Carting Quakers to Prison

CARTING QUAKERS TO PRISON.59 Philadelphia 9tbmo 21st 1772. Beloved friend 1 Eliz* Smith J The Occasion of my writing at present, is to cover the enclosed , which we this Day received, and to give thee what Intelligency I can of our American Frds. on the English shore. Debby Morris has wrote a few lines to my Partner & self, just to inform of her own and Aunt's Welfare, and to excuse herself from writing to her Frd3. here, her Time being so much taken up with her Worthy Aunt, who seems devoted to her grt. Master's Work— dated 7th mo. 9*. Sammy Emlen writes to his Wife, also to Marg1. Haines, informing that He with William Hunt & Companion were near going to Holland. S. M. & Debby were at Norwich at Jos. Oxley's, Jn0. Woolman was going Northward, and Robt. Willis was gone to Ireland. Also that Cathne Payton was to change her name to Philips the 16o1 of 7 mo last. I think of thee often, and that with increasing Affection & Sympathy ; yet am Comforted on thy Acct. in full Persuasion that he who hath mercifully been thy " Morning Light " will sustain in & thro' all, and in the " Evening " be thy joyful " Song." Farewell my Dear fra. My Companion joins me in Love to thee·I am thy Affectionate fr*. Rebecca Jones. CARTING QUAKERS TO PRISON. [The following account is taken from " Extracts from State Papers Relating to Friends, Fourth Series, 1913," pp. 332, 333. See Book Notices in this number.] [Address] These ffor Joseph Williamson Esqur at ye Lord Arlingtons Whitehall. [Endorsed] Yarmouth R. 7 Aug. 1671 Mr Bower. Sr Sunday last there was a Quakers meeting at Paikefeid in Suffolke about seauen miles from this Towne, wch the Cheife 6?BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Constable being informed of, takeing Some assistance wth him went to disperse, So many as he Knew he tooke their names, the rest being in number n refused to give him there names vpon wch he Sett a guard upon them & went to Sr Thomas Meddowes for a warrant to bring them before him, at his returne he Shewed them his warrant & required them to goe wth him, they told him no, for the warrant required him to bring them before the Justice & therefore they would not goe vpon wch the Constable gott a Cart, but they not being free to goe in of themselues the Constable with his assistance was forst to put them in, the first that were put in were so cross that they would lye at theire length So yt they could not Stow hälfe of them where vpon the Carter laid them one vpon an othr, but this not being for theire ease they then Sett vp, being brought to ye doore where the Justice was, they could not pswade them to come out of ye Cart, vpon wch the Carter cast of the belly band of the ffiller,1 lifted up the tibbs2 of ye Cart & so threw them out altogether at ye Carts arse,3 wch So cooled theire Courage yt coming before Sr Thomas they all gaue in theire names & were dismist for ye psent4 not else but yt I amSr yo>r humble Serut Rich. Bower. EXTRACT FROM A LETTER FROM JAMES BRINGHURST , OF PHILADELPHIA, TO ELIZ* COGGESHALL, IN LONDON. In the first number of this Bulletin there is some consideration of the question whether John Dickinson, of Revolutionary fame, was a member of the Society of Friends. It is pretty evident that through his later life he was not a member, though diligently an attender of meetings, and a founder of Westtown 1Ffiller, ox filler, the horse between the shafts. 2 Tibbs, the extreme end of the cart. 3 Arse, the rear of the cart. 4Another instance of Friends being carted to jail is given in Cambridge Journal [George Fox's Journal, Cambridge edition, 191 1] vol. ii, 14. [See Notes and Queries in this number of the Bulletin]. ...