Samuel and Mary (Becket) Bowne and Their Friends.-II: Concerning Mary Becket

SAMUEL AND MARY (BECKET) BOWNE13 we hope you will keep the Remainder of your Land in your hands, and learn to Cultivate it & that you will by all means keep in Peace with the White People as well as with your Indian Brethren & all men—this will be your greatest happiness, if we, your friends, the Quakers of Philadelphia Can be of any Service at any time, & we Desire you may be free in applying to us—with a great Deal of Regard & Desire for your Welfare, I am your friend.9William Savery. Ella K. Barnard. SAMUEL AND MARY (BECKET) BOWNE AND THEIR FRIENDS.—II. Concerning Mary Becket. Reference was made in the last paper to the tradition that the mother of Mary Becket was an Elinor Percy.1 No evidence has ever been found to substantiate this story, and the recently discovered history of Mary Becket makes it wholly untenable as well as the other tradition that she came as companion to an English woman minister.2 The late Thomas Stewardson, of Philadelphia, made a careful investigation into the history of Mary Becket, and succeeded in clearing up what had been a puzzling problem. The following account is based on his researches, the results of which were communicated by him to the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography during the years 1886-1887, supplemented by original letters and documents in the possession of the present writer. 9 O. Turner, " Hist, of the Holland Purchase," 1849. 1 This story is given in W. H. H. Davis's " History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania," pp. 86, 106. 2 It has been suggested that there has been a confusion between two ancestors named Mary—one, Mary Hornor, who may have been of Percy descent, and Mary Becket, who undoubtedly was not. Penna. Mag., xi, 245, 246. 14BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY. The first thing we know of Mary Becket is that her name is in the passenger list of the ship " Vine " of " Leverpoole," which arrived at Philadelphia " ffrom Dolyserne 3 near dolgules 3 in Merionethshire," " the 17th day of the 7 mo. [September] 1684." She is put down as being in the company of Henry Baker from Walton [near Preston] in Lancashire. The party consisted of " Henry Baker & Margaret his wife," their four daughters, two sons, Mary Becket, and ten servants. It must be remembered that the word " servants " means " indentured " servants which did not necessarily mean those who performed menial service, but who were analogous to college students of our day who work their way through college. They were bound for various terms so they could work out their passage money, etc.4 The Pemberton family were doubtless of yeomanry rank and lived in Lancashire. Phineas Pemberton was intimate with Roger Haydock, Robert Lowe, Henry Baker, and others. He and Phebe Harrison were married (1676) at the house of John Haydock (brother of Roger) at Cappull, Lancashire; and Henry, Roger, Elizabeth, and Anne Haydock, and Elinor Lowe are among the signers of the marriage certificate. Robert Lowe (probably the younger Robert) was Phineas Pemberton's apprentice in 1672.5 These facts are mentioned to show the connection between the Pembertons, Lowes, and Haydocks. Roger Haydock, of Cappull, was a prominent minister who traveled widely in Great Britain and Ireland, and on the Continent of Europe, and had his full share of the " sufferings " of the early Friends. On the " 6th Day of the 3d Mo. [May] 1682 " he was married to Elinor Lowe. After traveling in the ministry a few months, Roger Haydock " settled his wife at Warrington ," 1682. " In the 5th mo. [July] 1687 he removed his wife and family from Warrington to Brick Hall in Penketh " [South 3 Neither of these names appears on modern maps. See Penna. Mag., viii, 332, 333 ; Futhey and Cope, " Hist. Chester Co., Pa.," pp. 430, 431. 4 According to Penn's liberal plan, each servant would have fifty acres of land when his time should expire. 5 Comly's Miscellany, Vol. vii, 15-19, 1835. SAMUEL AND MARY (BECKET) BOWNE15 Lancashire], which continued to be his home till his death in 3 mo [May] 1696." 6 In her account of her " convincement " Elinor Lowe says of...