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Wrightstown Monthly 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

Wrightstown Monthly Meeting was established in 1734 by Bucks Quarterly Meeting out of Buckingham Monthly Meeting.

The Orthodox branch of this monthly meeting was discontinued in 1833. Its members were transferred to Buckingham Monthly Meeting (Orthodox). The Hicksite branch was the forerunner of the current Wrightstown Monthly Meeting.

Records of Wrightstown Monthly Meeting, 1684-2024, include: vital records, 1684-1916; pre-Separation, Hicksite men's and joint session minutes, 1734-2024, including born-digital minutes; Orthodox men's minutes, 1827-1833; pre-Separation and Hicksite women's minutes, 1734-1886 ; Orthodox women's minutes, 1827-1833; Wrightstown First Day School records, 1899-1918; and other miscellaneous records, 1784-2005.

Deposit

Organization
Subject
Place

Publisher
Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Date
2011
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Access may be provided via digital or microfilm copy, per repository policy. Digital files are accessible to TriCollege accounts or on-campus users.

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

Biographical / Historical

At the time of the Separation in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1827-28, pre-Separation vital records were generally retained by the branch with which the recorder was affiliated. Researchers are advised to consider vital records which span this period carefully: in many cases, the meeting without the original records may have reconstructed these records for its membership only, giving the impression that individuals in the other branch were never members.

RG2/Ph/W7 3.1-3.2. Acknowledgements, 1735-1885 & n.d.
Scope and Contents

Folder 1 includes acknowledgements to Wrightstown Monthly Meeting for general offences, 1735-1885 & n.d.; folder 2 contains acknowledgements for offences pertaining to marriage, 1735-1885 & n.d. Stored in box with Disownments, 1734-1877 & n.d.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

2 folders (in box)

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.3. Births and burials, 1684-1883.
Scope and Contents

Book A for the recording of births: 1684 12mo30-1815 10mo3; deaths: 1728 8mo4-1888 12mo5. Also includes membership list & list of Orthodox Friends at time of Separation, 1827-1829. Index at back of volume.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 676
  2. Haverford: No Film
Physical Description

1 v.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.4. Births, 1716-1759.
Scope and Contents

Records of births, 1716 6mo23-1750 9mo17, and burials, 1731 5mo23-1748 12mo6, entered on back of book in opposite direction to births.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 675
  2. Haverford: No Film
Physical Description

1 v.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.5. Births, 1774-1900.
Scope and Contents

Book B of Records of Births and Burials, including: births, 1774 2mo4-1900 12mo9; burials, 1796 8mo11-1901 12mo1.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 676
  2. Haverford: No Film
Physical Description

1 volume

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.6. Account of graves dug by John Knowles at Wrightstown Graveyard, 1845-1887.
Scope and Contents

Record of burials, 1845 12mo3-1887 10mo4.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 676
  2. Haverford: No Film
Physical Description

1 v.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.13. Disownments, 1734-1877 & n.d.
Scope and Contents

Includes disownments from Wrightstown Monthly Meeting, pre-Separation and Hicksite, 1734-1877 & n.d., as well as one from Middletown Monthly Meeting, 1721.

General

Stored in box with Acknowledgements, 1735-1885 & n.d.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 folder (in box)

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.7. Certificates of clearness to marry, 1735-1895.
Scope and Contents

Certificates of clearness to marry received at Wrightstown, 1735 - 1872 & n.d.; sent by Wrightstown, 1828, 1849; permission to marry, 1820, 1895, & n.d.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.8-3.9. Marriages, 1917-1955.
General

Meeting's copy of marriage certificates, 1917-1955. Includes 1896 marriage in oversized folder.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 vol. + 1 oversized folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Hicksite/United

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.10. Marriage certificates, 1957-1995.
Scope and Contents

Meeting's copy of marriage certificates, 1957-1995. Volume also contains membership notes compiled by Arthur Smith, Recorder, ca. 1960-1980.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 vol. ; 32 cm.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: United

