarterly Meeting deposits.
Manuscript discipline is a gift of Anna P. Broomall, 1942. Friends Boarding Home at Woodstown (now Friends Village) records are gift of Salem Quarterly Meeting, 2022.
Organization
- Greenwich Monthly Meeting of Friends
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Committee Appointed for the Gradual Civilization and Welfare of the Indian Natives (1795-1827)
- Westtown Boarding School
- Salem Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : 1676-1827)
Subject
- Society of Friends -- New Jersey -- Salem County
- Society of Friends -- New Jersey -- Gloucester County
Place
- Publisher
- Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- Caitlin Goodman (2024 ed.)
- Finding Aid Date
- 2003/2024
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research. Access may be provided via digital or microfilm copy, per repository policy.
- Use Restrictions
-
Copyright has not been assigned to the Repositories All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the individual Meeting or its successor. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Repositories as the holder(s) of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.
Collection Inventory
Minute books of the pre-Separation men's meeting as follows: 1697-1776, 1776-1794. Volume 1 includes index.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 580
- Haverford: Film 22*
2 v.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minute from the Quarterly Meeting of 7mo 17, 1736, disapproving Haddonfield Monthly Meeting's proposal to permit a man to marry his first cousin's daughter.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 volume
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Rough minutes of the pre-Separation men's meeting as follows: 1776-1788; 1789-1795; 1795-1816.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 582 (1789-1794)
- Haverford: Film 21* (1789-1794)
3 v.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minute book of the Orthodox quarterly meeting, 1795-1839. Contains pre- Separation minutes 1795-1827.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 581
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (360 p.) ; 34 cm. Box 127.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minute books of the Hicksite meeting from 11mo15 1827 to 6mo6 1953 as follows: 1827-1880, 1880-1904, 1904-1922, 1922-1946, 1946-1953.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
5 v.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extracts from 11mo15, 1827 to 12mo4, 1862 with gaps. Entries are not arranged in strict chronological order.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (ca. 20 p. used)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph582
- Haverford: Film 21*
1 vol. (356 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph582
- Haverford: Film 21*
1 vol. (154 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 volume + laid in papers
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minutes of the united meeting as follows: 1953-1958, 1958-1962, 1962-1966. Volume 1953-1958 includes minutes of the Hicksite meeting, 1953-1955.
Physical Description4 v. ; 30 cm. + 2 folders.
Material Specific DetailsHicksite/United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
2 folders
Material Specific DetailsUnited
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Missing 3mo 1985, 3mo 1995, and 6mo 1995.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsUnited
1 PDF file compiled by the meeting
Material Specific DetailsUnited
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minute book of Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting of Women Friends includes minutes of Gloucester and Salem Quarterly Meeting of Women Friends, 1781-1794; microfilmed on reel with Salem Quarterly Meeting, MR-Ph253.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 253
- Haverford: Film 24*
1 v. (172 p.) ; 33 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minutes from 29th 2mo 1707 to 17th 1mo 1748/9. Volume also contains: women's meeting account book, 1719-1750, and rough minutes of Haddonfield Monthly Meeting women's meeting, 4mo-7mo 1773.
Pages foxed. Volume stored in acid-free folder.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (99 p.) ; 21 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minutes of the pre-Separation Women's meeting as follows: 2mo16 1795-5mo15 1809; 8mo21 1809-2mo14 1822.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 581
- Haverford: Film 24*
2 v.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Women's minutes from 1822 5mo16 to 1836 8mo11. Contains pre-Separation minutes, 1822-1827.
MR-Ph 581.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph581
- Haverford: Film 24*
1 v. (140 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minute books of the Hicksite women's meeting as follows: 1827-1881, 1881-1899, 1899-1900. Volume also includes minutes of first joint session of men and women Friends, 1901 3mo7.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
3 v.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph582
- Haverford: Film 21*
1 volume in a folder (144 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph582
- Haverford: Film 21*
1 volume in a folder (136 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph582
- Haverford: Film 21*
1 volume in foldere (183 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Minute books of the pre-Separation Meeting of Ministers and Elders as follows: 1735-1745, 1763-1792, 1792-1794.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 251 (1763-92, 1792-94)
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 580 (1735-1745)
- Haverford: Film 22*
3 v.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minutes of the Meeting of Ministers and Elders of Salem Quarterly Meeting (Orthodox). Volume also contains pre-Separation minutes, 1823-1827.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 580
- Haverford: Film 21*
1 v. (ca. 150 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minute Books as follows: 1870-1888; 1888-1904.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
2 v.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 580
- Haverford: Film 22*
1 volume (66 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
1 volume
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minutes of the Committee on Worship and Ministry and its predecessor, Ministry & Counsel, 1953-1965. Includes minutes of the Hicksite meeting, 1953-1955. Committee called "Ministry and Counsel" until 2nd mo 1954.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (disbound, in folder)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite/United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minute book of the Salem First Day School Union, 1898-1950. Also includes a folder with miscellaneous papers found in the book: reports, 1934-38, and Business Committee minutes, 1890-1915.
Physical Description1 volume
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minute book of the Salem First Day School Union, 1898-1950. Also includes a folder with miscellaneous papers found in the book: reports, 1934-38, and Business Committee minutes, 1890-1915.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsUnited
Minutes of the Steering Committee of Salem Quarterly Meeting, 1990-1996.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore:
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsUnited
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsUnited
1 PDF file compiled by the meeting
Material Specific DetailsUnited
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Arranged in reverse chronological order. For each meeting the records generally include minutes (including committee reports), agenda, the Executive Director/Administrator report to the board, and sometimes relevant financial records.
Physical Description6 folders
Material Specific DetailsUnited
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsUnited
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Matron's and Financial Secretary reports, submitted monthly and interfiled.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsUnited
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Also includes summary statements
Physical Description2 volumes
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 volume
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Notice sent from James Nevill, William Penn's agent in Salem, to Richard Tindall, the surveyor general for Salem Tenth in the Province of West Jersey. Related to land surveys and purchases in the region.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Survey of 3 lots of land gifted "at different times to the Meeting" [presumably Salem Monthly Meeting]. Surveyed by Jeremiah Bennett at the request of Edward Broadway.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Miscellaneous loose accounts, receipts, and subscriptions for the building of the meeting house at Salem.
Physical Description1 folder (35 items)
Material Specific DetailsOrthodox
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Although deposited by the Quarterly Meeting, these are primarily related to Salem Monthly Meeting. Includes traveling minutes from Salem to meetings in New England, Maryland, Barbados, Great Britain, and Ireland, as well as letters of appreciation for the ministry of traveling Salem friends from meetings they visited in Barbados, Tortola, and New England.
Physical Description3 folders (18 items)
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes both marriage certificates and certificates of clearness for marriage.
Physical Description2 folders + oversize (12 items)
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Although deposited by the Quarterly Meeting, these are primarily related to Salem Monthly Meeting. Includes disownments for military service, non-attendance at meeting, drinking alcohol, fighting, marrying out, and "practicing vain amusements" [pre-marital sex, gambling]. File also includes the acknowledgements of members who were found to have acted outside of Discipline but submitting formal apology, for offenses including adultery, drinking, gambling, marrying out, and serving in the military.
Physical Description3 folders (20 items)
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Although deposited by the Quarterly Meeting, these are primarily addressed to Salem Monthly Meeting.
Physical Description4 folders (28 items)
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder (9 items)
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Memorial from Salem Monthly Meeting for John Wiar (1759-1815).
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes assorted manuscript extracts of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and query responses related to Salem Quarter. Arranged chronologically. Of note, 1793 extract related to the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic, 1794-1799 extracts related to the founding and opening of the Westtown School, and a 1800 printed appeal for a Quaker agent to live with the Seneca to teach smithing, from the minutes of the Committee for the Gradula Civilization and Real Welfare of the Indian Natives.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
"Given forth from time to time by the yearly meetings of Friends for Pennsylvania & New- Jersey held alternately at Burlington and Philadelphia : alphabetically digested under proper heads." Copy marked for the Quarterly Meeting of Glocester & Salem.
Manuscript Discipline copied in 1762 by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Physical Description2 volumes
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Manumission of Antram Ferris, a 34-year old man enslaved by Thomas Norris of Salem, New Jersey. Handwritten by Thomas Norris and witnessed by David Allen and John Donn, on 12mo 30, 1786.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Printed appeal for contributions "to our Brethren, in common with other inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland, [who] are reduced through the scarcity and excessive high prive of Provisions." From the 1801 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for Sufferings, with subscription list of Salem members and their contributions appended.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
"Blackbird Creek in Thoroughfare Neck Oct. 12th 1808. To all whom it may concern that Amos Bell free black man aged nearly twenty of Thoroughfare Neck in Appoquinimink Hundred and [County?] New Castle intends to go oun business to John weldon of New London Cross Road and from thence to a William Anderson Colored man near Newark. The above named Amos Bell formerly belonged to a William [Risdon?] Bishop of Little Creek Hundred Kent County and Delaware State and was manumitted by him the [?] Wm Bishop on the eighteenth day of August 1793 and [?] Amos's mother and two more children at the same time. Therefore all persons are requested to let him pass freely unmolested to the [aforesaid] places. [/s] Wm M Murray"
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsPre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
In the Separation, the meeting house in Greenwich was retained by the Orthodox branch. This account from 27 12mo, by the Hicksite branch, proposes meeting with others in sympathy at Alloways Creek.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Reports from Pilesgrove and Woodbury about moving from separate men's and women's business meetings to joint session.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Charles J. Darlington's clerk file for Salem Quarter. Primarily consists of correspondence sent and received as clerk, with material related to the Joint Exploratory Committee of the Quarterly Meetings of South Jersey - an effort to investigate the affordances of cooperation and union between Orthodox and Hicksite branches.
Much of the file is transmittals from the Yearly Meeting at Race Street (Hicksite) and Salem Quarter's reports in response, including membership statistics and query responses.
Physical Description2 folders
Material Specific DetailsHicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Some gaps. Inventory for 1974-2018 issues in Box Sw-5. Lacking 2019.
Physical Description2 boxes
13 files
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College