THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS in ENGLAND and PHILADELPHIA:
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN ENGLAND & PHILADELPHIA: WHEELER FAMILY OF CRANFIELD, BEDFORDSHIRE & HITCHIN, HERTFORDSHIRE: Two volumes of transcripts of family and other letters relating to this prominent Quaker family, together with some autograph letters signed and other pieces inserted.
Inscribed at front of first
volume: “Memoirs
of Joshua Wheeler born 1635 died 1711;
Joshua Wheeler born 1704 died 1749;
Rudd Wheeler born 1728 died 1807;
Joshua Wheeler born 1755 died 1803”.
Elizabeth, the second wife of the latter Joshua Wheeler, was
the daughter of William Tuke of York.
His first wife was Elizabeth Brown of Ampthill, Bedfordshire.
These volumes comprise
numerous transcripts of letters to and from the Wheelers, 1700-ca.
1826, including an interesting series of 8 letters from Josiah to
his wife, dated 1798, descriptive of his tour of the West Country in
the company of Sarah Shackleton (see below), also letters to Henry
Tuke (1755-1814;
Quaker minister and writer), and from Lindley
Murray (for which see below).
Also accounts of monthly and yearly meetings, an account of
the York boarding school for girls, memoirs of various members of
the family, genealogical details etc.
Neatly written on 275-pages, two volumes, 4to, uniform
contemporary crimson roan-backed marbled boards, the leaves
watermarked 1827;
transcribed about that date.
Amongst the
original pieces inserted are an account from Jane Forster directed
to Josiah Wheeler dated 5 mo 9th, 1769 for; “1 Quarter & half
learning & board £6.15” and for copy books, instruments etc. and
an autograph letter signed from Josiah Wheeler, 1727, addressed to
his wife, “at Thom’s Rudd’s
Draper in Hitchin” – “My Dear Love, With the Salutations of
unfeigned Love do I salute thee Being att this present pretty well &
Blessed be the Lord Hoping these may find thee in the same
Enjoyment… …”
A further six 18th Century autograph letters are inserted, including one from S. Shackleton to Elizabeth Wheeler dated 12/ 7 mo. 1798 , 2-pages 4to : “thy precious husband left me a charge to write to thee in his absence – poor comfort. I expect thou hast abundantly superior:- however as to this said husband, I must keep myself in respecting my sentiments of him, because it is to thee I am writing - it seems fulsome to praise a person to their face:- I may tho’ just query, how came thee to get such a partner? For I have often remarked some of my very capital friends getting meer hum-drum husbands. Pleasant it was indeed, my beloved Elizth, to hear of thy again getting well thro’ an awful time: it would be a great treat to me to see the mother with the children… … … …. I have behaved oddly about going home, I thought I had settled it to go from London & yet did not, but talked of going from this, instead of which I am going from house to house with my dear S.T. [S. Talbot] & Sarah Tuckett who has joined her in the service … …I do not think I have much lot or portion in the business – but I do not like to be parted from my faithful American, so I tag after them, & S.T. desires me to add, sometimes, in a good easy place, does a little job: & answers (sometimes) instead of an Elder. I have had some very trying hours thinking of my dear friends & relatives in Ireland, - many of our intimate neighbours fallen in battle – oh hateful war… … … … …”
With, tipped-in at end, a good autograph letter signed to Joshua Wheeler from Ann Warder (1758–1829) the daughter of John Head and Ann Wheeler, prominent Suffolk Quakers, married, in 1779, John Warder a wealthy Philadelphia-born merchant who had come to England in 1776 to secure his business interests during the American Revolution. They returned to live permanently in Philadelphia in 1788.
The letter is dated
Philadelphia 4 mo 2nd 1798:
“My Dear Cousin –
Though too long in the acknowledgement yet I can truly say not
forgetful or ungrateful for thy affectionate token of remembrance by
Alexander Wilson … … …
How has this Dear Woman [Mary Prior]
been spared to us, marvellously indeed ! as I expect you will have
heard … though perhaps not long or the particulars… …she had a very
long passage they early
discovered the vessel was leaky but a Wicked Captain & evidently the
owners wish to reap the benefit of over insurance he would not avail
himself of returning
which appeared almost impossible to prevent being the loss of them
all, though several leaks were discovered & stop’d yet her general
unfit situation for sea rendered it of little use, near two months
past in this increasing distress … … a few hours must have entered
them in Eternity had not a Schooner discovered their distress &
though with much fear of French deception came in time to relieve,
taking all on board thirty in number about twelve hundred miles from
land … … the boats that conveyed them to the Schooner so bad they
sat up to their knees in water… … …Thomas Scattergood & Sarah
Harrison return looks still more uncertain there long detention
amongst you is trying to some endeared connections & Friends here
but I trust & believe they are rightly engaged in the great Master’s
cause … … Alexander Wilson is gone a long tour with Jarvon & Johnson
an innocent valuable Friend from Ireland, Sam’l Emlin, Sam’l Smith,
Rebecca Jones at home & bravely would cheerfully unite their love to
this sheet I am persuaded… ”
* Lindley Murray was
born, into a Quaker family, at Swatara, Pennsylvania in 1745.
In 1784 he left America and settled at Holdgate, nr. York.
His ‘English Grammar’, first published in 1795 was immensely
popular and ran into numerous editions.
He was a recorded minister of the York “monthly meeting” for
11 years. In 1792 he
published, “Some account of the life and religious labours of Sarah
Grubb: with an
appendix, containing an account of the schools at Ackworth and
York”.
[see D.N.B]
Quote Item No.
8904
Price: £750.00