Week 30 of Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestor Writing Challenge
(Prompt: Easy)
Researching in the Quaker record books can be an easy way to trace your ancestors and discover not only their social life, but also their migration patterns. I discovered that I had a large branch of Quaker ancestors on my paternal side and a smaller branch on my maternal side.
Quakers, who were also called “Friends”, were a Christian group of religious movements formally known as the Religious Society of Friends, Society of Friends or Friends Church. Members of the various Quaker movements are all generally united in a belief in the ability of each human being to experientially access the light within, or “that of God in everyone”.[1]
The early Quakers had a unique way of speaking, dressing and of doing business. They refused to take up arms against anyone, for any reason. They believed that men and women were equal and that all races and nationalities were equal as God’s children. They believed that everyone should be educated and welcomed all children to their schools including slave children. [2]
When we read the minutes of their meetings, we learn so much about their lives. I have found many great entries for my early Quaker ancestors and have made many great discoveries. One such discovery was made while reading the beautifully written wedding ceremony for my seventh great grandparents.
“ Here foloweth a copy of Benj. Woodson marriage certificate which is as foloweth— Whereas Benjamin Woodson son of Rob’t Woodson of the county of Henrico and Sarah Porter daughter of Wm. Porter in of the same county have proposed their intentions of marriage before sworn several meetings of the people in sworn called Quakers who after due inquiry of their clearing and it apeazing to them that the relations of the sd. Benj. and Sarah were consenting to their marriage did give consent that the sd. parties should accomplish their sd. intentions. Wee therefore whose name are underwriten doe certifie all whome it may concern—That the sd. Benj. Woodson and the sd. Sarah Porter did at the meeting house of the afor’d people in the afors’d county the 25th day of the 5th mo. 1700 then and there take each other therefor husband and wife – he the sd. Benj. Woodson taking her the sd. Sarah Porter by the hand and declaring that In the presence of the Lord and before this congregation of people—I Benjamin take Sarah Porter to be my wife – promising to be a true and loving busband to her till death part us and the sd. Sarah Porter then and there declaring that In the presence of the Lord and before this congregation of people – I Sarah porter take Benj. Woodson to be my husband promising to be a true and faithful wife to him till death us part and for the confirmation thereof the Sd. Benj. and Sarah did let go their hands and – whose names are and so written are witnesses
Benj. Woodson, Sarah Woodson
Robt. Woodson Frances Amos Elija Woodson
Wm Porter John Bates Judith Woodson
Isaac Wilson Wm. Lead Jane Pleasants
John Woodson Eph’m Gartright Mary Howard
John Pleasants Rob’t Hughes Mary Woodson
Robt. Woodson Jr John Robinson Martha Pleasants
Rich’d Woodson Alex Makeney Jane Woodson
Nich’o Amos Jo. Woodson Mary Woodson
Edw’d. Mosby Jo. Pleasants Huldah Lead
Th’o Lankford
Att A M Meeting held at Wm Porter the 9th day of the 6th mo. 1700 No business appearing to this meeting it is therefore adjournd to it’s usual home asforsd.”[3]
When you find a marriage record in the Quaker minute books, you not only get the marriage date, but much more information. I felt as though I was a part of the wedding ceremony as he took her hand and said his wedding vows to her, and she said hers to him. I was also able to confirm who each of their fathers were. Something even more amazing was the fact that I recognized several of the names of witnesses. The Woodsons and Porters are my maternal ancestors, whereas the Pleasants, Wilsons and Leads are my paternal ancestors. I thought it was pretty astounding to find both my mother’s and father’s ancestors in the same Quaker meeting.
It is also easy to track the migration patterns of you Quaker ancestors through “Certificates of Removal”. This is an English term meaning “to relocate”[4] When a family or individual wished to relocate and join another meeting, they would need a Certificate of Removal to take with them. The information contained in the certificate was written into the minutes of the former meeting naming the destination. In return, the information was recorded into the minutes of the new location. This also helps to gauge how long it took a family to relocate. In the case of my fifth great-grandparents, Lazarus and Mary Johnson; I wanted to see how long it took them to move from Suffolk City, Virginia to Milford, Wayne County, Indiana.
“Lazarus Johnson request a certificate for himself and his wife Mary to be directed to Milford monthly meeting Wain County Indiana…”[5]
“To Milford Meeting, Wayne County Indiana, Dear Friends Lazarus having removed to reside wherein your ___ requests our certificate for himself and wife Mary. These are to certify that they are members with us and that his affairs appear to be settled to satisfaction as such we recommend them to your Christian care and ___ given forth by the W Branch Monthly Meeting of Friends held alternately at Somerton in Nansemond County the 22nd of 12th month 1832”[6]
“Rc’d a certificate for Lazarus Johnson and Mary his wife from Western Branch Monthly Meeting Virginia dated the 12th mo last”
To be sure they made it to Indiana, I checked the minutes for the monthly meeting in Milford, Wayne County, Indiana. They were received into meeting on the 23rd day of the 3rd month 1833. The move took them approximately three months to complete.
I have much more to discover in these wonderful and thorough Quaker records. They are very extensive and can be a bit overwhelming when beginning to research, but there are a great number of finding aids and resources out there to help.
“He that does good for good’s sake seeks neither paradise nor reward, but he is sure of both in the end”
~ William Penn
[1] ‘Quakers’ (2019) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quakers&oldid=908112704 (Accessed: 28 July 2019)
[2] Arnold, Lisa Parry “Thee & Me: A Beginner’s Guide to Early Quaker Records; First Edition 2014; ISBN 978-0-9903142-0-2
[3] Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; The Record Book, 1699-1757; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: 1116/203; Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
[4] Arnold, Lisa Parry “Thee & Me: A Beginner’s Guide to Early Quaker Records; First Edition 2014; ISBN 978-0-9903142-0-2
[5] Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; Book Commenced, 1806; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: 1116/193; U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935; Ancestry.com; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.2014; Provo, UT, USA
[6] Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; Book Commenced, 1806; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: 1116/193; U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935; Ancestry.com; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.2014; Provo, UT, USA
Digging Up Roots 