Quaker Ancestors

Quaker records can provide a wealth of information about our ancestors. Do you have Quaker ancestors? Let's trade information and resources.

Photo Paula Hinkel, (c) 2005. Taken in Horsham, Pennsylvania.
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  • Debra

    I have a Ezekiel Thomas son of William Thomas and Mary. I have heard he was a quaker.He lived in New Jersey. His father was probably born in New York or Pennsylvania.Ezekiel Thomas was married to Maria Reynolds.
  • Donna Kay Railsback Braly

    I descend from Wm. Armfield and Jacob Brown. I submitted these lines on my grandsons for the Children of the American Revolution and they were accepted. I submitted these for myself to the DAR and they haven't been approved yet.
  • Jennifer Hutmire

    My Quaker ancestors settled in Cecil county, Maryland, and include the following names: England, Haines, Brown, Gatchell, Slater, Kirk, Bye, and Kinsey.
  • Cheryle Hoover Davis

    Researching my husband's maternal line: Rev. William Davis, Pennsylvania
  • Denise Hamilton Jhanson

    My Quaker family lived in ledyard, New London, Connecticut, US, and include Watrous, Rogers, Whapple, Colver...I found a great website about the Quakers in that area. Quakertown online
    http://home.comcast.net/~schultz3025/qkrtwn.htm











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  • Anett Faulkner

    My Quakers are Matthews. Landed in Delaware from England on a William Penn ship. Thomas and his son Oliver made their way from Delaware to Maryland to Gunpowder then Olivers kids to North and South Carolina and Tennessee.
  • Denise Hamilton Jhanson

    I also had Quakers living in Springfield, Burlington, New Jersey. the surnames were Antrim, Ewing, Cooper, Butcher. some of these family's moved to Butler Co, Ohio around 1815.
  • Cynthia L. Fregoe

    My ancestors Edward MORGAN b 1670 Wales and Squire BOONE b 25 November 1696 England, were Quakers and I believe they belonged to Exeter Friends Meeting. Eventually,Squire BOONE left the church and it all began when his daughter Sarah (my line) married outside the church to John WILCOXSON. Squire BOONE ended up in Rowan Co,NC where he died 2 January 1765.
  • Kate Steere

    I have several Quaker lines including Trueblood(I am a great great granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin Trueblood) and Steere. I have access to the Bula Trueblood book if anyone needs a lookup, I'm happy to do lookups.
  • Linda J. Guy

    I really do not know if my family has Quaker roots but was told I am PA Dutch and Irish, so maybe. The family I am researching is from the Philadelphia area. Looking for parents of James M. Hickman married to Susan Schrank. I only know James father was also a James Hickman, DOB about 1774. Any other information on this couple would be very much appreciated.

    I currently live in Bedford County PA and am willing to do research needed for others in my county.
  • Gene Ray Thornton, Jr.

    We know we're connected to the Quaker Thornton line b/c y-DNA confirmed it together with the volumes of research completed by Kenneth Jacob Thornton. Our line beyond William S. is more likely though not validated with documents, rules out pretty much any other Thornton except Eli S. Thornton, Sr b. 1751-4 and his father Thomas Thornton b 1712 (married three times) as was Eli. S.
  • LaRita Neeley

    I have lots of Quakers in Pennsylvania, includes Mordecai Balderston, who married Deborah Michener, they later moved to Belmont Co.,Ohio and he died 1820. , Hannah, dau. of Jonathan and Sarah Hibbs Cooper, Gwyned Meeting, Bucks Co. married John Balderston. Hannah Balderston b 1782 Bucks Co.,married Thomas Butler in 1801 in Bucks. He was not a Quaker at the time. Also had Quakers really early in Kent Co., Delaware. Need help on Thomas Butler b 1801 in PA? d 1852 Harrison Co.,Ohio
  • William S Dean

    Among my numerous Quaker family lines is In 1639, Zachariah Moorman, who at the age of nineteen, joined the English army and advanced to the rank of captain in which capacity he served under Oliver Cromwell through the Irish campaign. He remained for a while in Belfast where he met Mary Candler who was born about 1624 in England, and was the daughter of Lt. William Candler - an English Army Officer in Ireland. They married in 1646 and by time he had left the army, his family had disassociated themselves with the Church of England and had become members of the newly formed Society of Friends under the leadership of George Fox. Moorman came to Nansemond County Virginia in 1670, then later settled with his family at Green Springs.
  • Linda Smith

    Hi,
    I have a few Quaker ancestors I am researching who were mostly in Pennsylvania. Among them are:
    Edmund Cartledge, who came from Ridings in the county of Darby, England and settled in Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 1682. He and his wife, Mary Need, were Quakers .
    Their son John Cartledge ( 1684 - 1722) married Elizabeth Bartram ( 1684 - 1734)
    Their daughter Mary (1719-1815) married William Wright (1719-1766)
    Their daughter Hanna (1737_1770) married John Postlethwaite II (1736-1802) but I don't think they were Quakers.
    William Trotter (1627-1676) married Catherine Gibs (1626-1667)
    Bonus Norton (1657-1718) married Mary Goodhue (1664-1690)
  • Barbara Whiteside

    Hello everyone. I am new to this site and Quaker research. I have a George Whiteside b c 1808 in Birmingham Chester County PA. I suspect he was Quaker or was Quaker educated as a letter written by him is beatifully executed. Obviously had a good education. Where should I be looking for any details on his birth if a Quaker? What Quaker records are available for the place he was born? Any help you cpould give me in pointing the way forward on my George would be much appreciated. Thank you. Barbara Whiteside on the west coast of Lancashire UK
  • Heather Wilkinson Rojo

    I'm descended of several Quaker ancestors from Salem, Massachusetts- The Southwicks, Wilsons, Popes, etc. including many persecuted Quakers. I'm blogging about them here on Genealogywise and at www.nutfieldgenealogy.com I used Whittier's poem about Cassandra Southwick (really Provided Southwick) to answer Bill West's genealogical poetry challenger to bloggers....
  • Willard Saunders

    Interested in Quaker families in the Delmarva peninsula during the colonial period, especially Truitts and allied families.
  • Daryl Polley

    Hello Everyone. I have Samuel H. Peacock that married a Catherine Peters in Gloucester, New Jersey in 1832. My research has shown that the Peacock family in New Jersey was of the Quaker faith and my hope is that there may be a church record providing more information on Samuel and Catherine and their ancestry. Would anyone have any suggestions regarding how I might find such a record?

    On a side note, Cynthia L. Fregoe's message below proves she is a distant cousin of mine. I am a descendant of Squire Boone's sister Mary Boone who was born September 23, 1699 and married James Webb Jr.
  • Sally Pavia

    Thought some of you might find this fun and interesting. Our ancestors weren't always the 'good' guys we thought they were.

    FRANDLEY MONTHLY MEETING, MEN'S MINUTES 1678—1702
    Abel was my 8th ggrandfather
    6 5th 1697
    Chester Freinds have brought A Paper wrote and signed by Abell Maddock Expresing his sorrow for his Misscarriages and Excess in takeing over much stronge dreink etc. which with whats under writen is ordered to be read in that Meeting and Coppies dissperst where they may be of service. The care of it is left to Wm: Lowe & Thos: Gill.

    7 4th 1698
    Abell Maddock hath been visited and Acknowledgeth his Trangresion and promiss to come hither this day but doth not of which hee is to be Reminded.

    5 5th 1698
    Abel Maddock being pentent is willinge under his hand to Condemn his miscarriages and hath liberty to doe it between and next Monthly Meeting.

    2 6th 1698
    Abel Maddock paper is received, read and Answer Re[ ] that tis accepted in hope heel Answer it by Amendment of life whith onely & not paper is whats Aimed att thoroughly all the visitts and laboure of Freinds.

    1 6th 1699
    A complain is come Against the frequent disorderly Walking of Abell Maddock notwithstanding hee hath often been visited by Freinds to Reclaym him and alsoe hath given several papers of Acknowledgement under his hand confessing his weakness, yet notwithstanding all Freinds are willing to know how its with him and wht hee Intends to doe that may prevent A denyal from goeing forth Against him. And therefore Apoint Tho: Williamson, James Garfide and Joseph Cook to give him Another visit and give account accordingly to the next meeting.

    5 7th 1699
    Thomas Williamson and the other Freinds Apointed have been with Abell Maddock and found him in A Low & penitent frame desireing Freinds forbearance And promising to Endeavour to become a new man upon which this meeting is willing to prove him further and att present forbear to proceeed against him.
    Wm Lowe and Abel Maddock being att variance Tho: Williamson, Roger Rowe, James Garfide and John Merrick are Apointed to Inspect the Matter and End it.

    http://members.aol.com/maddockgen/documents/frandmm.htm
    4 Apr 2008
  • Deci Worland

    Great group! I've linked to my blog.
  • Mary Beth

    Hello. I have the following surnames in my family who are Quakers: Worthington and Walton. The Worthington family came from England and settled in Bucks County in the early 1700's. The Walton family came from England and settle in Philadelphia, in the 1600's, eventually moving out into Bucks County.
  • Randall Stackhouse

    My Stackhouse family roots were in County Bucks. I am also working on Heaton, Henshaw, Rocroft, & Stone, Where would I go to find meetings for this area of PA early 1700's?
  • Molly Carson

    My GGGGGrrandfather was Herman Husband b.1724 and was a member of the Cane Creek Society of Friends. Because of his association with "The Regulator's" he was accused of being one of the instigators of the "Battle of Alamance" in North Carolina and fortunately later pardoned by President George Washington. He was also involved with the "Whiskey Rebellion" arrested, put in jail for 9 months and was again pardoned by President George Washington which happened after his 3rd wife, Amy "Emmy" made a trip to speak to the President about his failing health. On his way back home to Somerset, Pennsylvania he died somewhere on the road near Philadelphia, PA. His Quaker affiliation is documented in the book "The Wind In The Forest" by Inglas Fletcher and documentaries produced by North Carolina Universities and the Battle of Alamance information.
    Also other Husband family members were Quakers. I am a new Genealogywise member and hope this is enough information to be admitted to this group.
    Gratefully,
    Molly Carson
  • Kye E. Parsons

    Hi all, I am a member of the Religious Society of Friends and enjoy studying genealogy. I do have Quaker ancestors who date back to the 17th century. They settled in the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland area.
  • maggie

    my quaker family is stephen B titus
  • Cheryl

    Hi everyone,
    I just discovered one of my ancestors was a Quaker. He's my 9th greatgrandfather Joshua Coggeshall of Rhode Island 1623-1688. He's buried in the Portsmouth Friends Churchyard in Newport RI.
  • Timothy Eric Hites

    Hello all. My Quaker roots are found in the Hatchers From Bucks County, Pennsylvania to Loudoun County, Virginia to Logan County, Ohio. Other connected families I am researching include Reames/Reams, Merrimoon/ Marmon and Rea. All four families attended Goshen MM in Logan County during the Hicksite–Orthodox split.
  • Sheri Putnam-Cline

    Hello, Just joined the group and have the family name of "YERKES" on my mother's side. The family farmed and had a lumber mill is Bucks County PA. There is also a town called Yerkes in Montgomery County, PA. Hope to connect with others.
  • beverly Jane watson

    Hi, My Great grandfather was a Quaker from Ohio. He was a Hoover. Any one have any Hoover relatives? Also,his fathers wife was a Hinkle Sarah,any relation ? bev Watson beverwat@yahoo.com
  • Darin Grimsley

    Hello all. Just joined GW and Quaker Ancestors. My grandmother on my Dad's side was a Wright. She decended from John Wright and Rachel (Wells) Wright, both Quaker ministers.
  • Mark Taylor Edwards

    The first members of my paternal and maternal side came to Pennsylvania 1703 and 1682 respectivelly and the maternal side was pure Quaker, while on the paternal side we are not sure, but some married Quakers. It is said that the first Quaker for business in Philadelphia was held at a home of Christopher Taylor.
  • Judy Hall

    My Quaker families are Beeson, Clampitt, Grubb, Brooks and Stroud.  They came to Delaware and Pennsylvania then on to Guildford County, NC and on to Indiana. Would love to share information.

  • Patty Wimpsett Killion

    I've just started on my Quaker reearch.  It is such a pleasant surprise to find so many ancestors.  My Quaker families are Bales/Beals/Beales, Chandler, Garrett and Jessup.  They came from Virginia, to North Carolinia to Indiana to Iowa.

    I've found that in Indiana there were two large Quaker areas, one in the Hendricks County, Indiana and the other in Westfield, Hamilton county, Indiana.

  • Marilyn Tallent

    My Quakers ancestry is Powell and Seaman in Queens County New York before 1865. Would love to learn more about the quakers. Any suggetions?
  • Joan Foster

    Hi Marilyn,

    I have lots of Seamans and a very few Powells in Queens Co. 1600s to 1700s. probably we are distantly related.

    Joan 

  • Charity Johnson

    I am following my maternal side (predominantly Quakers) in SE PA and Long Island. My mom is still a Quaker.

  • Ken Holloway

    My ancestors on my dad's side were pretty much all Friends (Quakers).  (Surnames include Holloway, Kirk, Davis, Fawcett, Pidgeon, Hall, & Morlan)  They were from the Columbiana County, Ohio are for the last 4 generations, but before that some were from Virginia, and North Carolina.  I'm getting a copy of William Hinshaw's Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Volume 4 tomorrow through interlibrary loan.  Excited about that!
  • Ken Holloway

    Responding to DLReese: In the Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy (William Wade Hinshaw), there is a Tamer Reese who was received into Redstone Monthly Meeting from Goose Creek MM 3 apr 1822, and then granted a certificate to Plainfield MM 31 Dec 1823.

    There is a Seth Reese & wife Huldah Ann & children Byron J. (b. 30 Sep 1877) & Loring W. (b. 23 Mar 18820) received into Plymouth-Smithfield MM from Raysville MM (Indiana) on 26 apr 1884. Thy were granted a certificate to Adrian MM (Mich) 22 Apr 1889 and received back from Adrian 17 Mar 1890.

     

    I don't know if any of this helps as I don't know what names you are looking for and in what time periods.  But it does confirn that some Reese family were Quakers.  There may be more, and if you send me specific names, I can look for them.  I did notice a number of Rees entries also, without the last 'e'.  Is that a spelling variation within your family?  If I can help you with anything from this book while I have it, let me know.

  • Jason Kirk

    Matinecock friends burying ground. Oysterbay NY.

    http://www.yankeecemetery.com/matinecock_friends_nassau.htm

    My family is Quaker also and 90% of them are buried there. My family tree also shows Hall Seaman, along with Cocks,Carpenter Townsend,Coles,Craft,Frost,and many more.

  • Janeen Davis Proctor

    My family and my husband's family is full of Quakers. My maternal: Kinnison, Hobson, Williams, Harvey, Freeman, Passmore, Thornton, Taylor, Houlston. Parental: Jackson, Beals, Cook, Bowater, Edge, Clayton, Underwood, Harry, Owen, Brinton, Bagley, Baynard. Husband's maternal: Woolman, Borton, Hunt, Beals, Dicks, Beard, Bowater, Clayton, Edge. Husband's Parental: Bane, Smedley, Burke, Morphew, Chadwick.
  • Sandra S. DeMoulin

    I am trying to locate information about my Quaker ancestors, surnames of Carlile/Carlisle and Cave. Does anyone know where I can begin?

     

  • Barbara Kim Thigpen

  • Barbara Kim Thigpen

    ~ My Pastors at Friends Community Church In Austin, Texas~                             Wife of Paul E Thornburg, married 1947.

    *********************************

    Portland, Oregon: The Oregonian 2 Jan 2007

    A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007, in Tigard Community Friends Church for Leona Irene Thornburg, who died Dec. 31, 2006, of osteomelitis at age 79.
    Leona Harris was born May 6, 1927, in Melba, Canyon, Idaho. She graduated from Pacific College (now George Fox University) and was an Evangelical Friends missionary for more than 27 years, including in Burundi and Rwanda. She later lived in the Tigard-Newberg area since 1992. In 1947, she married Paul E. Thornburg.
    Survivors include her husband; sons, Philip B., Randall P., Kenneth L.; and Timothy A., daughter Miriam E. Bock; 11 granchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
    Remembrances to the Rwanda Fund at Evangelical Friends Mission. Arrangements by Bio Gift.

     
     
    Burial:
    Friends Cemetery
    Newberg
    Yamhill County
    Oregon, US
  • Barbara Kim Thigpen

    [My pastor, my friend] Paul Thornburg's passion for education took him to Europe and Africa during an educational career that spanned more than five decades. After earning degrees from George Fox and Kansas State Teachers College, he studied in Belgium to prepare for an assignment as an instructor at a teacher training school in Kibimba, Burundi. He later spent four years teaching pastors at Central African Evangelical Seminary in Mweya, Burundi. Upon his return to the United States in 1978, Thornburg served as associate pastor of Friendswood Friends Church in Texas before returning to Africa in the late 1980s. This time, he spent four years in Rwanda training pastors, and later, beginning and administrating a high school in Kidaho, near the Ugandan border. Thornburg also has developed a system of counseling, "transitional analysis," that traces the development of a person by examining the areas of truth, time, and passion in their lives.

  • Barbara Kim Thigpen

    John Peacock [& Patience Ann Raiford] ~ born about 1712 in Wayne County/He lived to be about 79 years old./He and his brother Samuel, had land grants in the Nahunta Swamp (now Fremont) NC in Wayne Co. It is believed that John Peacock lived in a Quaker community in North Carolina. At least two of his sons, Abraham and Simon, may also have belonged to the Quaker sect for at least a period of time.
    Most of his grandchildren move to Georgia starting around 1785 while a few move to Indiana/A True and perfect Inventory of the Estate of John Peacock decd.

    November 9th 1781

    8 Negroes, 7 Head Horses, 17 Head Cattle, 71 Head Hogs, 22 Head Sheep, 3 feather Beds and furniture, 1 pine chest, 1 Table, 1 pr Sheep Shares, 1 pair Stilliards, 1 Wooling Wheel, 2 linen dittos, 1 whip saw & file, 2 pair Cards, 6 Chairs, 11 pewter plates, 4 pewter dishes, 2 pewter basons, 1 smooth board Gunn, 1 saddle and bridle, 1 candle stick, 3 books, 3 knives & 5 forks, 1 Gimblet, 1 Handsaw, file and rest, parcel wareing cloths, 3 plow hoes, 5 weeding hoes, 2 grubing hoes, 2 slow stocks, 1 narrow axe, 1 Claw Hammer, 2 drawing knives, 1 Cooper shovell, 1 frow, 1 carpintor's addzes, 1 chissells, 2 old augers, pair iron wedges, 1 Grind stone, 1 Cart and wheels, 1 Copper still, worm and cap, 2 Iron pots & hooks, 1 Iron skillet, 1 frying pan, 2 pails and 1 piggen, 1 washing Tubb, 1 wooden can, 1 stone Jugg, 2 butter potts, 1 Glass bottle, 1 half bushell measure, 4 sides leather, 6 cow hides, parcel cyder casks, quantity corn and fodder, 1 pair shares, quantity of wool cotton and flax, £127.19.6 money in the house at his death, 7 silver dollars and five pister__ns in the House at his death, 1 branding Iron, 1 Iron spice morter and pestle, 1 comb, 1 Flax brake, 1 Razor, 1 pair fire Tongues, 1 Cow bell, 1 dowell bitt, 1 Round Share, 1 pair phlemes, 1 stock lock, 1 taper bitt, 1 side saddle, 1 Chairm, small quantity of wheat, small quantity of bacon.Filed January Court 1782

  • Barbara Kim Thigpen

    The Quaker Annual Monitor 1849, or Obituary of the Members of the Society of Friends in Great Britain and Ireland for the year 1848, is a published list of obituaries and death notices compiled from the annual returns of the Society’s Meeting Houses in 1848 and the latter parts of 1847.

  • Karen Ramsden Zahler

    Hi there,

    I am descended from boatloads of Quakers settling late 1600s in NJ and PA on Penn land grants. Prominent last names include: NJ - Woolman, Stokes, Burr, Bernard, Sharpless, Green, Stockdale, Rogers; PA - Pratt, Kite, Worrall, Sellers, Johnson, Davis, Dicks, Maddock, Simcock, Lewis, Squibb, Mancill. I've done some research on these families, so if you have any questions, I'll try to help. Thanks!

  • Sally Pavia

    If you send me your email address, it might be easier to chat and send info.


    Mine is sallyinaz@cox.net


    My STUBBS line is connected to the DICKS, MADDOCK and SIMCOCK lines. STUBBS was my mother's maiden name; it traces back to the original William, b ca 1581 in Staverton, England m Julia ca 1603; d 25 Mar 1645 in Redmarley D'Abitot, England.

  • Barbara Kim Thigpen

    ...long line of Americans prominent in the history of the United States. Anthony Morris, a mariner, was born in London about 1630 and died in Barbados about 1655. His son, Anthony, was born in London in 1654 and died in Philadelphia in 1721. He was the first Quaker in the family, and his descendants, at least until the seventh generation, also belonged to that persuasion. His son, Thomas; & grand~daughter, Mary Polly, are also my ancestors. The 1st Anthony Morris listed here also had a father named Anthony Morris born in 1600. He died in at sea in Barbados.

  • Barbara Kim Thigpen

    Beneath old England's misty skies
    Two hundred years ago,
    One, to the sunset turned his eyes
    With firm resolve, to go ...
    Where, in the far land of the AVest,
    He might serve God as seemed him best.
    Across the stormy sea he sailed
    A voyage stern, and long,
    Yet his brave spirit never quailed
    Save at the fear of wrong ;
    At last, he reached the alien strand
    Where friends were few to grasp his hand.
    The wild-birds sang in thoughtless glee.
    The flowers, a welcome smiled,
    The sunny sky, appeared to be
    With mankind reconciled ;
    And in his home beside the stream,
    The new life seemed a happy dream.
    Like saplings in their native earth
    His children round him grew ;
    Love dwelt beside his peaceful hearth.
    And fond afiection threw
    A golden splendor o'er the days
    Of earnest toil, and simple ways.
    But, as the dear, domestic nest
    Enlarged, and overflowed,
    In North, and South, in East, and West,
    Each sought a new abode ;
    Thus, like a widening circle spread
    The family, from that fountain head, (vii)
    Until from wild Atlantic's shore,
    To mild Pacific's strand,
    The many members scattered o'er
    The broad, and fertile land.
    And where they lit their household fires.
    Cherished the memories of their Sires.
    Like us, they loved, and suffered much,
    And bravely bore life's strain ;
    Their hearts throbbed to the self-same touch
    Of Pleasure, and of Pain;
    Sought the same Father's Throne in Prayer,
    And felt the like supjiorting care.
    So, as one treasures faded flowers
    Or wood-bird's fallen plume.
    Recalling thus, long vanished hours
    From grey oblivion's gloom,
    Mementos here we fondly lay
    Of those, who long have passed away.
    Dear Lord of Love ! AVe pray Thee, bless
    Our Family here below!
    Grant to us all, that happiness
    Which those who serve Thee know.
    And when our earthly wanderings cease.
    Unite us in Thy Home of Peace !