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Perry and Rebecca John 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
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. Perrys 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 Rebeccas 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
People
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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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
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Correspondents include J.G. Rich, Sarah K. Eves, Kezia Cleaver, Susannah Spencer, Matilda C. Ellis, Kezia Foulke, R. Hicks, Hannah H. Heacock
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
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 Description1 folder
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 Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder