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Edward F. Stratton Collected Papers on Ohio Quakers
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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
In the mid-nineteenth century, the Society of Friends was divided by a series of unfortunate schisms. Following a division in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1827, four other yearly meetings in the United States were divided into factions known as Orthodox and Hicksite. In the mid-nineteenth century, the Orthodox Quakers were divided again into Gurneyite (later Evangelical) and Wilburite (later known as Conservative) affiliations. This separation was instigated by the English evangelical Quaker, Joseph John Gurney, who visted meetings in America teaching his interpretation of Quaker practice and thought. Other groups of Friends, under the leadership of John Wilbur of New England, followed what they believed was a more traditional form of Quakerism. New England Yearly Meeting (Orthodox) split a second time in 1845. Ohio Yearly Meeting divided in 1854, precipatated by visits of Thomas B. Gould, clerk of the New England Wilburite group, and Eliza Gurney, widow of Joseph John Gurney. Whereas most of the Orthodox Quakers in New England and New York Yearly Meetings sympathized with the Gurneyite view, the conservatives outnumbered the evangelicals in Ohio Yearly Meeting. Many of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Orthodox) were sympathetic to the Wilburite meetings, but to avoid a second schism and to avoid taking sides, that Yearly Meeting ceased formal communication with other yearly meetings for many years.
Ohio Yearly Meeting (Wilburite, later known as Conservative) was split again by two short-lived divisions in 1863 and 1867. The Maulites, or Primitives, were lead by Joshua Maule who rejected a moderate approach to Quakerism. After Maule's death, his version of extreme conservativism faltered.
Edward F. Stratton (1876-1968) was a Quaker from Salem and Barnesville, Ohio. He served as Curator of the Salem Quarterly Meeting records and was Librarian of the Friends Society, Salem, Ohio. In 1964, he moved to The Walton, a Quaker boarding home in Barnesville, Ohio, where he maintained an avid interest in preserving the history of Ohio Quakers. As Curator of Salem Quarterly Meeting Records, Edward F. Stratton was involved with the deposit of Ohio Hicksite and western Pennsylvania Quaker records in Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College in the early 1960s. Salem, Ohio, was the Ohio center of Wilburite Quakerism.
The collection contains historical and biographical information collected by Edward F. Stratton about the Maule, Stratton, Williams, and related Ohio Quaker families, especially those involved in separations in Ohio Yearly Meeting. Of particular interest are Joshua's Maule's diaries and correspondence concerning the Wilburite-Gurneyite and Maulite separations in the Society of Friends and the Williams family correspondence and diaries written while teaching at schools for freed blacks in Mississippi and Texas (1867-1876). Stratton also collected individual items of interest, stored in Series 3, Miscellaneous papers collected by Edward F. Stratton. These papers include Report of the Committee on Indian Concerns, Baltimore Yearly Meeting; Letter to "Brother Quakers" from Sawhe asking for aid (1804) and Account of a conversation between Thomas Gould and Joseph John Gurney (1838),
Organized in three series:
- Joshua Maule
- Edward Williams family
- Edward F. Stratton.
Donor: Edward F. Stratton, 1961-63.
Donor: Frances Stratton Emmons, 1968-69
The papers, memorabilia, and relics were deposited by Edward F. Stratton, unsorted, in a series of gifts 1961 to 1963 and by his daughter after his death.
7/25/1966, a vest and bonnet was returned to Frances Stratton Emmons for Ohio Yearly Meeting Museum at Barnesville Meetinghouse, as previously arranged. It included a note which stated: "Fathers vest, and baby bonnet made of silk like Mother's wedding dress". Made for Robart Plummer, b. 2/25/1813. Son of Robert Plummer and Rachel Talbot, m. 1793.
In the 1960s, the collection was sorted into categories by material type and stored as a Record Group titled Stratton (Maule) Papers, with an item inventory. In 1965, Edward F. Stratton gave to Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College a collection of Walton family papers which were discovered in The Walton boarding home, Barnesville. These were roughly sorted and stored as a separate collection entitled Stratton (Walton), but later added to the other papers given by Edward F. Stratton under a single collection number and name, Stratton-Maule Family Papers.
In 2006, the Walton Papers were removed and restored as a separate collection, RG 5/254. The Stratton-Maule papers were re-sorted into series determined by family group, with the miscellaneous papers collected by Edward Stratton organized as a separate series.
Advice of Ohio Y.M., 9mo 5 to 10 1831
Two deeds: Abraham Chattin to Thos. Wilkins, May 26, 1750, Woodbury Creek, Deptford Twp., West Jersey. and Borden Stanton & wife Charlotte, to Owen Dewees, 8mo 29 (?) 1807, Belmont, Ohio. Stored in Chart Case.
People
Subject
- Quakers -- Ohio
- Quakers -- Texas
- Quakers -- Mississippi
- Church controversies -- Society of Friends
- Quakers -- Social life and customs
- Lay ministry -- Society of Friends
- Quakers -- Social service
- Quakers -- Race relations
- Church and Social Problems -- Society of Friends
- Church work with African Americans
- Indians, treatment of
- Conscientious Objectors
- Society of Friends -- Sermons
- Society of Friends -- Testimonies and concerns
- Spiritual life -- Society of Friends
- Society of Friends -- Customs and practices
- Society of Friends -- History -- 19th century
- Society of Friends -- Wilburite controversy
Place
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- FHL staff
- Finding Aid Date
- 2007
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Some of the items in this collection may be protected by copyright. The user is solely responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns to reuse, publish, or reproduce relevant items beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to the law. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/.
Collection Inventory
The papers contain the journals, religious writings, and correspondence of Joshua Maule. Maule wrote articles and books on the issues dividing the Society of Friends in the mid-nineteenth century, and he corresponded with many of the persons involved. He gathered the correspondence and kept copies of some of his own correspondence, much of which he used in his book Transactions and changes in the Society of Friends and incidents in the life and experience of Joshua Maule. With a sketch of the original doctrine and discipline of Friends. Also a brief account of the travels and work in the ministry of Hannah Hall. In particular, he saved the correspondence of his brother-in-law, Thomas B. Gould, a extreme Wilburite of Rhode Island Monthly Meeting who vehemently opposed the Gurneyite approach, and of his friend Hannah Hall, also of Rhode Island Monthly Meeting (Conservative) who traveled widely in the ministry. The collection is organized in four groups: 1. Journals and writings; 2. Correspondence sent; 3. Correspondence received; 4. Miscellaneous.
Correspondents include: Jacob Maule, father of Joshua; Jane Shipley; Joel Walker; Martha and Thomas B. Gould; E. Pittfield; Rachel Maule Phillips, sister of Joshua; Joseph Snowden, brother-in-law of Joshua; James Maule, son; Rachel Patterson; Israel Buffington; William Waring; W. Hodgson; Charles Evans; David Heston; Solomon Lukens; George F. Read; Joseph Maule, cousin; Hannah Forsythe, Westtown, 1860; Benjamin Maule; William Hall, Jr.; Jacob Maule, son; Clayton Lamborn; Joseph Maule, brother; Thomas Lamborn; John Sargent; Daniel Pickard, of England, on visit of Hannah Hall; S.M. Smith, niece; C.S. Schaeffer, on donations to freedmen, 2mo 15, 1871; John H. Ecroyd, brother of Joshua's first wife, Sarah, after her death; S. Maule, nephew; Joseph Armfield, of England, on visit of Hannah Hall; Hannah Hall; William Hill; Ethan Foster, Westerly, R.I.; William Reid, Newburyport, R.I.; John P. Maule, cousin lawyer in Nebraska; Edward Maule, cousin, Nebraska; John E. Southall, Newport, R.I.; James B. Cotton, escort of Hannah Hall in Australia and New Zealand; Phebe A. Whitson, friend of Rachel Maule Phillips; Gilbert Cope, West Chester, Pa., concerning Cope Genealogy; Ellen P. Cope; Mary B. Hopkins; R. and E.L. Maule, nephew and niece; James E. Hoge; John Chambers; Dr. G.B. Kirk; Samuel Tomlinson; Sarah Maule, Joshua's daughter by his second wife, Hannah T. Cope; Charles Wright; Hannah Cope (later Maule) and her Cope and Thomas family relations.
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Published as Transactions and Changes in the Society of Friends. . . . and An Account of Hannah Hall's travels in the Ministry.
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Published as Transactions and Changes in the Society of Friends. . . . and An Account of Hannah Hall's travels in the Ministry.
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Published as Transactions and Changes in the Society of Friends. . . . and An Account of Hannah Hall's travels in the Ministry
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Much of his correspondence published in Transactions and Changes in the Society of Friends. . . . and An Account of Hannah Hall's travels in the Ministry
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Largely copies in his hand, 8 ALsS
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Largely copies in his hand, 9 ALsS
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Largely copies in his hand, 5 ALsSs
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3 ALsS
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2 ALsS
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21 ALsS
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17 ALsS
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7 ALsS
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13 ALsS
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8 ALsS
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8 ALsS
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7 ALsS
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3 ALSs and 1 fragment.
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4 ALsS
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7 ALsS
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2 ALsS
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3 ALsS
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4 ALsS
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3 ALsS
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3 ALsS
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2 ALsS
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6 ALsS
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Copy in Joshua's hand.
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4 ALsS
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2 ALsS
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Most without relevant correspondence.
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The Williams Family Papers contain the diaries, correspondence and a small number of miscellaneous paper of Quaker teachers who lived in Mississippi and Texas in the post-Civil War Period. The diaries, 1869 and 1871-1873, of Edward Williams include accounts of removing to the South to teach freedmen and his December 1871 meeting with American Indian chiefs who were incarcerated in the penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. The correspondence, largely to family in Ohio, describe daily life and schools. By 1874, the letters reflect increasing financial and social pressures as the new structure for public school cut pay to teachers and limited free education to age 14. By 1876, Edward Williams wrote that their situation and that of African Americans in Texas were "surrounded by uncertainties." The papers are organized in three groups: Journals, Correspondence, and Miscellaneous Papers.
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Includes accounts of visits to penitentiary and meeting American Indian Chiefs incarcerated there, Dec. 1871, and travels in Mid West during summers.
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Describes the schools and attitudes of students and Northerners visiting there. Urges Hannah to join him.
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Edward describes visits to the Penitentiary in Jackson and to Vicksburg
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Joins her parents in teaching
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Mentions Sally Gove's visit
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Hannah mentions that Yearly Meeting expressed interest in providing more funds for their school.
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Discussions about public schools being established.
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Last letter mentions that community not as peaceful as in past.
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Describes trouble in the school and for freedman since the Democrats passed new laws limiting free education to the age of 14 and cutting pay for teachers
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Describes deteriorating political condition of African- Americans, surrounded by uncertainties
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Hannah B. Williams and daughter Sarah, teachers. Ms.
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Signed by Francis Murphy and Debbie Cadwallader.
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School is labeled Sarah's room and Hannah's room.
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This collection of miscellaneous papers, largely concerning Ohio Quakers, were collected by Edward F. Stratton, Curator of Salem Quarterly Meeting, Ohio, and an amateur historian. They include genealogical information, historical research papers, miscellaneous correspondence, and Quakeriana. Of particular interest is an 1804 report of the Committee on Indian Concerns, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, with a letter from Sawhe asking for aid for his tribe. Also letters and reports on yearly meetings which describe the Wilburite-Gurneyite controversies and copies of testimonies by prominent Quakers, including Elias Hicks and Thomas B. Gould, and Ann Branson. The papers are organized into three groups: Edward F. Stratton correspondence; Genealogical and historical papers, Salem Quarterly Meeting; and Miscellaneous Collected Papers. The Collected Papers are arranged chronologically.