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.11. Miscellaneous papers on membership, 1811-1874 & n.d.
General

Membership lists, 1805, 1811, 1827; request for membership, 1874 & n.d.; resignations, 1840-1888; disciplinary papers, 1815-1869 & n.d.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 3.12. Removals, 1736-1898.
Scope and Contents

Includes: Removal certificates sent, 1755-1874; received, 1736-1890; from Great Britain and Ireland, 1736-1776; and certificates to travel in the ministry, 1758-1829.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

5 folders (in box)

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Removals sent, 1786-1836. Includes volumes 1786-1815 and 1815-1836.. Removals sent, 1786-1836.
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 676
  2. Haverford: No Film
Physical Description

2 vols.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Biographical / Historical

Official records of proceedings kept for all Quaker business meetings. Only Quakers could participate. It has responsibility for care of members, authorizes removals and marriages, maintains discipline, considers the queries, manages meeting property, fosters social concerns, and reports regularly to the quarterly meeting. Beginning at the end of the 19th century, men and women ceased to hold separate business meetings, meeting instead in joint session.

RG2/Ph/W7 1.26. Minutes, 1734-1741.
General

Fragile, unbound pages of meeting minutes, evidently removed from the earliest book, 1734 7mo3-1741 3mo5

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 1.25. Minutes: extracts, 1734-1803.
Scope and Contents

Extracts from meeting minutes for Wrightstown Monthly Meeting: 1734-1803; also includes Buckingham Monthly Meeting: 1724-1734.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 v.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 1.27. Minutes: abstracts, 1799-1827.
Scope and Contents

Extracts from meeting minutes for Wrightstown Monthly Meeting: 1804 1mo3- 1827 9mo5; also includes Buckingham Monthly Meeting: 1799 8mo5-1827 7mo. Includes index by month and year for Buckingham abstracts

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 v.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

HC.PhM.W700.01.001 (1250/W2.18). Minutes, 1827-1833.
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 684
  2. Haverford: Film 29
Physical Description

1 volume with index in box W-13

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

RG2/Ph/W7 1.28. Minutes: extracts, 1880-1918.
Scope and Contents

Extracts of meeting minutes pertaining to graveyard and other funds: 1880 3mo3-1918 11mo10. Also includes list of deeds to 1915, and an account of graveyard and school funds

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 1.1-1.24. Minutes, 1734-1997.
Scope and Contents

Minutes of the meeting, 1734-1990, with membership, 1881-1883, and marriage records 1725-1916. Volumes include: 1734-1788; 1788-1800; 1800-1829; 1830-1850; 1850-1864; 1864-1895; 1896-1923; 1924-1935; 1935-1947; 1948-1952; 1953-1954; 1955-1958; 1959-1960; 1961-1963; 1964-1967; 1968-1970; 1971-1973; 1974-1976; 1977-1980; 1981-1984; 1984-1985; 1986-1990; 1991-1994; 1995-1997. Volume 1850-1864 includes roll of members, 1881-1883. Minutes, 1734-1841, transcribed by C. Arthur Smith, 1934, copied from original manuscript by by Anna W. Kirk, 1902. Volume 1734-1788 includes marriages, 1725-1826, at end of book in opposite direction to minutes. Volume 1788-1800 includes marriages, 1827-1916, at end of book in opposite direction to minutes.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 677 (1734-88, 1788-1800)
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 676 (marriages - 1734-88, 1788-1800)
  3. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 678 (1800-29, 1830-50)
  4. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 679 (1850-64, 1864-95)
  5. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 680-1 (1896-1923)
  6. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 681 (1924-35, 1935-47, 1948-52, 1953-54, 1955-58)
  7. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 682 (1959-60, 1961-67, 1968-70, 1971-73, 1974-76)
  8. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 72 (1977-80, 1981-84, 1984-85)
  9. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 734 (1986-90, 1991-94, 1995-97)
  10. Haverford: Film 5Q (1734-1800)
  11. Haverford: Film 6Q/6A (1800-1850)
  12. Haverford: Film 7Q (1850-1895)
  13. Haverford: Film 157 (1977-1985)
Physical Description

24 vols. + 2 folders (3 lin. ft.).

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/H/United

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7. Minutes (digital), 2014-2023.
Scope and Contents

Minutes from January 2014 through June 2023, with gaps

Physical Description

73 PDF files

RG2/Ph/W7. Minutes (digital), 2023-2024.
Physical Description

13 PDF files

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 2.1-2.3. Minutes, 1734-1886.
Scope and Contents

Minute books of the meeting of women Friends, 1734-1886. Contains pre- Separation minutes, 1734-1827, and Hicksite women's minutes, 1827-1886. Includes volumes 1734-1792; 1792-1862; 1862-1886.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 45 (1734-92)
  2. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 679 (1792-1862)
  3. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 685 (1862-86)
  4. Haverford: Film 28 (1734-1816)
  5. Haverford: Film 7Q (1792-1862)
  6. Haverford: Film 8Q (1862-1886)
Physical Description

3 vols.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 2.4. Minutes: Index, 1734-1792.
Scope and Contents

Name index of women's meeting minutes, 1734-1792.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 45
  2. Haverford: No Film
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 2.10. Minutes, 1770-1816/1827-1833.
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

6 vols.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Orthodox

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 2.5-2.9. Minutes: rough, 1820-1881.
Scope and Contents

Rough or clerk's copies of the women's meeting of Wrightstown Monthly Meeting, 1820-1881. Includes volumes: 1820-26; 1826-30; 1830-34; 1834-37; 1847-63; 1863-81.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 688
  2. Haverford: Film 186
Physical Description

6 vols.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

HC.PhM.W700.02.001 (1250/W2.19). Minutes, 1827-1833.
Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

  1. Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph45/684
  2. Haverford: Film 28 and Film 29
Physical Description

1 volume (115 p.)

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Orthodox

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

RG2/Ph/W7 4.1. Account book, 1795-1827.
Scope and Contents

Account book of financial records of the meeting: 1795 1mo21-1827 2mo5.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 v.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 5.1. Attendance Records, 1910-1918.
Scope and Contents

Attendance records of Wrightstown First Day School, 1900-1918

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 v.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 5.2-5.5. Minutes, 1899-1912.
Scope and Contents

Minutes from Wrightstown First Day School, 1899 5mo28-1912 10mo27

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

4 v.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 5.6. Miscellaneous notes concerning agenda, 1903-1909.
Scope and Contents

Bound miscellaneous notes on agenda, etc., 1903-1909.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 v.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

1250/W2.20. History, n.d.
General

Printed.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 volume [On search 1/2021]

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Hicksite

Physical Location

Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections

RG2/Ph/W7 6.1. Miscellaneous papers, 1740-1886 & n.d.
Scope and Contents

Miscellaneous papers from the meeting, 1740-1888 & n.d. Includes committee reports on spiritous liquors, 1822-40 & n.d.; papers on slavery, 1844 & n.d.; concerning the graveyard and Logtown property, 1803-1810; meetinghouse repairs, 1830; sufferings, 1821; and miscellaneous financial papers.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 6.2. Miscellaneous papers relating to schools and the school fund, 1778-1891 & n.d.
Scope and Contents

Includes: subscriptions and agreements re: Wrightstown school; committee reports; subscription for Westtown School; accounts of teacher in Fairfield school, Upper Makefield.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

1 folder

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Pre-Separation/Hicksite

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

RG2/Ph/W7 6.3. The Wrightstown reporter, 1947-2005.
Scope and Contents

Description based on: Second month, 1947 issue; title from caption.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm in the following location(s):

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

28 cm.

Material Specific Details

Affiliation: Hicksite/United

Physical Location

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Print, Suggest