The last blog discussed the history of Quakers, including migration to America and some of their practices. This blog will examine how this affects Quaker genealogical research and offer guidance on where to locate records of your Quaker ancestors.

Quaker records and research

The Quakers had several types of meetings, or congregations, all of which generated records. They were organized in a hierarchical structure and were geographically based.[1] Preparative meetings were small groups that met in people’s homes every two weeks. A group of preparative meetings consisted of a monthly meeting, and a group of monthly meetings comprised a Quarterly meeting. A group of those was a yearly meeting.[2]   

Yearly meetings were held annually for several days. They kept minutes, records of business activities, and policy; none of these contain much genealogy. The Quarterly meetings solved problems too weighty for the Monthly meetings, and what they couldn’t solve were referred to the Yearly Meetings. Quarterly Meetings created new Preparative and Monthly Meetings. Their records also contain very little genealogical information.[3] 

Among the various Quaker records, the Monthly Meeting minutes contain the most genealogically valuable information.[4] They kept detailed records of business or “sufferings,” vital information, committee appointments, certificates of removal, school records, matters of discipline, and members who had joined or left the meeting.[5]  The men and women met separately, so there are separate minutes. More details (usually juicier) were kept in the women’s minutes.[6] 

Quakers kept registers of children born to their members, listing the parents and their residences. Sometimes birth registers included details of the mother’s parents, or information about the children’s later marriages and deaths. Their marriage records are very detailed, including details on the bride and groom, their places of residence, the names of their parents, and the names of all the witnesses. They kept separate records of death and burial. The death registers kept track of members who had died, and the burial registers listed burials in their graveyards.[7] Death registers included the names of the parents & last residence. [8]

Quakers registered marriages in their own books rather than in a civil marriage book. Quaker marriage certificates typically include the names of the parents.[9] Bride and groom from different Monthly Meetings might have their marriage recorded in both.[10] A proper Quaker marriage had many steps, all of which left records behind. Disciplinary action was taken against those who married out or didn’t follow the proper Quaker fashion.[11]

A proper Quaker marriage started with an intention to marry recorded in both the men’s and women’s minutes. The marriage records listed all the attendants as witnesses. It listed the parents and their place of origin, as well as whether they were living or deceased. The attendees, or witnesses, likely included family members and relatives visiting for the wedding.[12]

Marrying out of unity referred not only to marrying a non-Quaker, but also to marrying a first cousin or marrying without parental consent. These marriages were not recorded, but the disciplinary action was. If the non-Quaker spouse wanted to join the Quakers, the couple could submit a request to the meeting along with an acknowledgement of their infraction.[13]

The potential for finding juicy information on an ancestor lies in records of disciplinary action, including disownment and apologies. Disownment meant the Society no longer “owned” that friend and denied responsibility for their behavior.  The offending Friend could be reinstated if they repented, including writing a letter of apology to the Meeting to acknowledge their misdeeds. Disciplinary actions were formal procedures. The offender was counselled in private by a small group about the offending behavior. These discussions are summarized in the Meeting minutes.[14]

Examples of disciplinary action can be found in the Chester Monthly Meeting records (Chester County, PA) from 1802. Quakers used numbers instead of names for months and days.[15] For example, on the 29^th day of the Eleventh month, Springfield Preparative Meeting brought a complaint against Margaret Worrall for fornicating. This was evidenced by her being with child when she was unmarried. Mary Hill and Hannah Pennell were appointed to visit Margaret and report at the next meeting.[16]

During that same meeting, Middleton Preparative meeting brought a complaint against Jane Jefferies, formerly Bishop, for fornication, evidenced by her bearing a child “sooner after marriage than chastity would admit of.” (She was pregnant when she married.) Sarah Sharpless and Mary Rhodes were appointed to “tak[e] an opportunity with her on the occasion and report to next meeting.”[17]

The next Monthly meeting was held on the 27^th day of the Twelfth month of 1802. No mention of Jane Jefferies was made. The follow-up on Margaret Worral indicates that one of the Friends appointed “had an opportunity” with Margaret  “and it was their sense she was not in a suitable disposition to condemn it at this time.” The meeting then appointed Ann Paist and Ann Lewis to prepare a testimony against Margaret.[18]

Continuing through the Chester Monthly Meeting minutes will reveal more about the disciplinary actions taken against these two women, including whether they repented or were disowned.  The records examined thus far reveal other women with whom they were associated. Therefore, it is essential to review every page of the meeting minutes.[19]

There were multiple causes for disownment: swearing and vulgar language, appearing intoxicated in public, marrying contrary to discipline, fornication, theft, debt, military activity, assault, loose morals, marrying too close a relative, neglecting family responsibilities, slander, slaveholding, and fraud.[20]

Research methodology

When researching Quaker ancestors, it’s important to know their Monthly Meeting. A descendant of Margaret Worral or Jane Bishop would only have found their records by knowing to look in the Chester Monthly Meeting minutes in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Then, look at all the records, including those from nearby Monthly Meetings. It is not safe to assume. If information is found in a secondary source, use that to find the primary sources. Check the FamilySearch Wiki for records.[21]

To identify a Monthly Meeting, look in county histories for religions in the area.[22] The FamilySearch library has a book titled “Monthly Meetings in North America: A Quaker Index” by Thomas Hill. It can aid in finding Quaker Monthly Meetings. The website QuakerMeetings.com is another resource for finding Quaker meetings in a specific area. After clicking “Search this database,” you are directed to a screen where you can enter a meeting name, county, or state to initiate the search. Then you are taken to a list of monthly meetings. Clicking on any of those meetings will bring you additional information. Be sure to indicate the location of the Monthly Meeting, because some Monthly Meeting names were duplicated in different states.[23]

If a Quaker disappears from the Monthly Meeting minutes and there’s no certificate of removal, that indicates they likely left the Quaker community. When this happens, look for marriage records among the civil records and other churches.[24] Quakers who left often became Protestants or Methodists.[25] Sometimes, Quakers switched to another church because they couldn’t find a Monthly Meeting in their new area.[26] Check both Quaker and town records.[27]

Non-Quaker records can aid in tracking migration. Such records include census records (especially after 1850), land records, and tax records. Newspapers might announce migrations. Probate records list the current residences of heirs.[28]

Where to find records

FamilySearch has Quaker collections that can be found in the card catalog. One of these is the Hinshaw collection, which is a derivative source showing where Quaker families lived. It is a good starting place for research. To search for the Hinshaw collection, go into the FamilySearch Card Catalog, enter Hinshaw into the keyword section, and the state your ancestors lived in the place section. Additional collections can be found by searching the catalog using the subject “Quaker.”[29]

Other websites to search for Quaker collections on include Ancestry and Cyndi’s List.[30]   There is a Quaker newspaper called the American Friend and Freedmen’s Record. It is essential to note that compiled family histories regarding Quakers don’t necessarily include the word “Quaker” in their titles.[31] Quaker repositories and collections include the following:[32]

• The Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
• The Quaker collection at S. Aurther Watson Library at Wilmington College in Ohio.
• The Quaker collection at Haverford College Library in Haverford, Pennsylvania
• The Quaker Collection at Lilly Library at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana
• The Friends Historical Collection at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina
• The Archivist of the New England Yearly Meeting in the Rhode Island Historical Society Library in Providence, Rhode Island.
• The Cope collection and the Myers collection at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Determining if an ancestor was a Quaker

There are multiple clues that will determine if an ancestor was a Quaker. They will not have served in the military, and they won’t appear in other church records. Sometimes Quakers were charged fines for not joining the military. Check to determine if there was a Monthly Meeting local to them. Pay attention to how they wrote their dates. In land records, they will affirm rather than swear.[33] In wills, they won’t use the verbiage “In the name of God Amen.”[34]

Quakers lived in tight-knit communities.[35] If your ancestor lived in an area with a high concentration of Quakers, they may have been a Quaker.[36] However, some non-Quakers lived in Quaker communities.[37] 

It was assumed that Enos Worrall was a Quaker. He lived in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which had a high concentration of Quakers. However, he was not found in any Quaker records. His records used the word affirm rather than swear, but that may have been due to being in a Quaker community. Other Worrals were known to be Quaker, and many were found in the Quaker records where Enos was absent. Enos’ marriage was found in the Old Swedes’ Church, suggesting that he wasn’t a Quaker.[38]

Disciplinary action was taken for Enos Worrall’s parents, Peter Worrall and Mary Treago, for being married by a priest. The minutes from a meeting on 29 August 1763 of the Chester Monthly meeting in Chester County, Pennsylvania, contain the following:

The Women Friends bring a Complaint against Mary Treago, now
the wife of Peter Worrall, Jun^r for committing fornication with him &
being married to him by a Priest, this meeting appoints Nathan Yar-
nall, & Thomas Minshall, to assist them, to treat with her & report their
service to next meeting.[39]

They were not found in Quaker records after that. This confirms that Enos Worrall was not a member of the Quaker faith. To find Enos Worral, it would be more fruitful to search in other church records, starting with the Old Swedes Church.

If you have Quaker ancestors, they likely left behind valuable records that can help you research their history. If you need help with your Quaker genealogy, Price Genealogy can help you.

Katie

Photos:

1 – “014158:Quaker Meeting House Jesmond Road Jesmond 1964” by Newcastle Libraries is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

2 – “Predikende vrouwelijke quaker” is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

3 – “assault from ‘The Innocents Abroad, or the New Pilgrims’ Progress; being some account of the steamship Quaker City’s pleasure excursion to Europe and the Holy Land … With two hundred and thirty-four illustrations. By Mark Twain, Samuel L. Clemens, etc’.” is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

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[1] (n.d.). Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors [Review of Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors]. Ancestry; Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://www.ancestrycdn.com/support/us/2016/11/findquakerancestors.pdf.

[2] Introduction to Quaker Genealogy Research – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/introduction-to-quaker-genealogy-research/.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Five Wives & A Feather Bed: Using Indirect and Negative Evidence to Resolve Conflicting Claims – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/five-wives-a-feather-bed-using-indirect-and-negative-evidence-to-resolve-conflicting-claims/.

[5] (n.d.). Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors [Review of Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors]. Ancestry; Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://www.ancestrycdn.com/support/us/2016/11/findquakerancestors.pdf.

[6] Introduction to Quaker Genealogy Research – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/introduction-to-quaker-genealogy-research/.

[7] Getting Started with United States Church Records: Quaker Records • FamilySearch. (2020, November 10). HLPC Help Center. https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/lessons/getting-started-with-united-states-church-records-quaker-records.

[8] (n.d.). Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors [Review of Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors]. Ancestry; Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://www.ancestrycdn.com/support/us/2016/11/findquakerancestors.pdf.

[9] Following a Quaker Family: New Jersey to Iowa the Long Way Around – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 31). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/following-a-quaker-family-new-jersey-to-iowa-the-long-way-around/.

[10] Quaker Migration after the Revolutionary War – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/quaker-migration-after-the-revolutionary-war/.

[11] Quaker Migration into America – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2021, October 5). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/quaker-migration-into-america/.

[12] (n.d.). Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors [Review of Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors]. Ancestry; Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://www.ancestrycdn.com/support/us/2016/11/findquakerancestors.pdf.

[13] Ibid.

[14] (n.d.). Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors [Review of Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors]. Ancestry; Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://www.ancestrycdn.com/support/us/2016/11/findquakerancestors.pdf.

[15] Introduction to Quaker Genealogy Research – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/introduction-to-quaker-genealogy-research/.

[16] “Chester Monthly Meeting Womens Minutes 1780-1815,” 447, complaint against Margaret Worrall, 29th day of the 11th month 1802 (29 November 1802), Margaret Worrall was with child while unmarried; imaged in “U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935,” database with images, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : accessed 1 July 2025), image 222 of 337; citing U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935>Pennsylvania>Chester>Chester Monthly Meeting>Women’s Minutes, 1780-1815.

[17] “Chester Monthly Meeting Womens Minutes 1780-1815,” 447, complaint against Jane Bishop Jefferies, 29th day of the 11th month 1802 (29 November 1802), Jane Jefferies had a child too soon after marriage; imaged in “U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935,” database with images, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : accessed 1 July 2025), image 222 of 337; citing U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935>Pennsylvania>Chester>Chester Monthly Meeting>Women’s Minutes, 1780-1815.

[18] “Chester Monthly Meeting Womens Minutes 1780-1815,” 448, follow-up on Margaret Worral’s disciplinary action, 27th day of the 12th month 1802 (27 December 1802), Margaret was not in a suitable state to be condemned; imaged in “U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935,” database with images, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : accessed 1 July 2025), image 222 of 337; citing U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935>Pennsylvania>Chester>Chester Monthly Meeting>Women’s Minutes, 1780-1815.

[19] Following a Quaker Family: New Jersey to Iowa the Long Way Around – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 31). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/following-a-quaker-family-new-jersey-to-iowa-the-long-way-around/.

[20] (n.d.). Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors [Review of Research Guide to Finding Your Quaker Ancestors]. Ancestry; Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://www.ancestrycdn.com/support/us/2016/11/findquakerancestors.pdf.

[21] Introduction to Quaker Genealogy Research – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/introduction-to-quaker-genealogy-research/.

[22] Quaker Migration into America – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2021, October 5). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/quaker-migration-into-america/.

[23] Quaker Migration after the Revolutionary War – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/quaker-migration-after-the-revolutionary-war/.

[24] Following a Quaker Family: New Jersey to Iowa the Long Way Around – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 31). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/following-a-quaker-family-new-jersey-to-iowa-the-long-way-around/.

[25] Ibid.

[26] Quaker Migration in North America Prior to the American Revolution – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/quaker-migration-in-north-america-prior-to-the-american-revolution/.

[27] Five Wives & A Feather Bed: Using Indirect and Negative Evidence to Resolve Conflicting Claims – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/five-wives-a-feather-bed-using-indirect-and-negative-evidence-to-resolve-conflicting-claims/.

[28] Following a Quaker Family: New Jersey to Iowa the Long Way Around – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 31). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/following-a-quaker-family-new-jersey-to-iowa-the-long-way-around/.

[29] Getting Started with United States Church Records: Quaker Records • FamilySearch. (2020, November 10). HLPC Help Center. https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/lessons/getting-started-with-united-states-church-records-quaker-records.

[30] Introduction to Quaker Genealogy Research – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/introduction-to-quaker-genealogy-research/.

[31] Quaker Migration in North America Prior to the American Revolution – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/quaker-migration-in-north-america-prior-to-the-american-revolution/

[32] Getting Started with United States Church Records: Quaker Records • FamilySearch. (2020, November 10). HLPC Help Center. https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/lessons/getting-started-with-united-states-church-records-quaker-records.
and;
Quaker Migration into America – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2021, October 5). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/quaker-migration-into-america/.

[33] Introduction to Quaker Genealogy Research – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/introduction-to-quaker-genealogy-research/.

[34] Following a Quaker Family: New Jersey to Iowa the Long Way Around – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 31). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/following-a-quaker-family-new-jersey-to-iowa-the-long-way-around/.

[35] Ibid.

[36] Quaker Migration into America – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2021, October 5). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/quaker-migration-into-america/

[37] Introduction to Quaker Genealogy Research – Legacy Family Tree Webinars. (2023, August 18). Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/introduction-to-quaker-genealogy-research/.

[38] Swedes’ Church, Philadelphia, Marriage Record of the Swedes’ Church, (Gloria Dei.) 1750-1810. (Philadelphia, PA: Swedes’ Church, date unknown), 558, image 272; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 25 June 2025); Pennsylvania, U.S., Compiled Marriage Records, 1700-1821.

[39] “Minutes of the Business of the Monthly Meeting of Chester,” 290, women friends complaint against Mary Treago, 29th Day of 8th Month, 1763 (29 August 1763), complaint against Mary Treago for marrying Peter Worral by a priest; imaged in “U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935,” database with images, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : accessed 1 July 2025), image 155 of 245; citing U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935>Pennsylvania>Chester>Chester Monthly Meeting>Minutes, 1745-1750.