Nicholas Waln Family papers
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, portraits, photographs, poetry, genealogy, and miscellaneous papers related to Nicholas Waln and the Waln family. The bulk of the material consists of correspondence related to Nicholas Waln's journeys as a Quaker minister in England and Ireland. Topics discussed include news of family, activities of Friends, travel, friendship, spiritual matters, and ministry. Correspondents include James Bringhurst, Joseph Bringhurst, Henry Drinker, Rebecca Jones, John Parrish, M. Richardson, David Sands, Hannah Stephenson, John Townsend, Robert Valentine, Richard Waln, Robert Waln, and Sarah Richardson Waln.
Includes letters (1807-1809, 1818-1819) of Jacob Shoemaker Waln to his family while studying law in England and visiting France; letters discuss his travels and activities and include comments on social life and Napoleon. Includes letters (1818-1819) of Townsend Compton to Sarah R. Waln giving news of her son Jacob, letter of Lloyd Mifflin on provenance of Waln letters, poems written on the death of Joseph R. Waln (1773-1783), and chart of Waln family genealogy.
Papers consist of deeds relating to Nicholas Waln's (1650-1721/2) land holdings in the Northern Liberties area of Philadelphia where his estate, Walnford, was located; wills, including the certified copy of the will of Nicholas Waln in 1721/2; letters to Richard Waln (1737-1809), brother of Nicholas Waln; documents, including the appointment of Thomas Wistar as "Indian Commissioner" by Andrew Johnson and Zachary Taylor; and a photograph of Wistar with members of the Sac and Fox Nation and the Kiowa Tribe taken in ca. 1866 by Alexander Gardner.
Dates
- Creation: 1783 - 1895
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1783 - 1819
Creator
- Waln, Nicholas, 1742-1813 (Person)
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to research use.
Use Restrictions
Standard Federal Copyright Law apply (U.S. Title 17).
Biographical / Historical
Nicholas Waln (1742-1813), Quaker minister, was the son of Nicholas and Mary Shoemaker Waln. He married Sarah Richardson in 1771. Their children included Joseph R. Waln (1773-1783), Jacob Shoemaker Waln (1784-1847), and William and Nicholas Waln. Waln was educated as a lawyer but, as a result of a profound religious experience in 1772, gave up his lucrative practice. Waln began to travel in the ministry in 1774 and made two religious visits to Great Britain, in 1783 and 1795.
Extent
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Correspondence, portraits, photographs, poetry, genealogy, and miscellaneous papers related to Nicholas Waln and the Waln family. Bulk of the material consists of correpsondence related to Nicholas Waln's journeys as a Quaker minister in England and Ireland. Topics discussed include news of family, activities of Friends, travel, friendship, spiritual matters, and ministry. Includes a chart of Waln family genealogy.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by person.
Acquisition
Unknown.
Processing Information
Original processing information unknown. Reboxed and finding aid updated November 2021 by Abel Kelbessa.
Subject
- Waln, Nicholas, 1742-1813 (Person)
- Title
- Nicholas Waln Family papers, 1783-1895
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- November, 2021: Reboxed and finding aid updated
- June 2022: by Nathaniel Rehm-Daly, Harmful Language Revision Project
Find It at the Library
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