The Maris Family

THE MARIS FAMILY17 great-grandson of Jane, attained the rank of major iri the Continental Army. We have heard of beating swords into plough shares but the writer has been told by one who saw it that Joseph's sword was used to cut cheese at the Oakdale store on Baltimore Pike. Perhaps it was thus used later by the Ogdens. The family has intermarried with the Marises, Rhoads, Taylors, Worralls, Yarnalls, Levises and other families who have been members of this meeting and many of them lie in these grounds. Until a century ago members of the family were apprenticed to learn various trades as well as occupying farms. There were tanners, saddlers and surveyors among them. Another was a teacher at Springfield Central school which his descendants to three generations have attended. One of the present generation has followed in her great-grandfather's footsteps. While none of the family, members of this meeting, have occupied high public office, a number have held the township offices of Road Supervisor, School Director, Auditor and until the office was abolished, Overseer of the Poor. THE MARIS FAMILY A paper written and read by Mary E. Williamson at the spring meeting of Friends' Historical Association held at Springfield Meeting House, Marple , Pennsylvania, Fifth Month 25, 1929. Today I have been asked to tell something of the Maris family, but since the descendants of the family number in the thousands and because we are met here today to consider the historical connection of these old families with this neighborhood and meeting house, I shall endeavor to confine my remarks to those early ancestors of mine who figured in the colonial history of Springfield. We are all familiar with the glowing reports of the Indian country on the western side of the great river Delaware that had been sent home to England by those who had settled in New Jersey and of the generous terms offered by that great philanthropist , William Penn. It is small wonder that the persecuted followers of Perin and Fox who lay suffering in the filthy dungeons of England looked toward Pennsylvania as a sweet asylum where they might worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. 18 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Among those who determined to try the fortunes of that pioneer life were George Maris, and his wife, Alice, with their six children, of Grafton Flyford and county of Worcester, England. George Maris's life in England had been rendered oppressive, because he could not conform to the customs of the established church. " For holding a religious meeting in his house he was fined ¿20, afterwards he was taken by an assize process and sent to prison on the 23rd of the month called July, 1670, and continued there above eight months, but never knew for what cause he was so long imprisoned." As persecutions in England continued there seemed to be no alternative remaining but that of emigration. As was the custom my remote grandfather placed his intentions before the Monthly Meeting to which he belonged, and in response received a testimonial of which the following is a copy taken from the third page of the oldest records of Darby, Pa., Monthly Meeting : "From our meeting at Hattswell in the pish [parish] of Inkborough, and county of Worcester in Old England, to which meeting our friends hereafter mentioned did belong, the 6th of Third Month, 1683. " To Friends in Pennsylvania :—Dear Friends :—We, whose names are here subscribed, thought good to give you this short testimony concerning our friend George Maris with his wife and children', of the pish of Grafton, of the county and nation aforesaid : "Whereas, Our dear friend before mentioned, hath laid before us his intention of transporting himself and family into your country, he being free to leave our country, we have nothing against his going, but do condescend to him therein. Arid this may certify to all Friends and others whom it may concern, that we have this further to say for our dear friend, George Maris, that we have had good knowledge of his life and conversation, and we have known it to be such that hath...