1783 Quaker Anti-Slavery Petition
Carol Landon Gaiser of Bellevue, Washington found this document after noticing the name of Gabriel WILLSON in the index to the Papers of the Continental Congress. The entry said 6 p. M247, r 57, I 43, p. 337. The microfilm is available at the National Archives branch in Seattle and is identified as M247, Papers of the Continental Congress 1774-1783. The entry was on roll 57; six pages beginning at page 337, Item 43. The names from this petition were typed in the order found on the microfilm and then proofread carefully by both Joanne Rabun and Carol Gaiser. However, some signatures were not very legible and so it is suggested that you find yourself a copy of the original document and view the signatures for yourself. After corrections were made, the copy was "sorted" alphabetically to provide a guide to the signatures found on the original document. There could be a significance in the order that the names were signed.
To the United States in Congress Assembled
The Address from the Yearly Meeting
of the People Called Quakers
4th Day of the Tenth Month 1783
Being through the favour of Divine Providence met as usual at
this season in our annual Assembly to promote the cause of Piety
and Virtue, We find with great satisfaction our well meant endeavours
for the relief of an oppressed part of our fellow Men have been
so far blessed, that those of them who have been held in bondage
by Members of our Religious Society are generally restored to
freedom, their natural and just right.
Commiserating the afflicted state into which the Inhabitants of
Africa are very deeply involved by many professors of the mild
and benign doctrines of the Gospel, and affected with a sincere
concern for the essential Good of our Country, We conceive it
our indispensable duty to revive the lamentable grievance of that
oppressed people in your view as an interesting subject evidently
claiming the serious attention of those who are entrusted with
the powers of Government, as Guardians of the common rights of
Mankind and advocates for liberty.
We have long beheld with sorrow the complicated evils produced
by an unrighteous commerce which subjects many thousands of the
human species to the deplorable State of Slavery.
The Restoration of Peace and restraint to the effusion of human
Blood we are persuaded excite in the minds of many of all Christian
denominations gratitude and thankfulness to the all wise controller
of human events; but we have grounds to fear, that some forgetfulness
of the days of Distress are prompted from avaricious motives to
renew the iniquitous trade for slaves to the African Coasts, contrary
to every humane and righteous consideration, and in opposition
to the solemn declarations often repeated in favour of universal
liberty, thereby increasing the too general torrent of corruption
and licentiousness, and laying a foundation for future calamities.
We therefore earnestly solicit your Christian interposition to
discourage and prevent so obvious an Evil, in such manner as under
the influence of Divine Wisdom you shall see meet.
Signed in and on behalf of our Yearly Meeting held in Philadelphia
for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and the western parts
of Maryland and Virginia dated the fourth day of the tenth month
1783.
M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y
Please check the original microfilm for signatures of the following
Quakers who attended the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1783:
A
ACER/STEER, Jos. Jr. ? • ALLEN, David • ALLINSON, Saml. • ASHBRIDGE, Geo. • ATKINSON, William • ATKINSON, William • ATTMORE, Caleb • ATTMORE, Tho.
B
BACON David • BAILY John • BALDERSON John • BALDWIN Joshua ? • BALL Joseph • BALLINGER Daniel • BARKER/PARKER Thompson ? • BARNARD Richard • BARTLETT Richard • BATES Hezekiah • BEALE John • BELLANGER Thomas • BENERES Anthony ? • BERNARD Jeremiah Jr. • BERRIS/BERRY John ? • BETTS Simes ? • BIDDLE Owen • BIRCHALL Jno. • BLACKFORD Gerard Jr. • BONSALL Edward • BONSALLE Isaac • BORTON/BARTON Isaac ? • BRADWAY Edward • BREWER William • BRIGGS Samuel • BRINGHURST James • BRINGHURST Joseph • BRINTON Joseph • BRITT Daniel • BROTHERTON Henry • BROWN ? • BROWN Jonathan • BROWN Joshua • BROWN Richard • BROWN Saml. • BROWN Thomas • BUCKLEY Phins. • BUDD Joseph • BUNTING Joshua • BUNTING Josiah • BUNTING Samuel • BURROUGH Joseph • BUTLER John • BYRNES Daniel
C
CADWALADER Isaac • CADWALADER Moses ? • CAMERON Dugald • CANBY Samuel • CAREY Thomas • CARPENTER John • CATHRALL Benjamin • CATTELL Jonas • CHESTNUTWOOD Jacob ? • CHILD John • CHURCHMAN George • CHURCHMAN Mord. • CLARK Joseph • CLARKE Benjamin • CLARKE Isaac • CLARKE Saml ? • CLAYTON Aaron • CLEAVER Ellis • CLEAVER Ezekial • CLIFFORD Thomas • CLIFFTON William • CLIFTON Henry • COALE William • COATES Moses • COATS Isaac • COLLINS John • COLLINS John • COMFORT Ezra • COMFORT John • CONARROC Thomas Sr. ? • COOKSON Samuel • COOPE Abrah. • COOPER David • COOPER Samuel • COOPER William • COOPER William Jr. • COPLAND Cowperthawaite • COWGILL Eze. • COWGILL Henry • COWGILL John • CRESSON James • CRESSON Joshua • CUMMING David
D
DARNEL Edward • DARNEL Lewis • DARNEL Samuel • DAVIES Joseph • DAWES Abijah • DAWES Jonathan • DAWES Rumford • DAWSON Daniel • DAY Jacob • DENNIS Philip • DICKENSON Daniel • DILLWYNE Geo. ? • DIMOCK Joshua ? • DINGCE/DINGEE Christopher ? • DINGEE Chas. • DIXON William • DORSEY Benedict • DOUGHTY William • DOWNING Silas • DOWNING William • DOWNLIE Geo. ? • DRINKER Danl. • DRINKER Henry • DRINKER John • DUNCAN John
E
ELLIOTT John Jr. • ELLIS John • ELLIS Peter • ELLIS Wm. • ELY Hugh ? • EMLER/EMLEN James ? • EVANS David • EVANS Enoch • EVANS Evan • EVANS George • EVANS John • EVANS Robert • EVANS Thomas • EVANS Thos. • EVES John
F
FALK William ? • FARQUHAR Allen • FARQUHAR Thomas • FEARNBY/FEARNLEY Thomas ? • FERRCE/FERREE John ? • FIELD Elijah • FIELDS John • FISHER Mi ? • FISHER Thomas • FISHER Thomas • FLOWER ? • FOLLETT Thomas • FOLWELL William • FORMAN John • FORSYTHE John • FOULKE Caleb • FRANKLIN John • FRANKLIN Thos. • FRENCH Robert • FURMAN Josiah • FURMAN/TRUMAN Morris ?
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GARRETT Nathan • GARRIGUES Saml. • GARRIGUIS Edward • GARRIGUIS William • GENNONERE Sam ? • GEORGE Thomas • GIBBONS Ia ? • GIBBS Jonathan • GIBBS Joshua • GIBBS Lucas • GILBERT John • GILLINGHAM Yeamans • GODINGS William • GOODWIN Richard • GRACY John • GRAY Enoch • GRIEST/GUEST John • GRIFFITH Abrm ? • GRIFFITTS James • GRISEGER William ?
H
HAINA Job • HAINES Caleb • HAINES Jesse • HAINES Samuel • HALL David • HALL Thomas • HALLOWELL Thos. • HALLOWELL Wm. Jr. • HAMPTON Samuel • HAMTON Benja. • HARLAN Caleb • HARRISON Thomas • HARTSHORNE William • HARVEY Amos • HARVEY William • HATTON Peter • HAVILAND Daniel • HAWLEY Joseph • HAWORTH George • HAWORTH John • HAYDOCK John • HAYES Henry • HEDGER Samuel • HIBBERD Abraham • HICKS Samuel • HILLIAR John ? • HOLLINGSHEAD Edmund • HOLLINGSWORTH Christopher • HOLLINGSWORTH John • HOOPER/HOOPES William • HOOPES David • HOOPES Thos Jr. ? • HOPKINS Johns • HOPKINS Saml. • HORNE John • HORNOR Benj. • HOSKINS John • HOSKINS Raper • HOUGH Benjamin • HOUGH John • HOUGH Thomas • HOWELL Arthur • HOWELL John • HOWELL Joshua • HOWELL Sam. • HUGHES Owen • HUMPHREYS Benjamin Jr. ? • HUMPHREYS John • HUMPHREYS Richard • HUNT John • HUNT John Jr. • HUNT Joshua • HUTTON John • HUTTON Samuel
J
JACKSON John • JACKSON Wm. Jr. • JACOBS Isaac • JAMES Abel Jr. • JAMES Isaac • JAMES John • JAMES Joseph • JANNEY Bleackston • JANNEY Joseph • JANNEY Mahlon • JEFFERIES Wm. • JEFFERIS Cheyney • JENKINS Joseph • JESS Zachariah • JOHN Griffith • JOHN Joshua • JONES Cadwalader ? • JONES Edward • JONES Edward • JONES James Jr. • JONES Nathan • JONES Norris • JONES Owen • JONES Richard
K
KAMBIN/KAMBER Caleb ? • KERSEY William • KIRK Caleb • KIRK Elisha • KIRKBRIDGE/KIRKBRIDE Robert ? • KIRKLAND/KIRKBRIDE Jonathan ? • KITE Benjamin • KNIGHT Giles Jr.
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LAING John • LAMB Daniel • LAMB Joshua • LAMB Pierce • LANCASTER Aaron • LANE Isaac • LARKIN Isaac • LEE Mordecai • LEEDS Daniel • LETCHWORTH William ? • LETTLERS/LITTLERS Nathan ? • LEWDEN John • LEWDEN John • LEWIS Evan • LEWIS Nathan • LEWIS Robt. • LEWIS/LORDS Vincent ? • LIGHTFOOT Thomas • LINDLEY Jacob • LINTON Benjamin • LINTON W. • LIPPINCOTT William • LITCHWORTH John • LONGSTRETH Daniel • LORD Constantine • LORD Constantine • LOWNES Caleb • LOWNES William • LUKENS Joseph • LUNDY Jacob Jr. • LYNN John • LYSSTON John
M
MARILE Jacob • MARILE John ? • MARIS Caleb • MAROT Davenport • MAROT Phillip • MARSHALL Henry • MARTIN George • MASON Benjamin ? • MASSEY Thomas Jr. • MATHIS Bartho. • MATTHEWS Thomas • MAULE Ebenezer • MAXEY Isaac • McRAE Andw. ? • MIDDLETON Gideon • MIDDLETON Saml. • MIFFLIN Daniel • MIFFLIN Warner • MILHOUS Jesse • MILHOUS John • MILHOUSE Thomas • MILLER Mark • MILLER Samuel • MILLER Solomon • MILLER William • MINSHALL Griffith ? • MOON James • MOON Moses • MOORE David • MOORE Edward • MOORE George • MOORE Joseph • MOORE Mord. • MOORE Robert • MORRIS John Jr. • MORRIS Joshua • MORTON John
N
NEWBOLD Clayton
O
OAKFORD Aaron • OFFEY/RIPPLEY Danl. ? • OLDDEN John • OTTEY William
P
PAINTER James • PARKE Jacob • PARKER John • PARKER Thomas • PARRISH John • PARRY John • PASASON/PAXON Oliver ? • PAXON Ephraim ? • PAXON Thomas • PAXSON Aaron • PAXSON Isaac • PAYNTER Richard • PEARSON Thomas • PEIRCE John • PEMBERTON Saml. • PENNELL Dell • PENROSE Joseph ? • PENROSE William ? • PICKERING Isaac • PICKERING Jona. • PICKERING Jos. ? • PIERCE/PEIRCE Joseph • PLEASANT Saml. • POTTS Jonas • POTTS Joseph • POULTNEY Anthony • PRICE John Jr. • PRICE Philip Jr. • PRICE Philipe • PRICE Richard • PRIOR Edmund • PUGH James • PUGH John
R
REDMAN Thomas • REEVE Mark • RENNICK/PENNICK Caleb ? • RENNOCK/PENNOCK Joseph ? • REYNELL John • REYNOLDS Henry • RHOADS Samuel • RICHARDS Saml. • RICHARDSON Joseph • RICHARDSON Joseph Jr. • RICHARDSON William • RIDGE Zachary • RIDGWAY David • RIDGWAY J. • RIDGWAY William • RING Elias • RISELY John • ROBBINS Nathan • ROBERTS Hugh • ROBERTS Israel • ROBERTS John • ROBERTS John • ROBERTS Joseph • ROBERTS Willism • ROBESON John • ROBINSON Ebenezer • ROGERS Abner • ROGERS Robert • ROGERS Thomas • ROGERS Thomas Jr. • ROGERS Thomas Jr. • ROGERS William • ROSE Thos. • RUSSELL Tos.
S
SANSOM William • SATTERTHWAIT John • SAVERY William • SAVERY William Jr. • SAY Thos. ? • SCARLET John • SEAL Caleb • SHARPLES Joel • SHARPLES Joshua • SHARPLES Thomas • SHARPLESS Daniel ? • SHARPLESS Jos. • SHARPLESS Nathan • SHATWELL/SHOTWELL Jos. Jr. • SHAW Henry • SHESHIR/CHESSHIR Joel ? • SHINN Sam. ? • SHOEMAKER Jacob • SHOEMAKER Jacob Jr. • SHOEMAKER Jonathan • SHOEMAKER Thomas • SIM/PIM Thomas ? • SIMPSON John • SIMPSON Saml. • SMEDLEY Jeffrey • SMEDLEY Thomas Jr. • SMITH Aaron • SMITH James • SMITH James Jr. • SMITH John • SMITH Samuel • SMITH William • SPEAKMAN Thomas ? • STABLERS Edward ? • STACKHOUSE Joseph • STAPLER Jno. • STAPLER John Jr. ? • STAPLER Thomas • STARR Jacob • STARR James • STARR James • STARR saml. • STARR William • STEVENSON Cornell • STEVENSON William • STOKES Thomas • STRODE Richard • SUGAR Thos. • SWAIN Benjamin ? • SWAYNE Jacob • SWAYNE Tho. • SWETT Benj. • SWIFFT John ?
T
TALBOT John • TALBOT Joseph • TATUM John • TAYLOR Amos • TAYLOR Bernard • TAYLOR Samuel • TEST Benjamin • THOMAS Isaac • THOMAS Robert • THOMAS Townsend • THOMPSON Daniel • THOMPSON Israel • THORNTON James • THORNTON James Jr. • TODD John • TODD John Jr. • TODDINGS James ? • TOMKINS Jacob • TOWNSEND John • TOWNSEND Joseph • TRIMBLE Samuel • TROTTER Saml. • TROTTER Thomas • TURK Isaiah ? • TYSON James
U
UPDEGARD Saml. ? • UPDEGRAFF Harman ?
V
VANLAW Joseph • VERRCE Robert
W
WALKER Abel • WALMSLEY Silas • WARING W. • WARRINGTON Joseph • WATERMAN Jesse ? • WATHERILE Saml. ? • WATSON Thos. • WAY Joshua • WEBB John • WEBSTER Hugh • WEBSTER Isaac • WEBSTER William • WELLS Richard • WEST Charles • WEST Charles Jr. • WEST Joseph • WHARTON Isaac • WHELALL James Jr. ? • WHITALL Job • WHITE Robert • WHITE Samuel • WHITSALL James • WHITSON Thomas ? • WIBLES/HIBLES David ? • WILKES/WEEKS Resine ? • WILKINSON Francis • WILKONSHAM Enoch • WILLETS Amos • WILLIAMS George • WILLIAMS Nathan • WILLS Aaron • WILLSON Gabriel • WILSON Isaac • WILSON William • WOLMSLEY Thomas ? • WOOD Robt. • WORINTON Abraham • WORLEY Jacob Jr. • WORRILL Jonathan • WORSTALL/ James ? • WRIGHT Isaac • WRIGHT John • WRIGHT Jon. • WRIGHT Jonathan • WRIGHT Nathan
Y
YARNALL Amos • YARNALL Eli • YARNALL Ellis • YARNALL Joshua • YARNALL Peter
More on the long struggle to abolish slavery....
[email protected] sent the following information which came from "Guilford County" N.C. by Fred Hughes (copyright 1988 pub. The Custom House)
1788 at Wells Meeting in Perquimans County the yearly meeting was held with
reps from North Carolina South Carolina and Georgia.
"As it appears that all Friends have not yet cleansed their hands of slave holding this meeting directs the inferior
meetings to put the former advices of our yearly meeting in practice such who
continue to hold them as slaves and hand up a report of their service to next
yearly meeting to be held at Centre Meeting in Guilford County for further
trial with which this meeting concurs." The old committee was discharged a
new committee appointed 24 prestigious Quakers of NC were to lead the fight-a
lifetime commitment for all of them.
Zacharias Dick,David Vestal, Jeremiah Reynolds, Thomas Winslow, John Talbot,
Obediah Harris, Jesse Coffin, Strangeman Stanley John Carter, Joseph Cloud,
John Beals, Samuel Millikan, Hezekiah Sanders, Tristain Barnard, William
Coffin Jr., John Hackett, John Davis, Samuel Chambers, Issac Beeson, Benjamin
Coffin, John Sanders, Seth Coffin, Thomas Thornbourgh, William Tomlinson.
The underground railroad and the Manumission Society (the Manumission and
Colonization Society of North Carolina) were both tools of the Guilford Co., North Carolina Quakers.
