The Religious Society of Friends, founded by George Fox (1624-1691), had a completely different outlook on baptism from most other Churches. They believed more in an "inner baptism of the spirit", rather than an outward washing with water. The Friends, or Quakers as they are popularly called, rejected also ordination, churches, and ministers. The organizational structure of the Quakers differs radically also from other religious groups. They organized around "Meetings" and records were kept of all Meetings. At the lowest level, there were weekly Meetings at which worship services were held on the First Day (Sunday). Entrance into the Society took place at this level. Also, notices of intention to marry were made at those Meetings.
Monthly Meetings consisted of several Preparatory Meetings, and it was here that most business was conducted. Several Monthly Meetings would meet for a Quarterly Meeting. A Yearly Meeting would be held to include all of the Meetings in a wide geographical area. All levels of Meetings included worship services. Since 1656, it has been the practice that all births and deaths are to be recorded. Three years later, marriages were added to the list of items to be recorded. The recording was to start at the Preparatory Meetings and was to continue to the Monthly Meeting so that the events would be recorded in both places. Practices varied between England and America, and in America only the Monthly Meetings made a permanent recording of the vital statistics.
Dates were recorded by using numerals, not the names of months and days. (The names of months and days were regarded as pagan in origin.)
Children of Quaker-practicing parents became birthright members of the Friends. The event was to be recorded with as many witnesses as possible to the birth, including the midwife. Ceremonies and festivals were to be avoided. In America, the typical recording lists the infant's name, date of birth, and the parents. At the Monthly Meeting, this may be organized chronologically or by family. Newly arrived Friends from abroad were urged to file a complete set of family records in America, and thus may duplicate the records in England. The records may predate the actual formation of the Meeting. Sometimes the actual recording at the Monthly Meeting was not done until the last child was born so the records lose some of the immediateness that might be implied.
Vital statistics for the Friends may be recorded in more than one place in contrast to the more conventional Churches. The records at one location may give a false impression of a family group because they may not be complete. Members left the Friends of their own volition and by disownment where the Meeting turned them out.
(23 Jul 03)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.