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The Julian Calendar

2 Sep By Leave a Comment

I was working on a Quaker family history in the Irish Registry of Deeds. So when I found a deed that read 15th Day of the 5th Month (commonly called May) 1810, I had to do a double take. No! Well, maybe, but should not be! The no reaction was because Quakers used the Julian Calendar for most of its history; rather than the Gregorian Calendar, which we use today. The maybe reaction was because Quakers abhorred using the names of the months as found in the Western Calendar. However, in this case, I believe the answer lay with the Julian Calendar explanation.

What Day is the New Year?

The Gregorian Calendar was a correction of the Julian Calendar, which by 1752 was 11 days behind the solar year. So under the Gregorian Calendar, 11 days were omitted to bring the calendar back in line with the solar year. So the day after Wednesday 2 September 1752 became Thursday 14 September 1752. Also, the 1st of January was used as the first of the year; rather than the Julian Calendar, where New Year was counted from the 25th of March.

Two Calendars in Use at the Same Time

As both the Julian and the Gregorian calendars were used at the same time, this lead to a “double year” between January and March. So 3 February 1770 (Julian), was 3 February 1771 (Gregorian). Prior to 1752 it would have been written 3 February 1770/1.

Clerks do Make Innocent Mistakes

Now what about my Irish deeds? I reasoned the Registry of Deeds was housed in Dublin and transactions from though out Ireland were registered there but not necessarily immediately. The clerk in Dublin didn’t realize the transaction he registered was dated under the Julian Calendar. So the 15th Day of the 5th Month 1810 was seen as 15 May 1810; when it should have been 15 July 1810. For Quakers, the 1st Month was March not January.

These are genealogy quirks which could lead your research astray if not careful. The clerk, who registered the deed, made an assumption. However, if I did not already know this deed was for a Quaker family, then I too may have made the same erroneous assumption.

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Dictionary of Quaker Abbreviations (Part 2)

14 Aug By Leave a Comment

In this second part of my “Dictionary of Quaker Abbreviations, I continue with the abbreviations you will find in the Quaker records in the United Kingdom, Ireland with some terms from North America. While there are many such versions on the Internet, I’m primarily drawing from two excellent dictionaries “Index to Abbreviations Found in Quaker Records,” www.combs-families.org/combs/quaker/abb.htm on the Combs-families.org website and the “Glossary of Quaker Terms,” www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~quakers/quakdefs.htm on the Rootsweb website.

m: marry, married, marrying, marriage, month

ma: marriage authorized

mbr: member

mbrp: membership

mcd: married contrary to Discipline

MG: minister of the Gospel

MH: meeting house, church

mi: miles

MM: monthly meeting

mos: married out of society

mou: married out of unity

mt: married to

mtg: meeting

mvd: moved

n: north

na: not attending meeting

neg att: neglecting attendance

ni: not identified

nm: non member

nmn: no middle name

NW Terr: Northwest Territory

O: Orthodox (Ohio)

ou: out of unity

PM: particular or preparative meeting

PO: post office address

prc: produced a certificate

prcf: produced a certificate from

prob: probably

Qkr: Quaker

QM: quarterly meeting

rcd: recorded

rec/rcd: receive, received

recrq: received by request

relfc: released from care for

relrq: released by request

rem: remove(d), removal certificate

ret: returned, retired

ret mbrp: retained membership

rev: reversed

rm: reported married

rmt: reported married to

roc: received on certificate

rocf: received on certificate from

rol: received on letter

rolf: received on letter from

rpd: reported

rq: request, requests, requested

rqc: requested certificate

rqct: requested certificate to

rqcuc: requested to come under care (of mtg)

rqlt: requested letter to

rrq: request, requests, requested

rst: reinstate(d)

rtco: referred to care of

s: son, south

sep: separated

sis: sister

temp: temporarily

transfrd: transferred

twp: township

uc: under care (of mtg)

unm: unmarried

upl: using profane language

w: wife, west

w/c: with consent of

wid: widow

w/pwr: with power

wrkd: worked

y: year

YM: yearly meeting

Dictionary of Quaker Terms and Phrases (Part 3)

22 Jul By Leave a Comment

In this Part 3 of my Quaker Dictionary, I conclude this series on terms which are not necessarily self-explanatory. My hope is that Part 1-3 provide a brief reference to help you understand and appreciate the contributions out Quakers ancestors made worldwide.

Rightly Ordered: Those procedures for the conduct of Friends business, that encourage a Meeting to carry out its corporate activities under divine leading.

Seasoning: Taking the time to seek the Light rather than moving into a matter hastily.

Settled: All together under the leading of the Spirit.

Speak to One’s Condition:  The experience of receiving a message directly from God or through another person, that touches another person at a deep, helps one solve a problem or make a right decision.

