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72 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION the field of labor in the cause to which he has already rendered such invaluable aid. Resolved that as a testimony of our confidence & esteem Jno G. Whittier be appointed to represent the Penna A. S. Society (E. Dist.) in the convention to be held in London on the 12th of June 1840. Attest Dan1 Neall, Chn. Ex. Com. Haworth Wetherald, Secy. FREE QUAKER MOVEMENT IN NEW ENGLAND DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION By Arthur J. Mekeel THE ADVENT of the War for American Independence brought tensions and alterations to all aspects of American life, religious as well as political and economic. Despite their exclusive manner of living, the Society of Friends shared in these repercussions, one result of which was the splitting off of a small portion of the Society to form a religious organization of its own. This group was known as the Free Quakers. Previous studies of this movement 1 have confined themselves to Philadelphia , but Friends elsewhere were similarly affected, though in varying degrees. In both Maryland and New England some members broke away from the parent body, especially in the latter section. In the middle provinces the division was caused by a disagreement over the question of defensive warfare, while in New England it was precipitated by a dispute over the payment of taxes to the revolutionary governments. xThe printed works on this subject are: Charles Wetherill, History of the Religious Society of Friends Called by Some the Free Quakers, in the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia 1894; Webster King Wetherill, "The Fighting Quakers," in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, xxix (1921), 69-81; and Isaac Sharpless, A Quaker Experiment in Government, Philadelphia 1902, Part Two, ch. ix, entitled "The Free Quakers." The chief source material is contained in the Papers Relating to the Free Quakers in the records vault at 302 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This last item comprises a MS copy of their Minutes and sundry correspondence of Quaker and Free Quaker leaders on the subject. It has also been published in The Friend (Philadelphia ), Ii, 87 ff. FREE QUAKERS IN NEW ENGLAND73 The central figure in the New England controversy was Timothy Davis of Rochester, Massachusetts, a member of Sandwich Monthly Meeting and for some years previously influential and active in the affairs of the Yearly Meeting of Friends for New England. As a prominent Friend he made visits of a religious nature to Pennsylvania and North Carolina in the latter part of 1771 and the early months of 1772.2 At the beginning of the conflict between the mother country and the colonies his position was orthodox as far as the attitude taken by Friends was concerned . In October, 1774, he wrote to his friend Israel Pemberton of Philadelphia: The State of affairs appear with a very threatening Aspect : there are great hostile preparations both by the Soldiery and country in general but I think Frds. in general in our parts have been preserved from being active on either side and it is a great satisfaction to me they have kept as clear as they have. I hope they may be preserved in a state of quietness for the future, for I think our strength will be to stand still.3 With the outbreak of active warfare a question which assumed great importance was whether Friends could pay taxes to the new governments and be consistent with their testimony of peace. It was generally agreed that levies for war purposes only could not be paid, but on the matter of mixed taxes there was considerable difference of opinion. Some however clung to the position that all manner of taxes should be paid, with the exception of priests' rates, and the argument that one should "render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's" was frequently quoted. As early as July, 1775, an anonymous letter on taxation was addressed to Moses Brown of Providence. It argued for paying all taxes to the revolutionary authorities, pointing out that Friends 2 Chester Quarterly Meeting Minutes, 1756-1812, entry for 8 mo. 12, 1771; Western Quarterly Meeting (North Carolina) Minutes, 1760-1900, pp. 84-85, entries for...

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