Smedley Family Scrapbook

These manuscripts of the Smedley family, Quakers of Chester County, Pennsylvania, were collected by Mary (Green) Smedley in the early 20th century. The scrapbook contains primarily 18th century legal and property documents concerning Thomas Smedley (1688?-1758) of Willistown, Chester County, a member of Goshen Monthly Meeting, and his descendants, particularly George Smedley (d. 1783) and family. The scrapbook includes records relating to a property dispute between George Smedley and George Albridg(e) which was taken up by Goshen Monthly Meeting and led to Smedley's disownment by the Meeting on 1766 12 month 5. His appeal to the Yearly Meeting was rejected the following year. Of particular interest is a 1759 manumission document for James Thompson, signed by George, Francis, John, and Thomas Smedley, as willed by their father Thomas Smedley. The collection also includes family wills, distribution of the estate of George Smedley by the executor, his wife Patience (1731-1812), and some miscellaneous poetry.