Certificate of Mary Rogers, 1698

CERTIFICATE OF MARY ROGERS, 1698.?37 Note by the Editor.—The " commotions " referred to in this paper were those caused by what is known as the Canadian Rebellion of 1837. In 1791 Canada was divided into Upper and Lower Canada, each province having a governor appointed by the crown; a legislative council nominated by the governor; and an elected assembly. The latter had little power, and no control over expenditures. This latter was a great and reasonable grievance. Moreover, the offices of state were practically restricted to a few families. In Lower Canada, whose population was chiefly French, there was great friction between the British and French on account of race, religion, temperament, and language. So great was the dissatisfaction that in 1837 there were small rebellions in each province. These risings were put down without much difficulty, but the causes of discontent remained. Lord Durham was sent out in 1838 with full powers to deal with the situation. He was an able statesman in most respects, but appears to have been deficient in executive matters. He soon got into hot water, and raised much indignation in England by what was considered his high-handed conduct. After scarcely five months in office he resigned. He, however, drew up an able report on the condition of affairs in Canada, in which he advocated (1) granting to the colonial assembly almost full control over domestic affairs; and (2) the union of the two provinces. In essentials his recommendations were adopted, and in accordance with the scheme then devised Canada was governed until the establishment of the Dominion of Canada in 1867. Durham's plan marks the beginning of England's modern colonial policy. The value of Durham's Report is shown by the fact that it has lately been republished , with an Introduction and Notes. (" Lord Durham's Report on the Affairs of British North America." London, 1912. Henry Frowde. 3 Vols. 25/ net. CERTIFICATE OF MARY ROGERS, 1698. By M. Ethel Crawshaw. Mary Rogers was a daughter of John Wheeler. In her marriage certificate, which has recently been sent to the Reference Library at Devonshire House, London, she is described as of Witney, Oxfordshire, late of Whitby, in Yorkshire. She was married to Joseph Rogers, of East Markham, Nottinghamshire, in 1685. The marriage took place at Witney; the certificate is signed by thirteen men and eighteen women in addition to the contracting parties. 138 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Very little information is to hand regarding Mary Rogers, prior to her marriage. In the Minute Book " for the Women's Meetings in and about ffarringdon in ye county of Berks," commencing 1676,* Mary Wheeler is noted as being present at the meeting held at Charney on the 22d of 3 mo., 1682. Except for her very occasional attendance at Monthly Meeting, no particulars appear regarding her. In 1697 Mary Rogers and Elizabeth Webb sailed for America, landing in Virginia towards the close of the year.f "The certifficate fïrom A Monthly Meetinge held at Philadelphia " mentioned in the following document, was ordered to be drawn up by the Meeting of Ministering Friends held in Burlington , at the house of Samuel Jennings, from the 17th to the 23d of 7 mo. [September], 1698. Mary Rogers, with other visiting Friends, was present, and laid her concern for service in Barbados before the Meeting, " in much brokenness . . . though she had tried several ways to have evaded it, if the Lord had seen good, yet every way, except that, seemed as darkness to her."I Two days after the close of this Meeting, she attended the Yearly Meeting of Women Friends, in the same city. An Epistle from this meeting was addressed to Women Friends in London ; it bears the signature of Mary Rogers among others.§ She did not live to complete her service in the New World. Samuel Carpenter, of Burlington, in a letter to William Ellis, dated 12th mo., 1699, states that Mary Rogers died " in her passage from Nevis or Antigua to Jamaica."j[ The following extract from an Epistle from Barbados Friends to London Yearly Meeting, 9th of ist mo., 1699, gives an additional detail: " Dear Mary Rogers and Jacob...