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Gathered Leaves: Miscellaneous Papers from New York Yearly Meeting

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Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the 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

Call Number:
MSS.062
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
.75 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Gathered Leaves: Miscellaneous Papers from New York Yearly Meeting, MSS 062, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1694-1871 (inclusive)
Creator:
Wood, William, 1797-1877
Abstract:
The bulk of the collection is epistles, sorted roughly by topic. William Wood, the Clerk of New York Yearly Meeting who arranged the collection, was particularly interested in the issues of slavery, welfare of freedmen and Native Americans, and peace testimony, and religious education. Also included are correspondence, Quaker documents, and miscellaneous papers. Correspondents include Moses Brown, William Rickman, John Pemberton.

William Wood, the son of Samuel and Mary Wood, was born 5 month 6, 1797, a birthright member of New York Monthly Meeting. In 1835, he married Mary S. Underhill, daughter of Joshua and Mary Underhill. William Wood was a New York City publisher and lifelong devout Quaker. He worked in the publishing house which his father had established 1806, specializing in children's' books. Under William's leadership, the firm became known for its medical publications. He was a longtime Clerk for New York Monthly Meeting (Orthodox) and an Elder. His special concerns were the abolition of slavery, the welfare of freedmen and Indians, peace, and Quaker education. William Wood died 4 month 9, 1877.

This is an artificial collection compiled by William Wood, long time Clerk of New York Yearly Meeting. Circa 1872, he selected interesting documents to mount in two large scrapbooks. The title is inspired by a verse from John vi:12 -- Gather up the fragments . . . that nothing be lost. The bulk of the collection is epistles, sorted roughly by topic. Wood was particularly interested in the issues of slavery, freedmen, peace testimony, and religious education. Also included are correspondence, Quaker documents, and miscellaneous papers. Correspondents include Moses Brown, William Rickman, John Pemberton.

Organized in four series:

  1. Correspondence
  2. Quaker documents
  3. Epistles, Circulars
  4. Miscellaneous

Most of the epistles also can be found in meeting records.

Donor: New York Yearly Meeting

Date: 1997

Circa 1872, documents compiled by William Wood, long time Clerk of New York Yearly Meeting, were glued into large albums, roughly by topic. In some cases, he annotated the items. In 1937, John Cox, then Keeper of the Records, pasted in additional loose items and created an alphabetical index. Because the scrapbooks were badly deteriorated and the documents not easily accessed or preserved, they were dismantled after their transfer to Friends Historical Library. In some cases, documents could not be separated. They were removed as best as possible, sorted into basic categories and described. An engraved portrait of Stephen Grellet and a political cartoon of 1848 The Birthday Banquet 1869 were removed to FHL Art.

New York Yearly Meeting Records

An engraved portrait of Stephen Grellet and a political cartoon, 1848-The Birthday Banquet-1869, stored with FHL Art

People
Organization
Subject
Place

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
2007
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Friends Historical Library believes all of the items in this collection to be in the Public Domain in the United States, and is not aware of any restrictions on their use. However, the user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status before reproducing. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/.

Collection Inventory

Ann Dilworth, Neshaminy Creek, Pa., to Friends in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Long Island, to be read at meeting, 1693.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Against lightness and airyness

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Moses Brown to Joseph Delaplaine, 1780, 1788.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Regarding shipment of books and general news.

Physical Description

2 ALsS in 1 folder

John Pemberton to Dear Friend, 1784, 1793.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Letter of 3mo, 3 1793 addressed to Edmund Prior, addressee removed from the others.

Physical Description

3 ALsS in 1 folder

William Rickman, London, to Dear Friend, 1786.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Includes update of news in London Yearly Meeting and his taking on a school position in Kent.

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

John De Marcella, France, to John Eliot, London, 1788.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Concerns request to include Quakers in Southern France under plan for religious toleration.

Physical Description

AL copy in 1 folder

Norris Jones to the Justices of the County of Pasquotank, 1788.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Protesting sale of free Negroes back into slavery.

Physical Description

AL copy in 1 folder

John Dawson Coates, banker in Philadelphia, to Edmund Prior, 1790.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

1 ALS, Shipment of Gough's History

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Daniel Offley to Edmund Prior, 1790.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

James Pemberton of Philadelphia to Edmund Prior, 1790-1793.
Box 1
Physical Description

9 ALsS in 1 folder

David Sands to Edmund Prior, 1790-1795.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Mentions religious visits, mail opened.

Physical Description

6 ALsS in 1 folder

Moses Brown to Edmund Prior, 1790-1801.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Mentions Collins Bible.

Physical Description

4 ALsS in 1 folder

Thomas Wagonstaff to Edmund Prior, 1791.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Re: Gough History.

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

R[ebecca?] Jones, Philadelphia, to E[dmond?] Prior, 1791.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Louis Majolieux, Congenie, to John Eliot of London, 1791.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Translation of extracts of a letter.

Physical Description

1 folder

Robert Benson, Liverpool, to Edmund Prior, 1793.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Mentions religious visits of Deborah Darby and Rebeccah Young, Mary Dudley and S. Shacklton, etc.

Physical Description

2 ALsS in 1 folder

Samuel Parsons to Matthew Franklin, 1804.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Discussing Quaker ministers, travels.

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Richard Mott to Matthew Franklin, Merchant, NYC, 1805-1809.
Box 1
Physical Description

5 ALsS in 1 folder

John Bailey, Hanover, to Dear Friends, 1806.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Religious message on the return from his visit.

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

John Moore, Cheltenham, England, to Matthew Franklin, 1809.
Scope and Contents

Richard Mott's visit, glued together with Moses Brown letters,

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

E. Kimber to My Dear Friend, 1813.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Matthew Franklin to Samuel Paxson, New York, 1812.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Concerning Franklin's ministry in New England.

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Micajah Collins to Samuel Wood, [1817].
Box 1
Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Elias Hicks to Phebe Willis, 1818.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Discusses his reservations about the Scriptures. Worries that those who put Scripture above all else will cause a division in the Society.

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Samuel Leggett to David B. Slack, 1821.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Author of Celestial Magnet.

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Thomas Eddy to a Friend in Philadelphia, 1822.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Describing the state of the Society in New York State, influence of Elias Hicks.

Physical Description

1 AL copy in 1 folder

William Rickman to Samuel Wood, 1823, 1832.
Box 1
Physical Description

2 ALsS in 1 folder

Thomas Shillitoe to Samuel Wood, 1827, 1835.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Religious travels.

Physical Description

2 ALsS in 1 folder

To Thomas McElrath, William White and others, 1839.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Correspondence concerning property.

Physical Description

1 AD in 1 folder

Samuel F. Mott to ? Gurney, 1843.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Discusses his hesitation to affiliate with the abolitionists.

Physical Description

1 folder

William Evans to Joseph Edgerton, 1844.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Concerning problems in New England Yearly Meeting.

Physical Description

AL copy in 1 folder

David Thomas to William F. Mott, 1847.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Concerning revision of his enclosed draft on the separation in Scipio Quarterly Meeting.

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Henry Hallock to New York Monthly Meeting, 1852.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Asked to be read at New York Monthly Meeting, with religious exhortations.

Physical Description

1 AL copy in 1 folder

Thomas Willis to Samuel Bettle and William Evans, 1853.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

In response to a recent epistle.

Physical Description

1 folder

Richard Carpenter, Scarsdale, to William Wood, 1856.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Mentions tensions between them

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Friends belonging to New York Yearly Meeting to Friends in Philadelphia, 1857.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Urging their resumption of communications between yearly meetings.

Physical Description

AL copy in 1 folder

William Wood to Thomas Evans, 1857- 1865.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Also includes 1 ALS reply from Thomas Evans, 1858.

Physical Description

3 ALsS copies in 1 folder

Henry Russell, Dublin, to William Wood, 1 ALS in 1860.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Mentions attempt to raise funds for boarding school in N.C. and written on a printed notice of a visit from an unwelcome visit from some Philadelphia Hicksite, Rachel Wilson Moore and her husband.

Physical Description

1 folder

Nathaniel Crenshaw, Montpelier, Hanover, to William Wood, 1860.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Concerning his effort to find old records of Virginia Yearly Meeting. Describes some of the early meetings in Virginia

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, London, to his brother, John Hodgkin, 1861.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Suggesting Friends in NYC work to stop the War and copy of an ALS from Dr. Thomas Hodgkin to Cherokee Principal Chief John Ross, urging Cherokees not to become involved in the Civl War

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Thomas Evans to William Wood, 1861, 1864.
Box 1
Physical Description

2 ALsS in 1 folder

William Wood to and from John Stanton Gould, 1865.
Box 1
Physical Description

2 ALsS in 1 folder

Samuel Bewley, Dublin, to William Wood, 1871.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Concerning funds raised for Freedmen and forwarding certificate for Thomas Grubb and wife.

Physical Description

1 ALS in 1 folder

Letter To the Editor of the -, n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Draft, signed The Vindicator, objecting to an article based on Samuel H. Cox's Quakerism not Christianity : or, Reasons for renouncing the doctrine of Friends

Physical Description

1 folder

Subscription list, New York Preparative Meeting, school fund, 1792.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Document concerning Quaker exemption from military service in some states, 1793.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Subscription list for relief during Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic, 1793.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Glued on reverse is printed epistle by Charles Osborn to Springfield Monthly Meeting, Indiana, 1832.

Physical Description

1 folder

Traveling minutes to Great Britain, Ireland, etc., for David Sands, 1794.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Endorsement and memorial from New York Yearly Meeting, 1801.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Concerning Sarah Stevenson of London who died during her ministry in the U.S.

Physical Description

1 folder

Traveling minute to Great Britain and Ireland for Henry Hull, with endorsements, return minute, 1810.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Traveling minutes to Great Britain, Ireland, and the Continent for Stephen Grellet, with endorsements, return minutes, 1807-1814.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Travel minute to Great Britain and Ireland, Endorsements, return minute from Great Britain, Ireland, Congenies and St. Gilles for Elizabeth Coggeshall, 1813-1815.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Traveling minute to the West Indies for Stephen Grellet, 1816.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Traveling minute to Europe for Hannah Field, 1816.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Specifications and agreement concerning school house on Elizabeth Street, 1816.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Subscription to aid Friends in N.C. Yearly Meeting to aid in removing negroes to free governments, 1834.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Memorial minute for Mary Watson, Waterford Monthly meeting, 1835.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Notice from London Yearly Meeting, 1860, 1868.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Notice that Rachel Wilson Moore is not a member of the Society of Friends (Orthodox) and ALS to Philadelphia and New York Yearly Meetings informing that Matilda Rickman, Grant Sargent, and Louisa Gilkes were not traveling in approved ministry

Physical Description

1 folder

Traveling minutes to Great Britain, Ireland, and Europe for Rebecca Collins, 1865-1867.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Endorsements and return minutes.

Physical Description

1 folder

Morning Meeting, London, to John Browne [Bowne], Flushing, 1694.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

London Yearly Meeting to The Friends and Brethren of the Meeting of Ministering Friends in Pensilvania (sic) or other Meetings who it may concern in America, 1699.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to subordinate meetings (printed), 1701.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

London Yearly Meeting to New York Yearly Meeting (ms), 1701, 1702.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Women Friends to Rhode Island Yearly Meeting, Women Friends, 1708-ca. 1750.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Women Friends to Rhode Island Yearly Meeting, Women Friends, 1752-ca. 1775.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Rhode Island Yearly Meeting, Women Friends, to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Women Friends, 1733-1756.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Rhode Island Yearly Meeting Women Friends to subordinate meetings, 1769, 1771.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

With a note from Amy Thurston to Mary Pemberton and enclosure of an earlier epistle (1769).

Physical Description

1 folder

London Yearly Meeting to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1772, 1780.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

London Yearly Meeting to Friends and Brethren in America (printed), 1775.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

New York Yearly Meeting for Sufferings to subordinate meetings and extracts, 1778, 1782.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Extracts, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Meeting for Sufferings, 1778.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Concerning suffering consequent of War.

Physical Description

1 folder

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to New York Yearly Meeting, 1782, 1785, 1788.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to Congress, 1783.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Expressing concern about slavery.

Physical Description

1 folder

Extracts from the minutes expressing concern over slavery, 1786.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

London Yearly Meeting to New York Yearly Meeting, etc., 1788-1818.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Rhode Island Yearly Meeting to New York Yearly Meeting, 1798, 1799.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to Quarterly meeting, n.d.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Concerning marriage of cousins.

Physical Description

1 folder

New York Yearly Meeting to subordinate meetings, extracts of epistles from other yearly meetings, 1808-1871.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Concerning the scriptures, education, minutes of advice, etc.

Physical Description

1 folder

New York Yearly Meeting epistles, replies concerning the Separation, 1828-1830.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

New York Yearly Meeting of Ministers and Elders and Minutes of Advice, 1830, 1831.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

London Yearly Meeting, epistle of counsel to subordinate meetings (1836) and Epistle to Queen on the occasion of her marriage, 1836, 1840.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Farmington Quarterly Meeting to its subordinate meetings concerning slavery, 1842.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Epistle from Indiana Yearly Meeting for Sufferings, 1843.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Concerning anti-slavery secession.

Physical Description

1 folder

Memorial to Congress from New York Yearly Meeting, 1844.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Against admitting Texas to the Union as a slave state.

Physical Description

1 folder

Circular concerning establishment of terms at Nine Partners School and note of appropriate dress, 1844.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Epistles concerning Wilburite Separation in New England, 1845-1846.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

London Yearly Meeting to New York Yearly Meeting concerning annexation of Oregon, etc., 1846-1847.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Epistles and related papers concerning the famine in Ireland, 1846-1847.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Memorials to the U.S. Congress concerning war with Mexico, 1846-47, 1846, 1854, 1861.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Pasted on reverse: printed 1846 Memorial to the N.Y. Legislature on rights of conscience and 1861 minute concerning the distress in Kansas due to the drought. 1854 Memorial concerning slavery.

Physical Description

1 folder

New York Yearly Meeting concerning distribution of Bibles to all members, 1847.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

From London Yearly Meeting, A Plea in Behalf of Liberty of Conscience, and other epistles, many concerning slavery, 1847-1868.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Baltimore Conference of the yearly meetings, 1849.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Epistles concerning divisions in Ohio Yearly Meeting, 1854.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Circular announcing The Association of Friends for the Diffusion of Religious and Useful Knowledge, 1858.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

An Address from New York Yearly Meeting held at Poplar Ridge, 1859.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

From London Yearly Meeting, 1861-1863.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Concerning the American Civil War, distress in cotton mills in Lancashire.

Physical Description

1 folder

Memorials from Philadelphia, Western, Indiana, and New York Yearly Meetings to Congress, 1862-1864.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Regarding the War and conscription.

Physical Description

1 folder

Memorials concerning sufferings of Friends drafted during the Civil War, sufferings of Friends in North Carolina, and the declaration of non-combatant status by Congress in 1864, 1863-1865.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Includes New York Yearly Meeting Advice to Friends who are conscripted, 1863.

Physical Description

1 folder

Epistles from New York Yearly Meeting Committee on Colored Refugees to subordinate meetings and Memorial to Congress on behalf of Freedmen from the yearly meetings, circulars, etc., 1863-1870.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Announcement of the Conference at Baltimore encouraging the principles of peace, 1866.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Announcements of a fundraising effort for war relief in France, coordinated by London Friends, ca. 1871.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Proceedings of the first General Meeting held in New York Yearly Meeting, 1871.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Samuel Fothergill's dream, 1779.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Copied for Almy Thurston; glued on reverse are copied poems.

Physical Description

1 folder

A Return of the Company of Loyalist called Quakers, who embark for the River St. John in Nova Scotia, ca. 1780s.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Includes families from N.J., Pa.

Physical Description

1 folder

Clipping from Philadelphia Independent Gazette, 1783.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

London Yearly Meeting's petition for the suppression of the slave trade.

Physical Description

1 folder

Report of sermon of Richard Jordan, 1797.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Ms copy from a Baltimore newspaper.

Physical Description

1 folder

Testimony of Dennis Getchel of New England before his death, 1791.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Also copy of a letter from B. Franklin to B. Fox, 1753.

Physical Description

1 folder

Map (first sketch) of the meetings of New York Yearly Meeting, with schedule of yearly, quarterly, and monthly meetings, drawn by Shadrack Ricketson, ca. 1820.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

On reverse are listed the constituent meetings of the quarterly meetings.

Physical Description

1 folder

Agreement, specifications for Elizabeth Street School, 1826.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Account of the Separation from Dr. C. C. Blatchly, a Hicksite, and other reports, 1829-1834.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Account of the Proceedings of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting concerning New England Yearly Meeting separation, 1847.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Hicksite Separation by Thomas Willis, 1856.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Prepared for the Committee for Sufferings and a copy kept with the Meeting, duplicate copy in Minutes.

Physical Description

1 folder

The Incompatibility of Missionary Societies with Quakerism, to the Friends of White-water Monthly Meeting, 1860.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Meditations on Faith by Josiah Forster, 1864.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

A Brief Narrative of the Rise and Progress of Hicksism within the limits of Westbury Quarterly Meeting by Samuel Mott, 1868.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Certified as a faithful account by William Wood.

Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings on slavery in Puerto Rico, Brazil. etc., 1871.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Accounts of the Separation and Hicks's statements.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

A Treatise Concerning the Discipline of the People Called Quakers, n.d.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Meetings in Grant Co., Indiana, n.d.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Announcing Union Boarding School for girls who are not members but attend meeting, n.d.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

To be held at the home of James Mott Mamaroneck, Ann Shipley and Lydia P. Mott.

Physical Description

1 folder

Architectural plan, King and Kellum, Architects, n.d.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Printout of John Cox's alphabetical index, title pages of Wood's scrapbooks.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest