Main content
Ann Paschall Jackson Family Papers
Notifications
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
Ann Price Gibson Paschall Jackson (1792-1874) was the daughter of Samuel Gibson (1762-1836) and Mary Price Gibson of Darby, Pennsylvania. In 1811 she married Thomas Jacob Paschall, a farmer. He died in 1819, leaving her with two young children, Mary Ann and Stephen. Her children married another set of siblings, Philip Price Sharples and Ann Sharples, children of Nathan and Martha (Price) Sharples of Chester County. In 1831, Ann P. Paschall was recorded as a minister by Darby Monthly Meeting (Hicksite). In 1833 she married Halliday Jackson, prominent Quaker minister and member of New Garden and Darby Monthly Meetings. He died in 1835. In 1849, Ann P. Jackson removed to Birmingham Monthly Meeting where her children were members.
Thomas J. Paschall was descended from Thomas Paschall (1635-1718), a Penn purchaser. The senior Thomas Paschall emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1682 with his family. Son, Thomas Paschall, Jr. (ca. 1668-1743) served on the Pennsylvania Assembly and married Margaret Jenkins. They had ten children including William, Stephen (1714-1800), and Jonathan (1718-1782). Thomas Jacob Paschall (1786-1819) was the grandson of Stephen.
Nathan H. Sharples (1779-1828) married Martha Price (1785-1852) in 1804 under the care of Birmingham Monthly Meeting. They had six children born in West Chester, Pennsylvania: Hannah married Edward B. Darlington in 1831; William P. married Anne G. Pennell in 1848 and secondly Sarah J. Leedon in 1850; Philip Price Sharples married Mary A. Paschall; Henry P. married first Harriett Price and second Hannah Martin; Ann (1816-1883) married Stephen Paschall; Alfred married Elizabeth Cope Sharples; and Samuel Emlen Sharples married Martha Serrill Ash. Family members variously spelled the surname Sharples or Sharpless.
William P. Sharpless (1808-1879), the oldest son of Nathan and Martha Sharples, was a Quaker minister and successful Philadelphia businessman. He first operated general store in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in partnership with John W. Townsend. He subsequently moved to Philadelphia where he became a manager of the Philadelphia-West Chester Railroad.
His brother, Philip Price Sharples (1810-1902), was a superintendent of the West Chester Railroad and a major supporter of the Borough of West Chester and High Street Friends Meeting. He was involved with peace concerns and prohibition as well as the Price School in West Chester. He married Mary A. Paschall (1815-1885), daughter of Thomas and Anne Price Gibson Paschall of Darby Monthly Meeting.
Philip P. and Mary A. Sharples' children included Stephen Paschall Sharples who married Abbie M. Hall, Alfred D. Sharples who married Rachel Roberts, and Ann Price Sharples (1846-1925). Alfred Roberts Sharpless (1888-1955) was an electrical engineer and physicist. He married Clara V. Broadbent and resided in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. His brother, Henry R. Sharples, married Esther B. Foulke and was active in Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
Henry P. Sharples (1813-1890), brother of William and Philip, was a successful West Chester merchant and builder, active in civic affairs and a member of Birmingham Monthly Meeting. His son, William Penn Sharpless married three times, Sallie A. Marshall, Frances Linton, and Elizabeth Black. He was a banker, a founder of Chester County Hospital, travelled widely and was an active member of West Chester Friends Meeting.
Ann Sharples (1816-1883) married Stephen Paschall, son of Thomas and Ann Price Gibson Paschall. She was the author of children's books and in late life returned to West Chester. Their son Alfred Paschall graduated from Swarthmore College, and his son, Irvin Francis Paschall, married Edith Lane Verlenden. Another son, S. Edward Paschall married Elizabeth Roberts.
The collection contains diaries, ledgers, and albums of Ann Price Gibson Paschall Jackson (1792-1874) and her family. Related to many Pennsylvania Quaker families including Price, Sharples/Sharpless, Paschall, and Townsend, Ann P. Paschall (later Ann P. Jackson) was recorded as a minister of Darby Monthly Meeting (Hicksite) in 1831. Series 1 is composed of her diaries, 1814 to 1874. The detailed entries concern religious and practical matters. Series 2 contains diaries, ledgers, and albums of related family members including the journals of her first husband, Thomas J. Paschall. Of special interest is the small number of miscellaneous manuscripts in Series 3, particularly a 1709 bill of sale for an enslaved woman to Thomas Paschall, Jr.
