Source Information
About Pennsylvania, Quaker arrivals at Philadelphia (Meeting), 1682-1750
Philadelphia was an important city in the new colonies, and the Quakers occupied most of the social and political positions in the city throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This collection includes the names of Quaker immigrants who registered upon their arrival in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of Friends between 1682 and 1750. It is important to note that the Philadelphia Meeting, while among the largest congregations, was only one of some 20 large Quaker Meetings (congregations) established in the area prior to 1750.
When a Quaker family immigrated to the area, they would bring a "certificate of removal" from their previous Quaker meeting (congregation). The certificate provided the family member’s names, previous meeting (congregation) of residence, usually the reason for immigrating, and any other pertinent details which might be of value to their new congregation. With such helpful information, this collection can be a great aid to those persons seeking the migration information of their Quaker ancestors.
From the introduction: "The first Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia, to treat of business occurring among themselves, was held there the 9th day of the 11th month, being the third day of the week, in the year 1682.
It is also agreed that the friends of this meeting do bring in their Certificates from the respective meeting of friends they belong'd to in other Countries, and that they be Registred according to the time of their arrival here, in this province."
At the meeting, 12 mo. 6, 1682, "Several friends brought in their Certificates as ordered by the foregoing meeting, but not being Endorsed with the time of arrival were returned to them and Expected to be seen Endorsed the next meeting." At the next meeting, held 1 mo. 6, 1682, "Certificates were brought in, and Read. Agreed that they should be Registred and afterwards returned." Minutes of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting.
The list of certificates given below, including, after the year 1730, only foreign certificates, is compiled from the following records of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of Friends or Quakers:
I. The Original Book of Recorded Certificates Received, in vault, at Friends' Meeting House, Fifteenth and Race Streets, Philadelphia. An indexed copy is at the Library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
II. Men's Minutes and Women's Minutes in vault at Friends' Meeting House, Fourth and Arch Streets, Philadelphia.
III. Original Certificates, many of which are not recorded, lately arranged, mounted, and indexed; in vault at Fourth and Arch Streets.
Errata:
p. 3, line 21, insert Cerlificate after certain.
p. 15, next to last line, Mary, not Marry.
p. 72, line 2, Southwark, not Southwrack.