Standing Aside: An action taken by an individual who has reservations about a particular decision, but who also recognizes the decision is clearly supported by the Meeting.

Standing in the Way: A person who feels a spirit led objection to a decision or proposed action of the Meeting may stand in the way, thus preventing further action.

Stop in the Mind: An expression used by Friends when they feel uneasy and cannot follow a course of action.

A stop: Rather than a leading to do something, a stop is the sense that a Friend should not do something.

Testimony: 1) A positive testimony to God in the case of a deceased friend; 2) A special testimony of concern for a specific matter; 3) A testimony of disownment or disunity; 4) When used as “Testimonies,” this includes the Quaker principles of equality, peace, simplicity and truth.

Thee was favored: The preferred phrase for one Friend to offer another when their ministry has seemed particularly powerful and Spirit filled.

Threshing Session: A Meeting to consider in depth a controversial issue, but in a way that is free from the necessity of reaching a decision.

Travelling Friends: Also called Ministering Preachers or Visiting Preachers would hold gatherings where they would preach of their experience of the inward Christ.Travel(ing) Minute: The endorsement a Meeting gives to one of its members who is traveling under weight of a concern to other Meetings or to the wider world.

Truth: 1) Christ or the divine guide; 2) The Quaker ethical tradition.

Waiting upon God: Actively seeking and attending to God’s will in expectant silent worship.

Dictionary of Quaker Terms and Phrases (Part 2)

21 Jul By Leave a Comment

In this Part 2 of my Quaker Dictionary, I continue to present terms which are not necessarily self-explanatory. Together with Part 1 and the upcoming Part 3 should contribute to your understanding of Quaker records and the culture that produced them.

Labor with: An effort by one or more Friends to help another struggle with a concern or a difficulty and come through to a resolution.

Lay Over: To postpone a significant decision to allow time for further reflection and discussion.

Leadings: The sense of divine guidance or revelation.

Lift Up: To emphasize or make explicit a particular concern.

(To be) Made tender: Refers to the action of God that opens people up to the Truth.

Marrying Out: Marrying a non-Quaker.

Meeting: A term used in place of church.

Message: A spoken message or ministry by an individual inspired by Divine leading in a Meeting for Worship. 

Mind(ing) the Light: An expression used to remind Friends that the Inward Light is in each person.

Ministers: Also known as ministering Friends, Public Friends and Recorded Ministers. These were men and women with the gift to speak and minister to others.

Ministry: When a person is inspired by the Spirit to speak in Meeting for Worship.

Monthly Meeting: The responsibility of the Monthly Meeting is to care for members, authorize removals and marriages, maintain discipline, consider queries and foster social concerns.

Moved: Led or prompted by the Spirit.

Notion: An approach to religiously important matters that is not based on first-hand spiritual experience.

Particular Meeting: A formally established Meeting for Worship under the care of a Monthly Meeting.

Passing Meeting: Acceptance by a Monthly Meeting of a written request.

Preparative Meeting: A small unorganized outlying Meeting for Worship.

Proceed as way opens: Taking one step at a time in a prayerful manner so as to become clear on what to do.

Queries: A set of questions, based upon Friends’ practices and testimonies. These are considered by Meetings and individuals as a way of guiding and examining individual and corporate lives and actions.

Dictionary of Quaker Terms and Phrases (Part 1)

20 Jul By Leave a Comment

The immigration of Irish Quakers (Society of Friends) to just about everywhere the Irish settled, means there are millions of us with Quaker ancestors. In our research we often are uncertain of what certain Quaker words and phrases mean in the records.

In this three part dictionary, I set forth some terms. I am drawing from books, online dictionaries, and have limited my list to terms which are not necessarily self-explanatory. 

Acknowledgement: Apology by an offending member.

Advices: Ideals stated as a continuing reminder of the basic faith and principles.

Affirm(ation): A legal declaration as opposed to swearing an oath.

Birthright Member: The child of Quakers recorded at birth on the membership rolls.

Center(ing) Down: An endeavor to quite restless thoughts and open the heart in order to hear the Spirit speak directly.

Centered: The state of an individual or group in touch with the divine presence.

Children of Light: A name which early Quakers called themselves.

Christ Within: That of God in everybody. The Inward (Inner) Light.

Clearness: Confidence that an action is consistent with the divine will.

Concern: A spiritual principle or thought brought before a group of Meeting to be tested as truth.

Consistent Friend: Members who are particularly obedient to the outward testimonies.

Convinced Friend: A person who becomes a member of a Monthly Meeting.

Disorderly Walker: Members of a Meeting who are deemed to be acting contrary to the Truth and the Way.

Disownment/Disunity: Termination of membership.

Elder(ing): When used as a verb, “to elder” it is can be used to encourage a member. When used “been eldered” this is to bring into question an individual’s behavior.

Exercise: The exploration of a deep concern that has been brought to a Meeting. 

Gathered (Covered) Meeting: A worshipping group when the presence of God is felt.

Hold in the Light: To ask for God’s presence to illumine a person, situation or problem.

In right ordering: Meaning in accordance with Friends practices.

Inward (Inner) Light: This Inner Light guides and directs each person bringing a unity with the Spirit of God. It is a direct, unmediated experience with the Divine.

CONTINUED TOMORROW

Quakers and the Inward Light

6 Jul By Leave a Comment

If you have Colonial American ancestors, then chances are very high you have a branch belonging to the Society of Friends (Quakers). However, few of us really understand why they were considered dangerous radicals in both England and Ireland the 1600s. Part of this has to do with their theology of the “Inward Light.”

The Inward Light (Inner Light) has shaped the Quaker worldview. It is a metaphor to express that all people have access to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This empowers individuals and groups, with no need for a clergy. For “Silent Quakers” whose meetings are based upon silence, no one speaks unless directed by the Inward Light. At that point, any man or woman can share their promptings in an unedited format. Once a proclamation from the Inward Light is judged true, then the message is sent out far and wide. It becomes a call to action.

Little has been written on Quaker theology, because there is no one accepted doctrinal viewpoint. Helpful references are: Willmer A. Cooper’s A Living Faith: An Historical and Comparative Study of Quaker Beliefs (2001); Pink Dandelion’s The Quakers: A Very Short Introduction (2008) and his An Introduction to Quakerism(2007); and Janet Scott’s What Canst Thou Say?: Towards a Quaker Theology (1980). One uniting factor in such a diverse belief system is the Inward Light.

The Inward Light has allowed Quaker thought to “march forward” with the times. This has allowed them a profound and progressive voice. As they came to certain positions regarding prison work, equality of women, spiritual equality, opposition to slavery, social justice, and the opposition to war, it affected the larger society where they were living. Ideas originating from the “Inward Light” may be tame by today’s standards, but historically, they threw governments and churches in chaos.

Theology and Record Keeping

27 Apr By Leave a Comment

There is a connection between theology and records. When people ask me what a christening record is, I understand they either are not churched in theology, or they were raised in a church which practices believer’s baptism only.

Each church varies on its theology, and these differences are also reflected in the records. For example, a Roman Catholic child is usually christened within a few days of birth by a sprinkling of water over the head. A Methodist could receive baptism at any age by sprinkling, pouring or full immersion. A Baptist would only baptize in a believer’s baptism upon a profession of faith by full immersion. Quakers (Society of Friends) would not baptize at all, and Mormons practice baptism for the living and on behalf of the dead. All practices create records.

These theological differences are further reflected in the records through church transfers, and who is allowed to partake of communion. When a person switches church membership, does an infant baptism transfer over to a believer’s baptism church? How are visitors screened for a communion service? Does a church practice open or closed communion? Again, it all reflected in the records.

Church discipline is another matter for the records. Some church minutes provide all the gory details, while others are vague at best. I’ve read Presbyterian session minutes involving discipline which made me want to go wash my eyes in the sink!

In your research, don’t hesitate to purchase a good “systematic theology” book. A non-genealogical source such as this can go a long way in helping you understand what you are seeing in the records.

Those Hidden Irish Quaker Indexes

26 Mar By Leave a Comment

My guess is anyone with Colonial American ancestors will find a Quaker line. Imagine my surprise when I realized by Jordan family from Tennessee had Quaker roots.

I would like to share some of my discoveries about “Quaker Indexes.”

The majority of Quaker records are in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Indexes will help prepare you to have them searched. Records of interest can be found at the Family History Library (FHL), Dublin Friends Historical Library (DFHL), and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI). Never neglect the DFHL www.quakers-in-ireland.ieOne important index is the “Jones Index.” It is at the DFHL, and shows which surnames can be found in which Monthly Meeting (MM) records (FHL Microfilm #559454 item 10). It is not to the entire archive of MM records at the DFHL, rather to transcripts of births, marriages and deaths as abstracted from those original registers. These abstracts are on microfilm at the FHL.

Another index specifically to Ulster is the Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Records for the Years 1951, 1952 & 1953 (FHL Microfilm #888989). The Quaker records are only part of this large index. An important part is the Ulster Quarterly Meeting Book and the Ulster Province Meeting.  These include MM records which have not survived. Source material is at PRONI.

The third index is the “PRONI Card Index to Names” which includes important Quaker abstracts. The microfilm can be accessed in the FHL Catalog under “Card Index of Names, 1990 Edition” www.familysearch.org

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