Thomas Evans correspondence, 1824-1865

Selections include:

• to Henry Cope. Philadelphia, [18]28 4/1; from envelope: “Blood’s Dispatch”. [sees hope for finding common ground at the latest yearly meeting without sacrificing religious principles]
• to Henry Cope. undated [letter of condolence upon the death of Cope’s baby daughter]
• Emlen, S[arah] to Thomas Evans. Middletown, [?]. 1834 9/2. [letter of religious fervor]
• Emlen, S[arah]. Middletown, [?], 1835 3/14. [discusses her mental anguish in considering religious thoughts. Mentions Evans’ visit and his late indisposition. Encourages him to go forward with the Lord’s work]
• Emlen, Sarah. Bristol,[?], 1844 11/13. [relates the story of Peter Price, husband of Hannah Price of Wales and his trip to heaven when supposed dead, and mystical music apparent when he did die. She relates her travels in Ireland and Wales to various meetings. She wonders about the state of the Society in Great Britain]
• Emlen, S[arah]. London, 1845 2/20. [discusses the state of “our poor shattered Society”, “‘to spiritualize things is very dangerous, there is such a tendency to run into mysticism which would eventually lead into Hicksism!’”]
• E[mlen?], S[arah?]. Weston, [?], [18]48 1/30. [the author complains of living conditions at Westtown]
• Shillitoe, Thomas. Tottenham, [Eng.] 1831 10/2. [acknowledges receipt of a book, mentions Judith Forster, the school at Nine Partners and spiritual advice]
• Shillitoe, T[homas]. Tottenham, [Eng.], 1834 3/27. [believes “...it is a day of mourning and lamentation with those in our religious Society...” and is much upset with Hicksite Friends and the trend to drift away from traditional Quaker practices]
• Shillitoe, Tho[ma]s. Tottenham, [Eng.],1834 12/26. [his distress at books and pamphlets and other information he feels are not appropriately reflecting the Society of Friends]
• Shillitoe, Tho[ma]s. Tottenham, [Eng.], 1835 2/14. [warns against a book by Isaac Crewdson of Manchester which publishes extracts of the works of Elias Hicks; Crewdson refutes them poorly which casts a bad light on Quakers]
• Shillitoe, T[homas]. Tottenham, [Eng.],1835 3/28. [report of how thing things are “progressing” in Quaker efforts in England]
• Stephenson, Hannah [Stockton], [Eng.?], 1824 11/27. [thanks Evans for his companionship to her husband on his travels, her concerns over the “trying unsettled state of society in America” and how her husband is involved, mentions Friends “E. H.” and Thomas Eddy among others]
• Stephenson, Isaac. New York, 1824 1/13. [expresses wish to see TE and seeks his spiritual support]
• Stephenson, Isaac. Newport, 1824 6/18. [reports on Yearly Meeting, mention of Benjamin Rodman, Sarah Collins]
• Stephenson, Isaac. Providence, 1824 7/9. [Stephenson’s observations of Quakers in his recent travels including Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Mentions Moses Brown and his school]
• Stephenson, I[saac]. Starksborough, [?]1824 7/27. [account of his travels and Quakers encountered] (cross-hatched)
• Stephenson, Isa[ac]. Farmington, [?]1824 10/4. [travel accounts in New York visiting meetings, separation from his companion Matthew Barker and requests Evans to join him]
• Stephenson, I[saac?]. Albany 1824 12/11. [discusses news of his family, settlement of Norwegian Friends in New York, and his visits among Friends in New York. He looks forward to returning to his country next year] (cross-hatched)
• Stephenson, I[saac]. Yarmouth in Upper Canada, 1826? 9/11. [accounts of his travels in New York and Canada, state of his spiritual life]