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Walker-Stephens Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-168

Scope and Contents

Papers include the diaries and day books of Hannah W. Stephens, 1857-1864, William W. Stephens, 1850-1902, and Annie R. Stephens, 1903. Also includes the account book of William W. Stephens, and the correspondence of J. Aubrey Anderson, Chief of the Norristown division of the American Protective League, concerning their investigations.

Dates

  • 1850-1919

Creator

Limitations on Accessing the Collection

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Rights Information

Friends Historical Library believes all of the items in this collection to be in the Public Domain in the United States, and is not aware of any restrictions on their use. However, the user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status before reproducing. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/.

Biographical / Historical

Hannah Walker, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Walker, married Stephen Stephens, son of Stephen and Sarah (McVaugh) Stephens, Feb. 16, 1820. The families were members of Valley Preparative Meeting, which was under the care of Radnor Monthly Meeting. Stephen and Hannah Walker Stephens lived much of their married life on a farm in Chester Valley. They had five children. The third child was William Walker Stephens, born in 1824 in Willistown, Pa. His diaries make up the majority of this collection. His first wife, Joanna J., a non-Quaker, died March 23rd, 1852, aged 23, possibly in childbirth. They had two children, William May (1851-1866) and a daughter Joie, born in 1852, who married William Stephens. His second wife, Rebecca Taylor, died March 29, 1860, aged 28. They had a daughter Sarah, who married Nathan R. Walker. His third wife was Annie Rhodes, whom he married in an Episcopal Church Feb. 4, 1886.

William was disciplined for marrying out of unity and for joining another society by Radnor MM (Orthodox) in 1851. In 1852 Radnor MM (Hicksite) disciplined him for marrying out of unity as well, but he was not disowned. In 1882 William transferred his membership from Radnor MM (H) to Philadelphia MM (H). He was reported for marrying out of unity in 1886 but again was not disowned. He attended Girard Avenue Meeting and was buried at Valley Friends' Burial Ground, where many Stephens are buried.

As a young man, William moved to Philadelphia and was sent by T. C. Colket to Corning, NY, to manage some coal interests. He returned to Philadelphia and was made chief clerk of the Chestnut and Walnut streets car system. He was Secretary and Treasurer of the Germantown and Norristown Railway. He was residing at 2035 N. 15th Street, Philadelphia, at the time of his death. This collection also contains material of some indirect descendants. J. Aubrey Anderson married Lidie Walker McFarland, the niece of Sarah (Stephens) Walker. J. Aubrey Anderson was D.A. in Conshohocken, Pa. His wife Lidie was an overseer of Valley Meeting and founded the Gulph Mills Library with her sister Mary Cutler in 1933.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Language

English

Overview

William Walker Stephens (1824-1902) was the son of Hannah Walker and Stephen Stephens of Chester Valley, Pennsylvania. The family were members of Valley Preparative and Radnor Monthly Meetings of Friends. William Walker Stephens worked as a businessman in Philadelphia and was married three times. His relation, J. Aubrey Anderson, was district attorney in Conshohocken, Pa. Papers include the diaries and day books of Hannah W. Stephens, 1857-1864, William W. Stephens, 1850-1902, and Annie R. Stephens, 1903. Also includes the account book of William W. Stephens, and the correspondence of J. Aubrey Anderson, chief of the Norristown division of the American Protective League, concerning their investigations.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into four series:

  1. Correspondence
  2. Diaries
  3. Business and Financial
  4. Miscellaneous

Physical Location

For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donor: Gift of Georgia Machemer, 1993

Separated Materials

The following materials were removed from the collection and transferred to RG 4/066 Pendle Hill Records:

  1. Volume of Woolman School Receipts & Disbursements Journal 1914-1923
  2. Volume of Woolman School Receipts & Disbursements Journal 1923-1930
  3. Pendle Hill School Receipts & Disbursements Journal 1930-1936

The following materials were removed from the collection and transferred to periodicals:

  1. Universalist Union Vol. 1 1835-1936

Processing Information

Records of the Upper Merion Board of Auditors, 1792-1846, the Upper Merion Literary Society. 1907-1913, the Upper Merion School Relief account book, 1933, and other related records were transferred to the Historical Society of Montgomery County.

Title
Walker-Stephen Family Papers, 1850-1919
Author
RKO
Date
1995
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Find It at the Library

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