The collection is divided into three series. Series 1. Ann P. Jackson Journals; Series 2. Family Papers: Diaries, ledgers, albums; Series 3. Miscellaneous
The original items in the collection were donated by Elizabeth Foulke Sharples Pusey, a descendent of the Sharples and Paschall families. Notes in various manuscript journals indicate it probably descended through the line of Alfred D. Sharples, son of Philip and Mary (Paschall) Sharples and grandson of Ann P. Jackson. Elizabeth Pusey was his granddaughter and the great-great granddaughter of Ann P. Jackson (Ann Price Gibson Paschall Jackson), Quaker minister of Darby Monthly Meeting.
In 2021 and 2022, Philadelphia-area collectors donated related family items and the bulk of Anna P. Jackson diaries.
Gift of Elizabeth Sharples Pusey, 1978.
Gift of Caroline Cherry, Acc. 2021.032, 2022.053.
Four of the Ann Jackson journals, the extracts, Townsend and Gibson journals, and some miscellaneous papers were preserved and donated by Elizabeth Foulke Sharples Pusey who was a descendant of Ann Price Gibson Paschall. These papers were partially processed in 1978 and cited as Ann P. Paschall Papers. In November 2000, the collection was recatalogued as Ann Price Gibson Paschall Jackson Family Papers. In 2021 seventeen additional journals were given to FHL. The organization was simplified and a new finding aid created.
In 2022, one additional Ann Paschall journal together with family diaries, ledgers, and albums were donated to FHL from the source. This material was integrated with the collection and a new finding aid created.
People
- Blunston family
- Pearson family
- Sharples, Nathan H., 1779-1838
- Townsend, Nicholas W., 1790-1818
- Paschall family
- Jackson, Ann P., 1792-1874
- Price family
Subject
- Quakers -- 19th century -- Diaries
- Quakers -- Social life and customs
- Quakers -- Pennsylvania -- Darby
- Quakers -- Pennsylvania -- Delaware County
- Quakers -- Pennsylvania -- Chester County
- Quaker women
- Society of Friends -- Clergy
- Brickmaking -- Pennsylvania
- Agriculture -- Pennsylvania
- Lay ministry -- Society of Friends
- Quaker farmers
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- Susanna Morikawa
- Finding Aid Date
- 2000
- 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 P. Jackson's Diary - Vol. 1. Extracted from the original books by my Aunt Ann S. Paschall. A. D. Sharples. 4-13-1900." The preface dated 6th 7th 1838 by Ann P. Jackson is a brief autobiography.
Daily tasks, Quaker meetings, child raising, treating illnesses.
Incomplete: Pages removed from front of small leather bound volume. Largely spiritual notes
Volume begins 4 month 17, but pages attached cover from 2 month. She was closely reading scriptures and mentions many visiting ministers at Meeting.
Ann was drawn to public ministry 6 month 23.
3 larger soft bound volumes. Attending meetings and family concerns, traveling with ministers Priscilla Hunt and Halliday Jackson. Dates: 1824-01-01 to 1826-12-06; 1826-12-06 to 1829-05-28; 1829-06-28 to 1832-01-16.
Ann Paschall married Halliday Jackson on 14 June 1833. She regularly attended Select and other Quaker meetings, was active in ministry.
As a recorded minister, Ann Jackson was active in visiting many meetings and Friends, some times traveling with her husband. Their son Gibson Jackson was born 1834-8-18 and died at age 11 months on 1835-7-25, same year as his father. Ann visited Arch Street Prison, her son Stephen married Ann Sellers. Husband Halliday Jackson died 2 month 9, 1835.
Very active in the ministry. Attended Indian Committee meetings and other committees
Ministry. Granddaughter Ann P. Sharples born 1 month 16, 1846
Ministry, Indian Committee. Ann Jackson visited meetings in Virginia, New Jersey, etc. In Washington she met President James Polk in June 1846. Visited schools including schools for Blacks.
Small paperback volume. Visits to New Jersey, etc.
Traveling in ministry, many visits in Philadelphia. Attended Genesee Yearly Meeting
In 1862, at age 70, Ann Jackson continued active work in the Yearly Meeting
Family concerns, active in meetings
Very active visiting Quaker meetings and families. Support for the schools for the Freedmen in the South, Yearly Meeting and travel.
Busy with family and friends. Final entry is dated 2nd month 9, 1874. She was finishing a bedspread, visited by friends, and died 11 February in her 82nd year of age. Inserted in book is a copy of inventory of the estate of Ann S. Paschall, dated 1883 (widow of Stephen Paschall who extracted her mother-in-law's diaries.)
