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Ferris-Wetherald Family Papers

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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:
RG5.041
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Ferris-Wetherald Family Papers, RG5/041, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1773-1888 (inclusive)
Creator:
Ferris, Deborah, 1813-1897, Ferris, Anna M., 1815-1890, Ferris, Benjamin, 1780-1867, Wetherald, James, and Wetherald, Joseph, 1787-1842
Abstract:
Contains correspondence, legal papers, deeds, and memorabilia of the Ferris and Wetherald families, who were Quakers of Wilmington, Delaware, and Lancashire, England. Persons represented include Benjamin Ferris (1780-1867), of Wilmington, Del., and his daughters, Deborah (1813-1897) and Anna M. Ferris (1815-1890), and Joseph Wetherald (1787-1842), of Wilmington, and his brother, James Wetherald, of Wakefield, England.

Joseph Wetherald (1787-1842) and his wife Mary (Haworth) Wetherald (1790-1872) were born in England and emigrated to the United States in 1819. Joseph was the son of Joseph and Molly Wetherald of York County, and, like his father, worked was a butcher. Mary was the daughter of Jonathan and Sally Haworth of Lancaster County, England. Joseph and Mary settled in Wilmington, Delaware. They had ten children: Sarah, Haworth, Elizabeth, Susanna H., William, Jonathan, Mary, Joseph, Anna, and Martha H. Wetherald. Joseph's brother, James, remained in England.

In 1845, Mary Wetherald (1825-1907) married William Ferris (1822-1909), the second to youngest son of Benjamin and Fanny (Canby) Ferris. Benjamin Ferris was a prominent member of the Society of Friends. Like the Ferris family, the Wetheralds affiliated with the Hicksite branch of Wilmington Monthly Meeting. William and Mary (Wetherald) Ferris had seven children: Benjamin, Fanny, Joseph W., Mary, William, Deborah, and Anna M. Ferris.

Contains correspondence, legal papers, deeds, and memorabilia of the Ferris and Wetherald families, who were Quakers of Wilmington, Delaware, and Lancashire, England. Persons represented include Benjamin Ferris (1780-1867), of Wilmington, Del., and his daughters, Deborah (1813-1897) and Anna M. Ferris (1815-1890), and Joseph Wetherald (1787-1842), of Wilmington, and his brother, James Wetherald, of Wakefield, England.

The collection is divided into three series:

  1. Biographical and genealogical
  2. Correspondnece
  3. Business and legal papers

Gift of Mary Ferris Blackburn and Edith S. Blackburn, descendants of Joseph and Mary Wetherald and Benjamin and Fanny Ferris, 1965

Processed by FHL staff in 1965 in five series. Correspondence was arranged chronologically without context. In 2012, to co-ordinate with the re-processing of the Ferris Family Paper, RG5/040, the contents of this collection were sorted into consistent series and refoldered. Correspondence was divided into correspondents and described.

See also:

  1. Ferris Family Papers, RG 5/040

The marriage certificate of Joseph Wetherald and Mary Haworth, 4mo 25 1811, Marsden Meeting, Lancashire, England, was removed to Chart Case, Marriages - W.

People
Subject
Place

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
2011
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

Marriage consent signed by Sarah Ferris for son Zachariah, 1740.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Photostat copy of the original

Physical Description

1 folder

Birth certificates: Joseph Wetherald, Mary Haworth, 1787, 1790.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Parchment. Joseph Wetherald, born 8mo 10 1787; Mary Haworth, born 2mo 20 1790

Physical Description

1 folder

Astrology for birth of Haworth Wetherald, 1798.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Ms

Physical Description

1 folder

Visiting minute for Edith Ferris, Jr, 1802.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Recommending her to the care of local friends by Wilmington Monthly Meeting members, endorsed by her parents and Deborah and John Bringhurst

Physical Description

1 folder

Anonymous daybook, 1806.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Entries in Ward's New Royal Ladies Pocket Book. Author attending school and Quaker meetings in England

Physical Description

1 folder

Marriage certificate of Joseph Wetherald and Mary Haworth, 1811.
Othertype Chart case W
Scope and Contents

4mo 25 1811, Marsden Meeting, Lancaster Co., England. Stored with Marriage Certificates: "W"

Physical Description

1 folder

Elizabeth Fothergill daybook, 1815.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

According to a note by Mary H. (Ferris) Price, Elizabeth was the sister of her grandmother, Mary Haworth, who married Joseph Wetherald. Elizabeth married Alexander Fothergill, and she died in England in 1826 at the age of 35. Entries are written in the "Annual Monitor and Memoranda Book."

Physical Description

1 folder

Disownment of Mary Wetherald, 1829.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

5mo 5 1829, Wilmington Monthly Meeting, by the Orthodox. The Wetheralds affiliated with the Hicksites.

Physical Description

1 folder

Benjamin Ferris Will (ms copy), 1857.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

According to the Will, Ferris's residence at the time of his death was to go to his son, William, and then to his namesake, William and Mary's son, Benjamin Ferris (1847-1929).

Physical Description

1 folder

Poem by Benjamin Ferris (typed copy), n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Written 1820 for his children. Typed copy made for his daughter

Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous, n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Child's story book owned by Haworth Wetherald 1819; calling cards

Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Concerning Shipley/Ferris residence, death of Edward Ferris in 1919, miscellaneous.

