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Perry and Rebecca John 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

Perry (1815-1895) and Rebecca Underwood (1808-1887) John were ministers in the Society of Friends, members of Roaring Creek Monthly Meeting, and worshipped in the Quaker meeting house at Bear Gap (Shamokin), Pennsylvania.

Perry and Rebecca were married in 1842 at Bald Eagle, Centre Co., Pennsylvania. Rebecca was the daughter of farmer Zephaniah Underwood and Hannah Baily of York and Centre Counties in Pennsylvania. Perry, a wheelwright by trade, was the youngest of thirteen children of Abia and Martha (John) John. Perry’s first wife, Annie Eves, had died in 1839, leaving an infant son, Ezra (1838-44). Perry and Rebecca had three children of their own: Griffith (1843-1928), Zephaniah (1845-46), and William (1847-1926).

The bulk of this collection is correspondence, primarily from the 1840s through the 1850s. Some of the letters are between Rebecca and Perry John but the collection also includes letters received by the couple from relatives and friends. Primary correspondents include Jane W. Downing, Hannah Heacock, Phebe John, James, Priscilla, and Jane Moore, Rachel Brenholts, and members of the Underwood, Yarnall, and John families.

Many of the letters relate to Rebecca’s life as a traveling Quaker minister, including the period of time when her children were young. Much of the correspondence describes local events and family news. Of particular interest are letters from Sharon Boarding School from her nieces.

Organization: Organized in two series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Miscellaneous. Correspondence arranged in folders according to sender and recipient

Gift of Harold Heritage (a descendant of Perry and Rebecca John), 2002

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
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

Perry John to Rebecca John, 1844-56 & n.d.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Rebecca John to Perry John, 1844-61 & n.d.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Perry Rebecca John to friends and family, 1847-72 & n.d.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Received by Perry Rebecca John from friends, 1841-62.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Correspondents include J.G. Rich, Sarah K. Eves, Kezia Cleaver, Susannah Spencer, Matilda C. Ellis, Kezia Foulke, R. Hicks, Hannah H. Heacock

Physical Description

1 folder

Received by Perry Rebecca John from son(?), 1873.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Received by Perry Rebecca John from siblings, 1805-1872.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Correspondents include Rachel Brenholts, Wm. Underwood, John Underwood, Jane W. Underwood/Downing, A[mos] & L[ydia] Yarnall, Jane Underwood, Susannah Underwood, Jesse Underwood, Alvina Underwood, Reuben John

Physical Description

1 folder

Received by Perry Rebecca John from other relatives, 1844-1867 & n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Correspondents include Phebe John, R.U., L.T. Jefferis, Eliza Underwood, Amanda Underwood, Rebecca S. Downing, Palemon John, Hannah M. Downing, Mary Ann Janney, Evan J. Yarnall, James & Priscilla Moore, Hannah Jane Bailey

Physical Description

1 folder

Genealogical manuscript: Griffith John, ca. 1840.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Poetry and other miscellaneous documents, 1809 & n.d.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

School essays notes, n.d.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

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