"John Evans vs. Ellis Yarnall and Others," 1810

50BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY. our children all with us now, we soon retired to our solitary abode after the absence of more than twenty months." The trip, with the exception of the steamboat from Cincinnati to Little Rock, made in their own carriage and with the same horses, was certainly a remarkable one, and of itself is worthy of record. What was accomplished from a religious point of view, is impossible to say, but it can hardly be doubted that such simple, earnest and faithful service was not without result.—Editor.] " JOHN EVANS VS. ELLIS YARNALL AND OTHERS," 1810. This trial is one of the causes célebres of American Quakerism , and occasioned much comment at the time. Like many cases,«either party was wholly clear of blame. The Friends, on their part, even by their own admission, seem to have been somewhat lacking in Christian love, and too ready to rest upon precedent and routine. John Evans, on his part, was evidently a man difficult to deal with, as his published account 1 shows very clearly. The question arose regarding a dispute between John Evans and John Field, both Friends, regarding the assignment of John Field, who had failed in business, John Evans being one of the assignees. It is difficult to understand clearly the merits of the case with the knowledge available, but the result of the trial, the character of the defendants, and the length of time the case was before the Meeting seem conclusive that Evans was essentially in the wrong. John Evans and his wife sent in their resignations, which after a time were accepted ; but in such a way that the Minute , John Evans declared, " amounted to a disownment." This, he claimed, was " cruel and unjust treatment ; " and also that the Sending by the Women's Meeting of a committee to call on his wife was " endeavoring to alienate the affections of his wife from him." On these grounds, and because one of the woman Friends, 1A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Religious Society of the People called Quakers in Philadelphia Against John Evans, etc. Philadelphia , 1811. 8vo. pp. 238. " JOHN EVANS VS. ELLIS YARNALL AND OTHERS," 1810. 51 as he claimed, insisted on entering his house after he forbade her to enter was trespass, and putting her hand on him was technically committing " assault and battery." He, therefore, sued the Overseers, laying damages at $20,000. Other particulars are given in the letter. The defendants were " Ellis Yarnall, Richard Humphreys, Jonathan Willis, Thomas Savery, Isaac Parrish, Caleb Carmalt, Benjamin Kite, John James, David Bacon,2 Abrm. Liddon,2 John Elliott,2 Hannah Clark, Robert Haydock and Susannah his wife, and Caleb Pearce and Jane his wife." The writer of the subjoined letter, Ellis Yarnall (1757-1847), was for fifty years or more one of the most prominent Friends of Philadelphia. Judicial trials in the early nineteenth century were open to criticism as well as in the twentieth century, and to show this is one of the objects in printing this hitherto unpublished letter. The printed " Narrative " by John Evans, already referred to, is, on the face of it, an ex parte and prejudiced account. This case is probably one of the trying events referred to by Rebecca Jones in a letter of 1807.8 Philada. nth Mo. 27, 1810. Dear Brother 4 After a week of unusual anxiety & fatigue I sit down to endeavour to get my Ideas sufficiently collected to give thee some account of the Issue of the long projected suit of John Evans against the Overseers and several other Friends of our Monthly Meeting, in all sixteen in number, including David Bacon, A. Liddon and Jno. Elliott, now deceased, among whom were Hannah Clark, Susannah Haydock, & Jane Peirce, a Committee appointed to visit his wife on her sending a resignation of her right of membership to them, accompanied with a letter stating that she would not see any committee from that meeting on the 2Died previous to the trial. sMemoir of Rebecca Jones, W. J. Allinson, Philadelphia, 1849, 2d ed. PP- 331. 332-¿Probably Nathan Yarnall. 52BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY. occation. Women Friends, however, were not easy to...