Physical Description

1 folder

Dickinson, John to Ferris, William, 1800.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Invitation note inviting William and wife to dinner

Physical Description

1 folder

Ferris, Benjamin to Ferris, Deborah, 1826.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

2 ALsS to his daughter, a student at Westtown School. He is glad she likes the School, but wants her to like education more - and focus on spelling. He mentions that wax figures were on display, and he didn't allow his children to visit, but he would welcome an exhibit of wild animals. His letter of 7 mo 1826 reports the death of both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on the same day, July 4th.

Physical Description

1 folder

Wetherald, James (Wakefield, England) to Wetherald, Joseph and Mary (Philadelphia, Pa._, 1820.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Local and Quaker news, plans for others from town to emigrate to America

Physical Description

1 folder

Wetherald, James (Wakefield) to Wetherald, Joseph and Mary (Brandywine, near Wilmington), 1821-1823.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALsS. James addressed as "Butcher"

Physical Description

1 folder

Wetherald, James (Wakefield) to Wetherald, Joseph and Mary (Brandywine, near Wilmington), 1825-1833.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALsS.

Physical Description

1 folder

Haworth, George (Rochdale) to Wetherald, Joseph, 1822.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Haworth, ? to Wetherald, Mary, 1821?.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

"Dear sister"

Physical Description

1 folder

Ten, Ann (Rockdale?) to Wetherald, Joseph and Mary (Wilmington, Del.), 1827.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

"Dear brother," news from home

Physical Description

1 folder

Harlan, Edith (Ferris), Mill Town, correspondence, 1827, 1834.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALS to her daughter, Ann J. Harlan, 1827; ALS to her mother, 1834

Physical Description

1 folder

Ferris, Anna M., from friend and cousin, 1832, 1848, 1849.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALsS, cousin MCB

Physical Description

1 folder

Ferris, Deborah to Ferris, Anna M., 1834.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALS to her sister while visiting Baltimore. Attended meeting where John Livingston and Samuel Janney spoke.

Physical Description

1 folder

Ferris, Hannah (Gibbons) to "My dear Girls", 1842, n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALsS to her step-daughters, Deborah and Anna M. Ferris

Physical Description

1 folder

Ferris, Anna M. to sister and father, 1849, 1852, n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALsS to Deborah and her father.

Physical Description

1 folder

Ferris, William and Mary, 1851-1852.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALsS from Brest (Michigan?) soon after arrival

Physical Description

1 folder

Ferris, Benjamin to grandson, Ferris, Benjamin, n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Note concerning visiting them in Michigan

Physical Description

1 folder

Gibbons, Mary to Ferris, Anna M., 1837, 1847, n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALsS from Bonair and Wilmington.

Physical Description

1 folder

Ferris, Edward to "My Dear Sister", n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

ALS from Milwaukee, 1 month.

Physical Description

1 folder

Invitations, 1804-1844.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Includes invitations extended by Fanny Canby and Benjamin Ferris, 1804, and Hannah Gibbons and Benjamin Ferris, 1835.

Physical Description

1 folder

Charles Broome, Sr., Will (copy), 1740.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Ms copy of 1725 Will addressed to Edith Sharples. Also photocopy

Physical Description

1 folder

Deeds, 1773-1824.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Jacob Bennet to Jonathan Rumford, Sr., 1773; Alice Bennett, Wm. Lane and wife Ann, Sarah Bennett, Susanna Bennett to Thos. Beeson, 1783;Thos. Beeson and wife Rebecca to John Hill, 1785; Caleb Seal to Wm. Seal, 1813; Benjamin Webb, administrator for Robert WiIkinson to Wm. Seal, 1816. (2); Elizabeth Y. Wright to Louis McLane, 1824.

Physical Description

1 folder

Ferris Family Deeds, 1825-1888.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Benjamin Ferris and wife Fanny to Enoch Lewis, 1825; David C. Wilson and wife Letitia to Benjamin Ferris, 1836; Louis McLane and wife Catharine to Benjamin Ferris, 1838; Sarah Woolley, Bauduy(?) Simmons, Joshua Simmons, and Benjamin Ferris to Wm. Chandler, Jr., 1849. (ms. copy); Aaron Conrad and wife Sarah to Benjamin Ferris, 1857; Mark M. Cleaver and wife Mary A. to William Ferris, 1888.

Physical Description

1 folder

Property Agreements, 1835, 1847(3).
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Involving Benjamin Ferrs. One is a rough draft.

Physical Description

1 folder

Contract and Sale, 1839.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Copy. Samuel Smith with Benjamin Ferris. Witnesses by Deborah and Anna M. Ferris

Physical Description

1 folder

Bond and mortgage, 1842.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Samuel Smith to William Seal

Physical Description

1 folder

Memorandum of payment by Benjamin Ferris, 1838.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

to N.G. Williamson for deed from Louis McLane, 5mo 14 1838 and correspondence to McLane concerning survey

Physical Description

1 folder

Plot drawings, Benjamin Ferris and related papers, 1849.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Drawings: plots of land formerly belonging to Peter Aldrich; plan of building Square; land on Pasture and Second St.; Lands west of Washington St., Wilmington.

Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest