Kent-Barnard Family Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection includes material used by Ella Kent Barnard in preparation for the writing of three books, viz. Daniel Kent Emigrant, The Maulsby Genealogy, and Dorothy Payne Quakeress. Among these materials are genealogical charts and data, research correspondence, and original letters and documents. Notable among the latter is the correspondence between Daniel Kent and his parents, William and Ann Kent. Collection also includes the diaries and journals of Henry S. Kent (1905), Patience W. Kent 1905-12, 23-24), Joseph Kent (1847), and Ella Kent Barnard (1928). Correspondents include Mary Anna Barnard, Israel Graham, Cyrus Griest, Henry S. Kent, and Patience W. Kent. Other materials include the business papers of Daniel Kent (1814-18), Joseph Kent (1829-1835), Pennsgrove Meeting (1854-63), and Joseph Barnard (1855), as well as miscellaneous manuscripts by M. A. Barnard, Patience W. Kent, and others. Of particular interest are the “Childish Recollections” of Ella K. Barnard concerning schools in Chester County, a description of the woolen factory of Joseph Kent, the anti-slavery schism in Pennsgrove Meeting, and Christmas customs. A manuscript entitled “The Rise of Swarthmore,” by Isabella Tyson, describes the meeting of Friends in the home of her parents to discuss plans for the establishment of the College, and another, “Reminiscences of Elisha Tyson,” was penned by Henry M. Fitzhugh. Also included are (13) copy books of John Barnard from Marlborough Friends School (1834-39) and two notebooks from the Upper Oxford or Pennsgrove Soldiers Aid Society (1862-63).
Dates
- Creation: 1785/1928
Creator
- Barnard, Ella K. (Ella Kent), 1853- (Person)
- Madison, Dolley 1768-1849 (Contributor, Person)
- Kent, Daniel, 1765-1844 (Contributor, Person)
- Tyson, Elisha, 1750-1824 (Contributor, Person)
- Swarthmore College (Contributor, Organization)
- Marlborough Friends School (Marlborough, Pa. : Township) (Contributor, Organization)
- Pennsgrove Soldiers Aid Society (Contributor, Organization)
- Kent, William, fl. 1786-1806 (Contributor, Person)
- Kent, Daniel, 1765-1844 (Contributor, Person)
- Kent, Henry S. (Henry Simmons), 1833-1906 (Contributor, Person)
- Kent, Patience W. (Patience Webster), d. 1924 (Contributor, Person)
- Kent, Joseph, 1794-1863 (Contributor, Person)
- Barnard, Mary A. (Mary Anna), 1828-1865 (Contributor, Person)
- Tyson, Isabella, 1823-1903 (Contributor, Person)
- Barnard, Ella K. (Ella Kent), 1853- (Contributor, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
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
Daniel Kent, son of William and Ann Kent of Limerick, Ireland, emigrated to Chester County, Pa., in 1785. He joined the Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1790, and married Esther Hawley in 1791. They had 8 children, including Joseph, who married Maria Jane Cook, and Benjamin, who married Hannah Simmons. Daniel's granddaughter, Mary Anna Kent, daughter of Joseph and Maria Jane Kent, married John Barnard in 1849; their only daughter, Ella Kent Barnard, was born in 1853. Benjamin and Hannah Simmons Kent had eight children. Their oldest son, Henry Simmons Kent (1833-1906), married Patience Webster in 1859 and was active in the establishment of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting and the Borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Extent
3 linear ft. (6 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Daniel Kent, emigrated to Chester County, Pa. from Ireland, in 1785. He joined the Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1790, and married Esther Hawley in 1791. Their great-grandson Henry Simmons Kent (1833-1906) was active in the establishment of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting and the Borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. The collection includes material used by Daniels' great-granddaughter Ella Kent Barnard in preparation for the writing of three books. Among these materials are genealogical charts and data, research correspondence, and original letters and documents. Notable among the latter is the correspondence between Daniel Kent and his parents, William and Ann Kent. Collection also includes diaries and journals. A manuscript entitled “The Rise of Swarthmore,” by Isabella Tyson, describes the meeting of Friends in the home of her parents to discuss plans for the establishment of the College.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into eight series:
- Biographical and genealogical material
- Diaries and journals
- Correspondence, 1799-1924
- Business papers
- Writings by various family members
- Memorabilia
- Miscellaneous reference material
- Pictures
Physical Location
For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donor: Gift of Ella Kent Barnard, 1925, 1927
Gift of Annie Broomell Harlan, 1925-32.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Ella Kent Barnard was the great granddaughter of Daniel Kent. Annie Broomell Harlan, who in 1932 gave the papers relating to Ella K. Barnard's book, Daniel Kent, Emigrant, was the great-great-granddaughter of Daniel Kent.
Separated Materials
The following books by Ella Kent Barnard have been removed fro the collection and recatalogued:
- Daniel Kent, Emigrant, FHL BX7795,.K37A32.
- The Malsby Genealogy, F.H.L. BX7791,.M45B3
- Dorothy Payne, Quakeress, FHL BX7795,.M2B2.
Processing Information
Received unprocessed. Sorted and placed in document boxes prior to 1967 and stored in RG 5.
Subject
- Kent family (Family)
- Maulsby family (Family)
- Webster family (Family)
- Title
- An Inventory of the Kent-Barnard Family Papers, 1785-1928
- Author
- FHL staff
- Date
- Before 1967
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Sponsor
- Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries
Find It at the Library
Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting repoductions from Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College Library