Society of Friends (family records)

A collection of miscellaneous documents, 1769-1850, relating to members of the Society of Friends, as follows:
1. Marriage certificate of John Williams, grocer, of the parish of St Mary le Strand in London, and Rachel Hill, on 16 Nov 1769, at the Meeting House in Tottenham, London. Signed by 44 witnesses.
2. Birth certificate of Ann, born 29 Oct 1776 at Stone Dean, Buckinghamshire, daughter of Joseph Green and Mary his wife.
3. Birth certificate of Sarah, born 28 Sep 1792 at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, daughter of John Harker, cotton spinner, and Elizabeth his wife.
4. Birth certificate of Ann, born 11 Nov 1793 at Mansfield, daughter of John and Elizabeth Harker.
5. Birth certificate of Aston, born 9 Jan 1795 at Mansfield, son of John and Elizabeth Harker.
6. Birth certificate of Elizabeth Ann, born 15 Apr 1799 at Mansfield, daughter of John and Elizabeth Harker.
7. Two copies of the birth certificate of Grizell Maria, born 13 Dec 1799 at Chepping Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, daughter of Samuel Edmonds, mealman, and Grizell his wife.
8. Birth certificate of Henry, born 20 Oct 1801 at Mansfield, son of John Harker and Mary his wife.
9. Birth certificate of Jane, born 14 Mar 1803 at Mansfield, daughter of John and Mary Harker.
10. Birth certificate of Catherine, born 6 Mar 1804 at Mansfield, daughter of John and Mary Harker.
11. Birth certificate of Helen, born 29 Mar 1805 at Mansfield, daughter of the John and Mary Harker.
12. Birth certificate of John, born 5 Aug 1806 at Mansfield, son of John and Mary Harker.
13. Birth certificate of Susanna, born 20 Mar 1808, daughter of John and Mary Harker.
14. Birth certificate of Anna, born 15 Jun 1809 at Mansfield, daughter of John and Mary Harker.
15. Marriage certificate of William Green, grocer, of Chepping Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and Susannah Lamley, on 26 Aug 1818, at the Meeting House, Shipston-on-Stour, Worcester.
16. Grant of administration of the effects of Susanna Green, late of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, (d 5 Feb 1838), to her husband William Green, 17 Dec 1839.
17. Probate of the will of Ann Green, spinster (d 26 Jul 1844), of High Wycombe, granted to Henry Lyne and Edwin Harford, her cousins, and Grizzell Edmonds, her sister, 2 Nov 1844.
18. Probate of will of Mary Rock, widow, (d 22 Jan 1850), of Crendon Lane, High Wycombe, granted to Mary Rock, her daughter, 9 May 1850.

The Society of Friends (also known as Quakers) was a Protestant denomination that arose in England in the mid-17th century. The Society was founded by George Fox, a Nottingham shoemaker turned preacher, who emphasized inward apprehension of God, without creeds, clergy, or other ecclesiastical forms. The movement grew rapidly after 1650 but its members were often persecuted or imprisoned for rejecting the state church and refusing to pay tithes or swear oaths. Nevertheless, by 1660, there were 20,000 converts. Persecution continued, and many quakers emigrated to America, where they found toleration in Rhode Island and in the Quaker colony of Pennsylvania, which was chartered by Charles II under the sponsorship of William Penn in 1681. Marks that became characteristic of Quakerism were plain speech and dress, pacifism, and opposition to slavery.

There are two groups of papers. Each is ordered chronologically.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Given by Dr J H P Pafford in 1963 and 1970.

Collection level description.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Records of births, marriages, deaths and burials of members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) are held at the Public Record Office (Ref: RG 6). The Society of Friends Library is at Friends' House, Euston Road, London.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.