Concerning William W. Cowperthwaite and his concern for mountain people of W. Virginia and letter from Frank Wood who accompanied him on mission recalling the trip.
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Re: Syria (mimeograph)
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Concerning identifying author of 1802/1803 document in collection.
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Concerning his visit to the archives of Salem Quarterly Meeting.
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Concerning Providence burial ground in Fayette City, Pa.
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Containing historical information on Salem Quarterly Meeting including persons, meeting houses, and the Stratton family compiled by Edward F. Stratton. Includes history of Salem MM, Ohio, and of Olney Boarding School. Also copies of letters. Clarence Pickett's Journal.
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On reform movements and religious denominations
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Request from Indians of Watchpelick for instruction of their children, taken under consideration by Haddonfield and Evesham Monthly Meetings (AD)
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Letter to Brother Quakers from Sawhe asking for aid
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For visiting Friend Abijah Richards of Middleton MM, 2mo 14 1807. From Upper Evesham MM to Middleton MM requesting it to treat with Joseph Stratton for having married contrary to discipline. 2mo 9 1805 From Westland MM to Middleton MM asking them to treat with Samuel Smith. 12mo 6 1804.
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Mentions burning of Washington, DC
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Signed by J.Q. Adams, President of the U.S.A. 1825.
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Extracts from a letter describing the death of Micajah Collins. Ms.
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Of a vision of C. Gifford. MS with typed copy and photocopy
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For participating in a brawl in Mount Pleasant meeting house, Ohio, 10 mo 13 1828
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Regarding slavery. (reproduction and photocopy)
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Regarding the ideas put forward by J.J. Gurney and J. Wilbur.
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Visiting friend, from Westchester. 2 Mss copies
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Supporting John Wilbur. Ms
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Giving an account of the doings of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
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Regarding dangers in the Society, especially from New York. AD
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Concerning Gurneyite controversy, Ann Branson's address to the Meeting
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Visit of Friends from Fallsington, Pa., and visit to Flushing and Ann Branson
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Conscientious objector, at Richmond, VA.
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In same handwriting as previous, addressed to Martha N. Wistar, Salem, New Jersey, and fragment, account of Ohio Yearly Meeting
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Concerning alleviating the suffering of freedmen
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Character, Author unknown. n.d.(A.D.). Dewees, Watson W., The Literature of Friends, n.d. (A.D.S.) Holloway, Ephran W., verses Rejoicing of a Freedman. Written while a student at Westtown, 1866. (typewritten copy) Separation incident as told by a boy who participated Social Side of the work carried on by the Society. Contents indicate that this was addressed to Olney Students. n.d. (typewritten) Stratton, Alfred H. relates an instance of Friends ministry. n.d. (typewritten carbon copy) Education />, n.d.
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Enos Woods, from Westland M.M., 10 mo 26 1805. John McClun and Elizabeth, his wife, and four children, from Goose Creek M.M., 10mo 28 1805. Nathan Brown (clearance for marriage) from Salem M.M., 11mo 1806. Mary Varman, from Coledine MM, Ireland, to Friends of Phila. in America or Elsewhere, 1mo 8 1729-30. (Ms copy) Ms copy of marriage certificate, Mathew Jepson and Rebecca Camm, 1670 Fragment, 1855.
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Advice of Ohio Y.M., 9mo 6 to 10 1824. Discipline [fragment], n.d. Epistle. London Y.M. to Quarterly and Monthly Meetings of Friends in Great Britain, Ireland, and Elsewhere, 5mo 23 to 6mo 1 1849. Ohio Y.M. for Sufferings, to MM's, 2mo 16, 17 1855 Ohio Y.M. for Sufferings, to Subordinate Meetings, 1mo 16 1862. Epistle to Ohio General Meeting issued by General Meeting of Friends for Pa., N.J., and Del. held at Fallsington, Bucks Co., Pa., 6mo and 12 mo 1867. Printed 1868. Epistle from New England Y.M. at Westerly, R.I., 1890.
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