Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Meeting for Sufferings
Society of Friends--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Quakers--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Philadelphia (Pa.)--Genealogy
Church management
Persecution
Religious literature
Corporate minutes
African Americans
Antislavery movements
Church committees
Church finance
Correspondence
Miscellaneous papers might include reports, financial documents, epistles, and other items which were usually only briefly referenced in the minutes of the business meeting. Includes index of content at beginning dated 1755-1760.
A “Meeting for Sufferings” was established by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1756. This representative body was specifically charged with acting for the Society of Friends in the region during the time when the Yearly Meeting was not in session. Duties included oversight of Quaker publications, recording annual accounts of sufferings (primarily as a result of the Peace Testimony) and assistance to any affected individuals, collecting memorials concerning deceased Friends, and correspondence with the Meeting for Sufferings in London.
A “Meeting for Sufferings” was established by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1756. This representative body was specifically charged with acting for the Society of Friends in the region during the time when the Yearly Meeting was not in session. Duties included oversight of Quaker publications, recording annual accounts of sufferings (primarily as a result of the Peace Testimony) and assistance to any affected individuals, collecting memorials concerning deceased Friends, and correspondence with the Meeting for Sufferings in London. Includes index of names at front of volume.
First Baptist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Church records and registers
Baptists
Cemeteries
Burial records
Book containing permits for interment in the "Ground of the First Baptist Church, Philadelphia," dating from 1825 to 1860, and later at Mount Moriah Cemetery, from 1860 to 1928. Notes on the prices for interment established in 1828 and 1846 are included in the front of the book. Each permit or stub contains the name of the person buried (or the name of a father or husband,) the date of burial, and the amount paid.
Book containing permits for interment in the "Ground of the First Baptist Church, Philadelphia," dating from 1811 to 1825. Each permit or stub contains the name of the person buried (or the name of a father or husband,) the date of burial, and the amount paid.
Mount Moriah Cemetery burial ground book, 1860-1928
Poor
Book containing records of sales for the Mount Moriah Cemetery, dating from 1860 to 1928. Each entry contains the date, name of purchaser, lot or grave number purchased, and cost. The first two flyleaves contain notes on the "Section of Church Plot for poor members and single graves."
Inscriptions copied from tombstones and monuments, 1859
"Inscriptions copied from Tomb Stones and Monuments in the Grave Yard of the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia - (Lagrange Place - above Second St.) Dec. 3 1859 By Horatio Gates Jones." An alphabetical index starts on image 24, although most of the entries are struck through, likely as remains were moved to Mount Moriah Cemetery in 1860. Three additional pages of names are entered upside down from the back of the notebook; these appear to be decedents from different congregations.
Resolutions in regard to interment, 1846
Pews and pew rights
One printed page, addressed "To the Members of the First Baptist Church and Congregation," dated May 11, 1846 and outlining policies and prices for interment in the First Baptist burial ground, including a pew rent requirement.
Mount Moriah Cemetery deed transcript, 1859
Deeds
Mount Moriah Cemetery was established in 1855, on the outskirts of Philadelphia. As the population grew and land in Philadelphia became scarcer and more valuable, many churches had their burials removed to more rural locations. After moving to a new building to accommodate their growing congregation, First Baptist Church made the decision to remove their burials from the cemetery on Arch Street to Mount Moriah in 1860. Deed from the Mount Moriah Cemetery Association of Philadelphia to the First Baptist Church of the City of Philadelphia, for lot 112, containing approximately 25,600 square feet, at the cost of $5,760, dated September 26, 1859.
Mount Moriah Cemetery committee minutes, 1859-1860
Mount Moriah Cemetery was established in 1855, on the outskirts of Philadelphia. As the population grew and land in Philadelphia became scarcer and more valuable, many churches had their burials removed to more rural locations. After moving to a new building to accommodate their growing congregation, First Baptist Church made the decision to remove their burials from the cemetery on Arch Street to Mount Moriah in 1860. This notebook contains the "Minutes of the Committee on the New Burial Ground of First Bapt. Church of Phil. appointed by the Trustees." The committee was charged with "presenting a suitable plan for the arrangement of the ground into burial lots, and of presenting to the Church such suggestions and recommendations as may be found necessary in preparing the way for the removal of the dead from our old ground." The first meeting was recorded on October 31, 1859. The November 11, 1859 entry spans five pages and documents a detailed plan proposed to the church. The Church moved quickly in resolving various concerns, and the minutes conclude in March of 1860.
Miscellaneous burial ground records, 1799-1901
Miscellaneous records of the First Baptist Church burial grounds, dating from 1799 to 1901, first at the La Grange/Arch Street site and then at Mount Moriah Cemetery. Items include: a resolution by the trustees in 1799 to raise the cost of interment in order to keep the burial ground in good repair; reports by the superintendent of the burial ground on interments performed; receipts for payments to the sexton and to Mount Moriah Cemetery Association for cutting the grass in section 112; the "Proposition for the Removal of the Dead" in 1860, and permission from the Health Office to move the burials from La Grange to Mount Moriah; and letters documenting the return of some remains to family members.
Lists of burials for removal to Mount Moriah Cemetery, 1860
Mount Moriah Cemetery was established in 1855, on the outskirts of Philadelphia. As the population grew and land in Philadelphia became scarcer and more valuable, many churches had their burials removed to more rural locations. In 1860, after moving to a new building to accommodate their growing congregation, First Baptist Church made the decision to remove their burials from the cemetery on Arch Street to Mount Moriah. These pages contain a list of graves, by range, including the stone number, name of the interred, date buried and age at time of burial. Entries are marked with an "X," presumably meaning those remains were successfully identified and removed. Note: The final page is an invitation to a mock trial hosted by the Young People's Working Association of First Baptist Church in 1890, which includes handwritten notes about unmarked graves on the back.
One page, front and back, documenting "an account of work and materials" done at First Baptist Church in 1768. Expenses include, for example, supplies such as stone, brick, sand, wood, and nails, and services such as relocating corpses from a bank into the vaults, and building gutters for those vaults. Note: A piece of the page is missing, due to deterioration.
Agreement to remove burials to Mount Moriah Cemetery, 1860
Mount Moriah Cemetery was established in 1855, on the outskirts of Philadelphia. As the population grew and land in Philadelphia became scarcer and more valuable, many churches had their burials removed to more rural locations. After moving to a new building to accommodate their growing congregation, First Baptist Church made the decision to remove their burials from the cemetery on Arch Street to Mount Moriah in 1860. This manuscript documents the agreement between the Trustees of First Baptist and a Mr. William Brown that Mr. Brown would "in a good workmanlike manner and according to the best of his art and skill" remove all remains to Mount Moriah. In 2016, human remains were uncovered at the Arch Street site by a construction crew. The effort to identify and re-inter those remains are documented at archstbones.org.
Robert Jenney Pledge of Conformity, 1742
Oaths
Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Church of England
Religious leaders
British colonies
Robert Jenney served as the Reverend of Christ Church from 1742 until his death in 1762. In this document, he writes: "I do declare that I will Conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law established." Such a pledge of conformity was required to secure license to perform ministerial office in the colonies.
St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Robert Jenney served as the Reverend of Christ Church from 1742 until his death in 1762. Jenney wrote this letter "to the Subscribers for erecting a new Church in Philadelphia" in 1753. As the population of Philadelphia grew, Christ Church no longer had enough room, and as a result, some members wanted to build a new church. While Jenney approved of the goal to accommodate more congregants, he was concerned about the approach, and strongly believed that the new church should remain part of one congregation with Christ Church, led by the same vestry, with a minister licensed by the Bishop of London. As long as they followed the "established rules" of erecting new churches, he was willing to assist them however he could. In 1758 the vestry of Christ Church authorized the construction of a new chapel at Third & Pine Streets to accommodate its members living in the southern section of the city. St. Peter's Church, located at the corner of Third & Pine Streets, and Christ Church shared the same vestry, ministers, and records and until they formally separated in 1832, and were known as the United Churches of Christ Church & St. Peter's.
Vestry minutes, Christ Church, v. 8, 1866-1886
Dorr, Benjamin, 1796-1869
Hodge, G. Woolsey, 1845-1929
Parish elections
Episcopalians
Church buildings
Hospitals
Episcopal Church
Church schools
Meeting minutes of the Christ Church vestry from 1866 to 1886. Each entry includes the date, place, members present and business discussed. As in preceding minute books, topics include the election of church leaders and hiring and payment of staff; appointments to and reports from various church committees; the upkeep of buildings and grounds; the ongoing balancing of financial accounts including ground rents, loans, investments and bequests; the collection of pew rents; and management of the Sunday school and hospital. Other topics specific to this book include the Rev. Dr. Dorr's declining health and eventual death; the conflict between Rev. Edward Foggo, Rector of Christ Church, and Rev. Woolsey Hodge, minister in charge of the the Christ Church Chapel; and the management of Calvary Church (also known as the Monument to Bishop White.) The pages tucked into the front of the book are likely attendance records. An index of subjects begins on image 576.
Transcript of the Travels of Benjamin Dorr, 1819-1864
Voyages and travels
American Civil War (United States : 1861-1865)
Steamboats
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. Dorr traveled extensively throughout his life. This manuscript was copied from one loaned to a Dr. Hedrick in 1941 or 1942, and contains Dorr's notes about his many travels through the United States from 1819 to 1864. He often traveled through New England, but also visited the mid-Atlantic states, and even ventured into the deep South and as far West as the Green Bay area, stopping in Detroit and Chicago. He traveled by steamboat, stagecoach and horse; stayed with family and friends; dined with persons prominent in the military, church, politics and local businesses; and visited museums, hospitals, libraries, colleges, factories and local historical landmarks. He would sometimes preach and collect money for missionary work. The last entry details his visit to the Army of the Potomac in 1864.
Constitution of Mikveh Israel, printed 1823
Congregation Mikveh Israel (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Synagogues
Constitutions
Jews
Articles of incoporation
Printed copy of the Constitution of Mikveh Israel, dated June 29, 1823. One sheet with two sides, and each side divided into quarters. The recto side includes the cover page in the bottom right quarter. The text begins on page three, which is located on the bottom right quarter of the verso side. Pages four and five make up the top half of the recto, pages six and seven take up the left half of the verso, and page 8 concludes on the bottom left quarter of the recto. A scan of the official seal of Mikveh Israel is also included.
Constitution of Mikveh Israel, as signed by members admitted since the Charter of Incorporation, 1826-1883
Charters
Church membership
This manuscript is a handwritten copy of the constitution of Mikveh Israel, signed and dated by members who joined in the years from 1826 to 1883. Mikveh Israel adopted their constitution on August 5, 1823, and the congregation's charter was granted by the governor of Pennsylvania in 1824, as documented on the title page. Note: Some years are cited using the Hebrew calendar.
St. George's Methodist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Methodists
Methodist Church
"A Book... For the Collections & etc. to Defray the Expences of the Methodist Meeting House." Entries are listed by date, starting on August 21, 1769 and ending on July 14, 1774. Date ranges span two pages, with amounts collected on the verso and amounts spent, along with the items or services paid for, on the recto. Listed expenses include: travel, such as hiring horses and paying for room and board; supplies such as candles, nails, wood, paper, clothing, and wine; and services such as laundry, housekeeping, printing, mail, and the drawing up of legal documents.
Anthems
Choral music
Church music
Sheet music
Inscribed on the inside front cover: "This Book belongs to the Society of Singers of Christ Church Philadelphia, June the 20th, 1774." Contains sheet music and words to various anthems (choral compositions based on biblical passages, for singing by a choir in a church service.)
Protestants
Anne, Queen of Great Britain, 1665-1714
Clergy
Tobacco
Taxation
Treasury warrant from Queen Anne, continuing a previous warrant from King William, allowing Christ Church to pay annual salaries of 50 pounds to a Protestant minister and 30 pounds to a schoolmaster, to be paid with one penny per each pound of tobacco duties collected in Pennsylvania.
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Sermons
White, William, 1748-1836
Letters
Letter from George Washington to William White, Bishop of Pennsylvania and long-time reverend of Christ Church, dated May 30, 1799, thanking White for sending a sermon on "the duty of Civil obedience as required in Scripture." White had served as Chaplain of the Continental Congress, and Washington had regularly attended services at Christ Church. Washington died on December 14, 1799.
Psalms (Music)
Psalmody
Bible. Psalms
Sacraments
Consecration
Rites and ceremonies
"The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of the Church of England: Together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David, Pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches: and the Form or Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons."
The practice of renting pews was common in 18th and 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents due to Christ Church in 1847. Rents from March are listed first, followed by rents from September. Entries are listed by pew number, with occupants' names, number of seats rented, rent rate, arrears, total owed and amount paid.
Seating plan of Christ Church, first floor and gallery, circa 1760, listing names and pew numbers. These correlate to the numbers found in the pew register listings.
Hymns
Formally titled, "A Collection of Psalm Tunes, with a few Anthems and Hymns, Some of them Entirely New, for the Use Of the United Churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's Church in Philadelphia." The text includes "A Short Introduction To The Art of Psalmody," with explanations of note lengths, cliffs (clefs), musical time, pauses/rests, sharps, flats and natural notes, special character notations, bars, and intonation.
St. Paul's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Clock and watch making
John Wood Jr. (ca. 1736-1793) was a clock and watch maker in early Philadelphia, and served as a warden of St. Paul's for 24 years. The majority of this book consists of financial records from Wood's business, however towards the end of the book he also recorded accounting information from St. Paul's, including collections and disbursements.
Moravian Church
Moravians
First Moravian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Registers of births, etc.
Baptismal records
Confirmation records
Titled in English on front cover, "Church Book." Members are listed in groups, with communicants listed first, followed by society members, and both groups further subdivided by sex and marital status. Next children are listed, also divided by sex. Entries include individual's names and dates of birth; some entries also include dates of baptism and confirmation. The manuscript begins with an index that covers the first and largest grouping of entries. Several updated catalogs are recorded throughout the manuscript, and friends of the congregation who were not members are listed on pages 120-121.
Titled on the front-inside cover, "Names & Residence of the Congregation of the United Brethrens Church in Philadelphia, Dec. 14, '36." Names are not listed in alphabetical order, but appear to be listed in geographical groupings. Persons living outside the city are listed on page 11. Known descendants of Moravians who were "not members at present" are listed on page 12. "Friends and contributors" are listed on pages 13 to 14. Although the directory is dated 1836, updates are noted up to 1839.
Titled in English, "Catalogue of Members belonging to the Congregation in Philadelphia : Nov. 13, 1836." Members are listed in groups, with communicants listed first, followed by society members, and both groups further subdivided by sex and marital status. Next children are listed, also divided by sex. Entries include individual's names and dates of birth. Many of the pages of this catalog were not used; a few additional entries are scattered through later pages.
Immigrants
Titled in German, "Verzeichniß derer zum Brüder-Gemeinlein in Philadelphia Befindenden, bey Bruder David Nitschmanns Visitation vom 24 30. Januar. 1766," which translates to "List of those in the Brethren congregation in Philadelphia, at Brother David Nitschmann's visitation from January 24-30, 1766." This catalog includes detailed information about individuals belonging to the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia, written in German. Translations of column headings are as follows: Beginning with page 2, the column headings are "Namen" (names), "geboren" (born/date of birth), "Wo?" (where born), "Religion" (faith traditions), "in die Ehe getreten" (entered into marriage), "ins Land gekommen" (arrived in the country), "aufgenommen" (received as a member), and "zur Heiligen Communion" (admitted to Holy Communion). Beginning with p. 21, the column headings are "Namen" (names), "geboren" (born/date of birth), "wo" (where born), and "Religion" (faith traditions).
Titled in English, "A List of the Children under the Care of the Brethren in Philadelphia." The date of August 13, 1760 is noted in A. G. Spangenberg's handwriting at the top of page 1. The list was handwritten by Jacob Rogers, then pastor of the Philadelphia congregation, and it includes the children's names and dates of birth.
Titled in English, "A Catalogue of the Congregation members, Communicants, & not-communicants, & Society People, belonging to the little Flock of United Brethren in Phiadelphia." Names are listed for each category, along with short testimonies about the character or general mood of individuals, for example, "A good heart," or "Goes on as usual," or "Happier than ever." The list is likely not complete, as A. G. Spangenberg noted on page 4, "wo sind aber die übrigen?" (but where are the rest of them?).
Deceased Moravians, friends, and children, 1744-1768
Record of Philadelphia Moravians, their children and friends who died during the years 1744 to 1768. Many of the column headings in the catalog are in German, for which translations are provided: "No." (number), "Nahmen der Verschiedenen" (names of the deceased), "Nahmen der Eltern, der Eheleute oder Meisters" (name of parents, spouse, or master), "wie alt" (how old), "wenn verschieden" (when deceased), "wenn begraben" (when buried), "wo begraben" (where buried), and "durch wen begraben" (buried by whom). Several notes about individuals buried at Potter's Field in Philadelphia are included on the final page. This manuscript was likely sent or intended to be sent to church leadership in Bethlehem, PA.
Marriage records
Membership catalog of the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia, with entries dating from 1742 to 1783; likely handwritten by Jacob Friis or Johann Daniel Sydrich, who were both pastors of the Philadelphia congregation. Most of the column headings are in German, for which translations have been provided: "No." (number), "Namen" (names), "geboren" (born/date of birth), "woher" (where born), "Religion" (faith traditions), "in die Ehe getreten" (entered into marriage), "ins Land kommen" (arrival in the country), "Aufgenommen" (received as a member), "zur Communion" (admitted to communion), "Ihre Kinder" (their children), "geboren" (born/dates of birth of children), and "getauft, von wem" (date child baptized, by whom). Contains an incomplete index that was never used.
One page, front and back, listing the names and addresses of members of the Sunday School of the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia in 1856.
A directory of members' names, listed street by street. Spouses and children are also noted, as well as descriptions such as "yellow frame house." Updates and annotations are penciled in throughout the manuscript.
"Record of those who were received in the Congregation / according to the resolver of the Provincial Conference, 1802. / Since Br & Sr [Brother and Sister] J. Zaeslein's Arrival, 1803." Entries are listed by date and include the individual's name, any relation to existing members, and previous congregational affiliation.
Minutes of the English Conference, 1743-1747
Church meetings
Elders (Church officers)
Church discipline
Conflict management
Love feasts
Baptism
This committee included the elders of the English-speaking Moravians in Philadelphia. Minutes run from September 27, 1743 to July 3, 1747, and cover a variety of topics. Disputes between the German and English members of the Philadelphia congregation were common in the early period, so management of those conflicts - as well as conflicts among the English speaking congregants, including marital disputes - is a recurrent subject. Other topics include, but are not limited to: collections to pay for church supplies, ground rent, and preachers' salaries; relations with the Quakers; visitation of the sick and care of vulnerable members; reception of new members; baptisms and love feasts; upkeep of the church building and grounds; members' travel; the desire for a school church; and a conference to bring together English and German-speaking laborers in the congregation.
Confirmation
Missionaries
Includes a summary of events, compiled by pastor Edmund de Schweinitz for the years 1842 to 1854, in the time after pastor David Bigler's calling to First Moravian Church, New York, NY. According to the account provided here by Schweinitz, no congregational diary was kept during this time. From 1855-1866, a complete diary was again kept by ministers of the congregation. Topics covered include but are not limited to: descriptions of services & sermons; confirmations, marriages, receptions of new members, and deaths in the congregation; prayer meetings, congregational meetings, and love feasts; the arrival of new ministers; the practice of "pulpit exchange" with other denominations; fundraising for causes such as the Sunday School and missionary work; and the American Civil War. Inserted printed materials include programs for church events such as the cornerstone ceremonies of 1855 and 1866, and news clippings on the Emancipation Proclamation.
Diary of happenings in the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia from September 6, 1749 to December 31, 1751. Topics covered include: church meetings, including "Negro Meetings," "German Meetings," and "English Meetings;" members traveling to and away from Philadelphia, particularly to and from Bethlehem; sermons preached in English and German; births, baptisms, deaths, burials, and new members received into the congregation; love feasts; and regular visits to members, including those in ill health.
Quakers
Although the cover suggests this diary covers a date span of 1747 to 1751, entries actually run from January 1, 1747 to December 31, 1748. Topics covered include: sermons preached; visits to church members, especially those who were ailing; baptisms and burials; meetings, conferences and love feasts; members' travels and correspondence; relations with local Quakers; and admission of new members. Records of sermons and meetings often include notes about the language spoken - English, German, or both.
Indians of North America
"The Continuation of ye Philadelphia Journal," documenting happenings in the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia from June 16, 1745 to December 31, 1746. Topics covered include: sermons preached; members' travel and correspondence; burials; love feasts, meetings and conferences; relations with local Native Americans; visits with members, especially those who were ailing; and the committee appointed to look into building a church school.
A journal of happenings in the "English congregation" from its establishment on January 1, 1743, running up to June 15, 1745. Topics covered include births and baptisms, sermons preached and hymns sung, "love feasts," meetings and conferences, members' travel (including extensive travel between Philadelphia and Bethlehem), missionary work with Native Americans, and correspondence with Moravians in other parts of Pennsylvania and abroad, as far as London and Germany.
Burial plan of the God's Acre (cemetery) at Philadelphia First Moravian Church, bounded by Franklin and Vine Streets, from 1757 to 1805. Column headings translate as: Mägdlein and Mädgen (girls); Vereh[e]l[ichte] Schw[este]rn (married sisters, i.e. married women); Ledige Schw[este]rn (single sisters, i.e. single women); Vereh[e]l[ichte] Br[üde]r (married brothers, i.e. married men); Ledige [Brüder] (single [brothers], i.e. single men); and finally Knäbgen and Knäblein (boys). These burials are also documented on pages 211 to 263 of "Church register vol. 1, 1743-1822."
Lithographs of First Moravian Church of Philadelphia, 1857
Four hand-colored lithographs created by Herline & Hensel of Philadelphia in 1857. The first lithograph features a view of the front and side of the original 1742 Moravian Church, which was located at the southeast corner of Bread Street (then Moravian Alley) and Race Street. The second lithograph features a view of the front and side of the Moravian Church (and parsonage) as it stood, on that same location, from 1746 to 1820. The third lithograph features a view of the front of the 1820 Moravian Church and surrounding buildings on Race Street. Finally, the fourth lithograph features a view of the side and front of the new Moravian Church of 1856, located at the southwest corner of Wood and Franklin Streets.
Lord's Supper
This register begins with an alphabetical index. Communicants are listed from pages 52 to 117, and again on page 324. Births and baptisms are listed on pages 121 to 153; receptions of new members are listed on pages 181 to 193 (previous congregations are noted); deaths, funerals and burials are recorded on pages 241 to 279; and marriages are recorded on pages 301 to 323. Note: blank pages were not scanned.