Includes notes concerning sending her children to school, drafts of letters, 1819 illness of husband Thomas and his death.
Ann's son Stephen handled much of her affairs. Additions by Stephen Paschall and his son Philip Sharples.
Bound volume. Clippings and handwritten papers glued over pages of an account or workbook and loose items. Philip P. Sharples signed inside front cover, some items addressed to Ann Jackson. "Recipe from Hannah K. Cope," 1832, for opium drop. Wide range of topics includes cake recipes, cancer treatments, household advice.
Bound volume is an 1806 Ann Gibson [later Paschall Jackson] arithmetic workbook later used as a receipt book with receipts glued onto pages. Receipts to Ann P. Jackson and final to Philip P. Sharples, her son-in-law. Taxes, stock in Friends Educational Association, Free Labor Warehouse, Freedman's Aid Society, household, etc
A magazine for Quaker children. See FHL periodical for bound copies 1869-1935.
Samuel Gibson (1762-1836), the father of Ann Price Gibson. He married Mary Price in 1788 under the care of Radnor Monthly Meeting. Contains brief daily entries, work, attending meetings, declining health. He died 6 month 27, 1836.
The property was inherited from his grandfather, Stephen Paschall (1714-1800), as his share of the estate. Nathen Sellers, guardian. With loose plot plans
Thomas J. Paschall (1786-1819). Begins with an account of death Stephen Paschall (1752-1790) on 12 mo 31 1800. Small volume with miscellaneous notes including "The money that I spent this year"and directions for working metal, cement.
Handmade small book. "Book of the prices of things" with Events 1803-1805 and scientific notes.
Recipes, chemical instructions, notes.
Journal of of a trip to Niagara Falls commencing 10 mo, 6, 1810, to 11 month. 26.
Bound in crude leather cover. Note inside cover "The cover of this book was Stephen Paschall's the son of Jonathan Paschall who died [?] 19 years about the year. Record of chemical tests, etc.
Small leather bound volume with daily events, interesting details. Author nentioned bound workers including a black boy (Jesse Dexter), until of age. Paschall suffered from asthma. He bought a new book in 1815 which he hoped would suffice for 20 years, if he lived that long.
Thomas J. Paschall (1786-1819). Inside cover: ("No. 3) TJP has filled two small books before this and began to keep a diary in [June 5, 1815]" Intended as a record of his farming as well as comments, record of treatments for his many ailments Daily personal and farming notes, which end Jan. 15, 1819. Following pages removed. Tipped in page by another hand which gives and account of his illness and death on Feb. 19, 1819. Succeeding section is account ledger kept by Stephen Paschall, his son, 1835-1847.
Accounts and expenses for minor children. Stephen and Mary
Teacher [?] but early entries mention working at quarry and with masons. Attended funeral of Thomas Paschall on 2nd month 22, 1819. Author attended Quaker meetings and also Methodist and Baptist.
Labeled on front cover, Book B inside cover. Jonathan Paschall (1718-1782) of Darby Monthly Meeting married out of unity to Mary Fisher in 1741. A farmer, he was the son of Thomas Paschall and Margaret Jenkins Paschall, a great-uncle of Thomas J. Paschall.
Oversized, poor condition with water damage May have been used as clippings commonplace book with clippings largely removed. Jonathan Paschall? References to numbered pages.
Not labeled but includes an index to persons
Jonathan Paschall of Darby Monthly Meeting married out of unity to Mary Fisher in 1741. After she died in 1781, Jonathan wrote a new Will, making this one obsolete. He died in 1782, executors included his nephews Henry, Benjamin and Stephen Paschall, Jr.
Brothers Jonathan (b. 1718) and Stephen Paschall (1714-1800) were managers. Hannah Paschall (1744-1833) was the daughter of Stephen; she signed inside cover.
Attributed to Ann P. Jackson's maternal grandfather, John Price, born 1721, son of Reece and Elizabeth Price of Radnor Monthly Meeting. In 1752 he married Mary Davis (1731-1808), daughter of John and Rebecca David of Darby Monthly Meeting. Jonathan Paschall attended the marriage service under the care of Darby Monthly Meeting. The volume contains recipes for cures for diseases and injury. The covers and first and final section of book missing
Small handmade booklet, "his First Book." Farm notes and biographical. Edward Price, son of John and Mary Price of Radnor Monthly Meeting was born 1756.
