1660. This archive contains the last remnants of the last Meeting House of the Religious Society of Friends in Barbados.
Barbados was one of the main ports for trade and travel between Britain and her American Colonies in the seventeenth century. As such, early Quaker missionaries all passed through Barbados, including Elizabeth Hooton and Joan Brocksop in 1661, Ann Robinson and Oswell Heritage in 1662, and George Fox, William Edmundson, Elizabeth Hooton in 1671. George Rofe, an important Quaker traveller, described Barbados then as ‘the nursery of the truth’ . The first Quakers to land on American soil, Mary Fisher and Ann Austen in 1656, came from England by way of Barbados, and spent some six months there before proceeding onwards. Friends wishing to reach any part of the American coast sailed most frequently for Barbados before reshipping onwards. They generally spent some weeks or months propagating their doctrines in the island as well as paying visits to Jamaica, Antigua, Nevis, and Bermuda. As she left, Mary Fisher wrote back to her friends in England: “Here is many convinced and many desire to know the way.”
The growth of Quaker communities in the Caribbean Basin Plantations, especially in Barbados, was followed with keen interest by English Friends. It shows in that as early as 1657 George Fox addressed an epistle “to Friends beyond the sea that have Blacks and Indian Slaves.” In it he points out that God has made all nations of one blood and that the gospel is preached to every creature under heaven, “which is the power that giveth liberty and freedom and is glad tidings to every captivated creature under the whole heavens.” The economy of Barbados, being based on slavery and the slave trade, caused conflict with the Society of Friends, leading to outrage, including George Fox speaking out during his visit in 1671 and William Edmudson condemning slavery outright in 1675.
By 1700 the Society of Friends had expanded in Barbados, having 5 meeting houses, although the exact number of members is unknown. Some impression of the size of the Society in Barbados can be gained from the fact that the Quaker fines between the years 1658 and 1695 amounted to 11,000 pounds. A mere 50 years later, however, the number of Friends had drastically diminished before vanishing entirely.
[Jones, R. M., Sharpless, I., & Gummere, A. M. (1911). The Quakers in the American colonies. London: Macmillan and Co.];
1) Letter and handwritten inventory describing provenance dated 1863 plus copy made in 1912:
“From Mary A. Tyson to Martha E. Tyson
Sept. 9th, ’63
Alnwick, Prince George Co., Maryland
My dear Aunt:
I send the accompanying papers, which I have long intended giving to thee, thinking thee would value them for their antiquity. When we lived in Washington, they were sent to dear Father by Mrs. Thornton, whose husband had been [crossed out] deceased, and who had been either Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. The following is what we were informed, but for the truth of it I will not vouchsafe, as he was always considered a very honorable man in Washington. He was at one time a resident of the island of Barbados, where there was a Friends’s Meeting established in the early years of the Society. The Person who bequeathed the lot to them, did so with the understanding that it was to belong to the last member remaining upon the island. In the course of time, the meeting diminished until there were but two persons left - one of whom was Mr. Thornton. The other not being a very zealous attender, one day when Mr. Thornton went, he read the other member out of meeting, and took possession of the property. He came to Washington bringing the library and papers, all of which are now in the Meeting House there, as he presented them to the Friends of that city.
Copy made by Lucy Tyson Fitzhughm
Westminster, Md. 7-16-1912”;
2) Fell, Margaret, 1614-1702., The Citie of London reproved for its abominations, which doth concern all the inhabitants thereof that are guilty.
London: printed for Robert Wilson, [1660]
Wing F626A, Smith I:599, ESTC R176988;
3) To the King and both Houses of Parliament the suffering condition of the peaceable people, called Quakers, only for tender conscience towards almighty God, humbly presented.
No Printer’s Name or Place, [London], Circa 1685
Wing T1491, Smith II:681 ESTC R213682;
4) The epistle from the yearly-meeting, held in London, by adjournments, from the 11th of the sixth month, 1753, to the 16th of the same, inclusive. To the quarterly and monthly meetings of Friends ...
[London, 1753]
ESTC T102599;
5) The Epistle from the Yearly-Meeting, held in London, by adjournments, from the 19th of the fifth month 1755, to the 24th of the same, inclusive. To the quarterly and monthly meetings of Friends ...
[London, 1755]
ESTC T102601;
6) The Epistle from the Yearly-Meeting, held in London, by adjournments, from the 11th day of the fifth month 1761, to the 18th of the same, inclusive. To the quarterly and monthly meetings of Friends ...
[London, 1761]
ESTC T102607;
7) The Epistle from the Yearly-Meeting, held in London, by adjournments, from the 23d of the fifth month 1763, to the 31st of the same, inclusive. To the quarterly and monthly meetings of Friends ...
[London, 1763]
ESTC T102609;
8) The Epistle from the Yearly-Meeting, held in London, by adjournments, from the 19th day of the fifth month 1766, to the 24th of the same, inclusive. To the quarterly and monthly meetings of Friends ...
[London, 1766]
ESTC T102612;
9) The Epistle from the yearly-meeting, held in London, by adjournments, from the 8th of the sixth month 1767, to the 13th of the same, inclusive. To the quarterly and monthly meetings of Friends ...
[London, 1767]
ESTC T102613;
10) The Epistle from the yearly-meeting, Held in London, by adjournments, from the 23d of the fifth month, 1774, to the 28th of the same, inclusive. To the quarterly and monthly meetings of friends in Great-Britain, Ireland, and elsewhere.
[London : s.n., 1774]
ESTC:T102620;
11) The Epistle from the yearly-meeting in London, held by adjournments, from the 15th of the fifth month 1780, to the 20th of the same, inclusive. To the quarterly and monthly meetings of Friends ...
[London, 1780]
In this, in all probability, the London edition, the "L" of "London" in title, falls under and between the "YE" of "YEARLY-MEETING" and the word "LONDON" measures 109 mm.
ESTC:T102626;
12) An Epistle from our Yearly-Meeting, held at Philadelphia, for Pennsylvania and New-Jersey, by adjournments, from the 24th day of the 9th month, to the 1st of the 10th month, inclusive, 1774; to our Friends and brethren in these and the neighbouring provinces. -Signed in and on behalf of the Yearly Meeting, byJames Pemberton, Clerk.
[Philadelphia : Printed by Joseph Crukshank, 1774]
Smith I:761, Evans, 13285, ESTC W31918;
13) To Friends at their Several Quarterly-Meetings. Recommendation to provide and distribute suitable books to their poorer Members
[London, 1770]
Smith I:730, ESTC N47114;
14) To the monthly and quarterly meetings of Friends in England, Wales, and elsewhere, from our yearly meeting held in London, the 9th 10th, and 11th days of the 4th month, 1690.
[London : s.n. , 1690]
Signed at end: "G.F.". Signed on p. 2: "Signed on behalf and by order of the meeting aforesaid, Benjamin Bealing."
Smith I:711, ESTC R469877;
15) The Epistle to the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings of Friends in England, Wales, and elsewhere. From our Yearly Meeting held in London by adjournments from the 13th to the 17th of the 4th month, 1698.
[London : s.n. , 1698]
Signed on p. 2: "Signed on behalf of our said meeting, by Benjamin Bealing."
Smith I:711, ESTC R469884;
16) The epistle to the Quarterly and Monthly-Meetings of Friends in England, Wales, and else-where. From our Yearly-Meeting, held in London, from the 29th of the 3d month to the 2d of the 4th month, 1699
[London : s.n. , 1699]
Signed on p. 3: "Signed on behalf direction of this meeting by Benjamin Bealing."
ESTC R46988;
17) The Primitive Christians bearing their testimony for God in times of persecution:
[London : s.n., 1680?]
Includes excerpts from "The mirror of martyrs" which is part of John Foxe’s "Actes and monuments".
Smith I:40, Wing P3470, ESTC R24069;
18) Elys, Edmund, approximately 1634-approximately 1707. Reflections upon some passages in G. Keiths narrative, &c. By Edmund Elys.
[London : s.n., 1696 - 1698]
A reply to: Keith, George. Exact narrative of the proceedings at Turners-Hall, the 11th of the month called June, 1696. NHi suggests publication date = [1696?]; Wing suggests [1698?]. Keith’s Narrative was published in 1696.
Wing E689A, Smith I:574, ESTC R176447;
19) Some advices in the Yearly Meeting epistle 1709. concerning the education of children: recommended by the Yearly Meeting 1710. for Friends to put in practice.
London : printed by J. Sowle, 1710.
Smith I:713, ESTC N3952;
20) An epistle of caution to Friends in general, relating to the solemn affirmation. From a meeting held in London the second of the first month 1721-22. Signed by Benjamin Bealing.
[London : s.n., 1722]
Smith I:729, ESTC T32825;
21) An epistle of caution and advice to parents, recommending a godly care for the educating their children in a Christian conversation.
[London : printed by the assigns of J. Sowle], [1723]
Printed ’by direction of the Yearly-meeting’, and dated ’the 29th of the 9th month, 1723’.
Smith I:713 , ESTC T32824;
22) Anno Regni Georgii II. Regis Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, & Hiberniæ, vicesimo tertio. At the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster, the tenth day of November, ... 1747. ... And from thence continued ... to the sixteenth day of November, 1749, being the third session of this present Parliament.
Pages [1], 259-278, [1]
London : printed by Thomas Baskett; and by the assigns of Robert Baskett, 1749 [i.e. 1750]
The public general Acts passed in the third session of the tenth Parliament of Great Britain, with a table. Includes an Act for Building a Quay at Lancaster
ESTC N53001;
23) Rules for proceeding in relation to marriage, agreed upon by the yearly-meeting in London, 1754.
[London, 1754]
Smith I:714, ESTC T207473;
24) Tender advice and caution to Friends, respecting their putting out lights on those called rejoicing nights, and the not opening their shops on days appointed by human authority for publick fasts, feasts, and thanksgivings.
No Printer’s Name, Place, or Date, [London, 1760]
Drop-head title. Dated at end: Second-day’s morning-meeting, held in London, the 10th of the third month, 1760. In this edition "called" in title as thus; another edition has "call’d".
Smith I:743, ESTC T49956;
25) The yearly-meeting having considered, that statutes at large contain abundance of repetitions, ... directed us to draw out an abstract of the several clauses in the Militia Act (by which Friends may be affected) ... The abstract, as taken from Burn’s Digest, ... is as follows, ...
[London, 1762]
Dated at head: Meeting for sufferings, the 2d of the seventh month, 1762.
Smith I:730, ESTC T179681;
26) Nicholson, Thomas, 1715-1780.
An epistle to Friends in Great Britain, to whom is the salutation of my love, in the unchangeable truth.
[Newbern, N.C. : Printed by James Davis?, 1762]
Signed and dated on p. 4: Thomas Nicholson. Little River in North Carolina, the 15th of the ninth month 1762.
Smith II:240, Sabin 55234, Evans 9221, ESTC W35893;
27) Meeting for Sufferings, the 26th day of the 2d month, 1773.
[London, 1773]
Text begins: "In pursuance of a minute of the Yearly-Meeting 1772, this Meeting hath subjoined the present forms of affirmation and declaration of fidelity..."
ESTC T213640;
28) From the meeting for sufferings in London, held by adjournment the 29th of the 1st month, 1780, to Friends in the several counties and places.
[London, 1780]
Smith I:730, ESTC T40265;
29) To whom it belongs. Let not the God of this world Blind your Eyes: Neither suffer the little Foxes to spoil the tender Vine
No Printer’s Name or Place, [London?: ca. 1781]
Smith 2:916 attributes this work to John Whitehead, whose name appears on one bLfr copy. Date of publication suggested by Smith. Title from caption title and opening lines of text. This is on the subject of a Loan for War purposes, and is signed, “Principle.”
Smith I:72, Smith II:916, ESTC N471100;
30) A report of the state of Ackworth School, 1780.
[London?, 1780]
The First of the “Annual Reports,” see Smith.
Smith I:791, ESTC T113441;
31) Report of the committee appointed to form a proposal for the encouragement of school-masters and mistresses; To the meeting for sufferings
[London? : s.n., 1759?]
Smith II:462, ESTC N470646;
32) At a Committee for Ackworth School, the 18th of the 8th month 1778.
Signed on behalf of the Committee, By John Chorley, Secretary
[London?, 1778]
Smith I:787, ESTC T113443;
33) A Hymn, (Set to Music by Mr. Langshaw,) To be sung by the Boys educated in the Charity-School at Lancaster, On Sunday the 26th Day of September, 1773
[Lancaster, 1773]
Not in Smith, Not in ESTC;
34) A Hymn, (Set to Music by Mr. Langshaw,) To be sung by the Girls educated in the Charity-School at Lancaster, On Sunday the 1st Day of May, 1774
[Lancaster, 1774]
Note that ‘1st’ is crossed off in ink and ‘8th’ is written above it.
Not in Smith, Not in ESTC;
35) A Hymn, (Set to Music by Mr. Langshaw,) To be sung by the Boys educated in the Charity-School at Lancaster, On Sunday the 24th Day of September, 1775
[Lancaster, 1775]
Not in Smith, Not in ESTC;
36) A Hymn, To be sung by the Girls educated in the Charity-School at Lancaster, On Sunday the 25th Of May, 1777
[Lancaster, 1777]
Note that ‘25th of May’ is crossed off in ink and ‘1 June’ is written beside it.
Not in Smith, Not in ESTC;
37) A Hymn, To be sung by the Boys educated in the Charity-School at Lancaster, On Sunday the 27th Day Of September, 1778
[Lancaster, 1778]
Not in Smith, Not in ESTC;
38) A Hymn, To be sung by the Boys educated in the Charity-School at Lancaster, On Sunday the 24th Day Of September, 1780
[Lancaster, 1780]
Not in Smith, Not in ESTC;
39) A very Extraordinary Cure of the Rheumatism, performed by Dr. James Fever Powders, upon Mr. Robert Arthington, Wholesale Common Brewer, in Leeds. Published by his Order, as a General Answer to a great Number of Letters which have lately been wrote him on the Subject.
Dated at the end “Leeds, July 6, 1774”
Not in Smith, Not in ESTC;
40) A Particular of the Capital Freehold Messuage, or Mansion-House, and other Freehold Estates of Mrs. Fenwick.
July, 1773
Not in Smith, Not in ESTC;
41) An Abstract of the By-Laws, made by the Commissioners and Trustees appointed by Virtue of an Act of Parliament passed in the Year 1750, for improving the Navigation of the Liver Loyne, otherwise Lune, and for building a Quay, or Wharf, near the Town of Lancaster in the Country Palatine of Lancaster; and that the same commence and be in force from the 10th of September 1755 [An Abstract of the By-Laws of Lancaster Port]
Not in Smith, Not in ESTC;
42) A word to a protestant. By John Wesley, M.A. fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
The eighth edition.
London : Printed by W. Strahan, and sold by T. Trye, near Gray’s-Inn-Gate, Holbourn; H. Butler, in Bow-Church-Yard; and at the Foundery near Upper-Moorfields, 1745.
ESTC T176631;
43) Ecclesia & reformatio. Or, a dialogue between St. Patrick’s-Church and Wood-Street Meeting-House.
Dublin : printed for John Afleck, 1720 [presumed]
lacking title page, [3]-16 pages
ESTC T124985 [presumed];
44) Rigge, Ambrose, 1635?-1705.
A general epistle to all friends and brethren, every-where; to be read among them in the fear of God, &c.
Publication from colophon, “London, printed and Sold by T. Sowle, in White-Hart Court in Gracious-Street, 1702”
Smith II:495, ESTC T199809;
45) Articles of the Union Fire Company, in the Town of St. John, in Antigua. The Thirteenth Day of September, in the Year of our Lord 1756.
[1756];
Shelved case 4. More about A COLLECTION OF 43 BROADSIDES AND PAMPHLETS REGARDING THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS,...
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