"Copied by Philip Price and others begun 1796." Final account is death of Isaac Price, son of Philip and Rachel Price, 1825. Includes copies of letters from William Mott, Elias Hicks. Copies of poems and accounts of Indian conference compiled by Rachel Price. Poems added by friends for Rachel. Note on front page by Rachel Price: "This book was bound by your father Philip Price before we were married in the year 1784/your mother Rachel Price 1839." An account of a reunion of family members written as if Biblical text.
By daughter and wife. Philip Price (1764-1837) and Rachel Kirk Price (1763-1847) , together with their daughter Hannah founded Price's Boarding School for Girls in West Chester in 1830. They had served as superintends of the Westtown School from 1818-1830.
Copies of letters, memoirs, family notes, collected by Eli or William Price? Includes a copy of the memoir of Philip Price (1730), great grandfather of authors? Final entries concern illness and death of Rachel K. Price written by sons Elihu and William. Fading ink.
Philip (1810-1902) was the son of Nathan and Martha Price Sharples. Drafts of letters cover many topics including controversy about a school for black children in West Chester, West Chester Rail Company, admission of [brother-in-law} E. B. Darlington to Pennsylvania Hospital, school funding.
Townsend was related to the Price family. Inside cover signed by A. S. Sharples [Alfred S. Sharple], grandson of Ann P. Jackson. Nicholas Townsend (1790-1818) was birthright in Gunpowder Monthly Meeting, transferred to Birmingham Monthly Meeting in 1816. Daily entries, farm, visits, meetings. Attended Quaker and Methodist meetings, attended singing school
Journal 1798-1803, the reverse contains recipes and cures. Nathan H. Sharples (1779-1838) was the father-in-law of Mary Ann Paschall Sharples. He was a West Chester, Pennsylvania, builder and brickmaker and built Price's Boarding School in West Chester. Nathan married Martha Price in 1804. Their son Philip Price Sharples married Mary Ann Paschal in 1839.
Martha Price Sharples (1785-1852) wife of Nathan Sharples. Copied in 1863 by Ann Sharples Paschall (wife of Stephen Paschall). "Copied for Philip P. and Mary A Sharples By their sister ASP" With family notes following, [Note that sister Hannah had sold West Chester boarding school]
Hannah Sharples (1805-1882) daughter of Nathan and Martha (Price) Sharples, married Edward B. Darlington in 1831. Clippings glued over bound mathematic workbook.
Son-in-law of Ann P. Jackson prior to his marriage to Mary Paschall. Lectures were presented at Old Cabinet.
Mary Ann (1815-1885) daughter of Thomas and Anne Gibson Paschall, married Philip Price Sharples in 1839. Entries from Halliday and Jane Jackson, Warder Cresson. Several loose pages including one dated 1878.
At end of book is list of flower, listing of girls who attended 'West Chester Boarding School and list of Signers of the Declaration
Trip to Baltimore and Washington, DC
Eleven week tour which sailed from Philadelphia on the steamship Merion. The album contains clipped commercial photo with some annotation. Sharpless was President of the Chester County Trust Company.
Commercial album with handwritten poems about death and grieving
Essays on various topics. Williamsport Academy (1812-1848) was founded in 1848 and became the Williamsport Dickinson Seminary (1848-1928), and later Williamsport Dickinson Seminary and Junior College (1928-1947). Later essays written at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. A Dickinson College program dated 1865 is inserted loose in volume.
Author left from West Chester, Pennsylvania. Camping and visiting sites. Author unknown
Bound manuscript volume of genealogy compiled by John Pearson, born 1740, son of Thomas Pearson and Hannah Blunston Pearson. He was a cousin of Ann P. Jackson's father.
Bill of sale, Betty to Thomas Paschall, Jr. Thomas Paschall, son of Thomas Paschall the Penn Purchaser and Joanna Sloper. Born circa 1668, he married Margaret Jenkins in 1692 and died in 1743. He was a farmer, member of Darby Monthly Meeting. The manuscript was found loose in a 19th century account book.
Signed autograph letter from Stephen Paschall to "Dear Sister," Fanny Fisher, notifying her of death of Lydia Hollingsworth in sleigh accident on Darby Creek, Pennsylvania.
Copy of the Will of Abraham Darlington, Birmingham Township, 1798; Indenture, not completed, between Charles Catherine Noble and Job Kirkbride, Philadelphia, 1832
Document, Hannah Fox assigning William Sharples as power of attorney
Manuscript. Removed from frame.