Minutes

FR3/1/1/3

Minutes

1768-1791

Includes Luton junction

Folio vol., original binding, 230 pp; well kept but with increasing references to decline; a number of papers (e.g. certificates) are pasted in (e.g. an Ampthill cert. 1787 on p. 157); the minutes for 1/1/73 are entered on p. 3 out of order.

Cover: minute of 1716 about members ont in unity.

p.1 YM queries 1-11, 1759

3 QM queries 1-11, 1755.

General: attendance entered: p. 7 6 5/2/68

85 9 3/19/79

156 13 5/11/87

(After Luton)

Answers to queries are given in full;

Sufferings are entered (but not many)

Indications as to organisation:-

QM 21 threatened appeal to, over poor

23 QM urges more care with registration, 1770

53 QM Friends visit (Sam. Spavold, Sam. Scott, Jon. Bell, Rudd Wheeler, Jn. Boone), 1773

138-44 QM approves junction with Luton, 1786

163 QM reminds about Preparative Meetings, and about deeds, 1787

MM 7,10. membership application, 1768

8 minute relating to Preparative Meetings "to rest

153 on the minds of Friends", 1768; each PM to consider, 1787

9 "things are at a low ebb"

16 lukewarmness & indifference, 1769

25 in a barren state, 1770

42 very low, 1772

51 sorrowful declension, 1773

83 too much slackness, 1778

Junction with Luton:

138 proposed, 1786

141 QM in favour (cttee has visited Albans, Luton, Ampthill)

143 MMs to be: Luton, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th

Albans, 34d, 7th, 11th

Hempstead, 1st, 5th, 9th

(Chorleywood originally proposed for 5th)

144 QM approves

192 list of members to be made, 1789

Meetinghouses & meetings

7 Watford: as Sam. Weedon has paid the court charges, he shall have the premises with liberty to convert, 1768 (he moves in 1770, p.23)

11 Albans: trustees given

19 Tho. How, late cit. & goldsmith, London, left £50 for brick wall to enclose burial ground in Long But Lane when fence decayed; Wid. Sar. had this done; it cost more, which she paid, 1769

89-91 Wood End: now meets one week in four (first 1st day in month henceforward), 1779

113 v. small number: meet twice or thrice in summer? 1783

116 drop in winter? reference to "several meetings roundabout which meet only 2 or 3 times a year", 1783

120 first 1st day in 4th & 7th months (Ap. & July). 11th hr., 1784

New trust deeds required, 1785

128,133,145: lists of trustees;

164 completed, 1787 (see list at end, pp. 1-2)

Albans deed, 1787

Hempstead & Cross lanes or Wood End, 178

Dagnall burial ground, 1771

Sewell mtgho. & bur. gd., 1777

Dunstable, 1766

All deeds are in chest at Luton mtgho.

Dunstable

176 to be discontinued in winter, 1788

Luton

176 to be 10th hr. & 2nd hr., 1788

Discipline:

13 misbehaviour of Jn. & Ben. Child, sons of Sar., 1768

18, possible marriage out of Eliz. Baldwin; she is determined

23,45 to take her own course, 1770: "Friends need give themselves no concern about her"

38-9,45 ditto Ann Rooke: "does not appear disposed to break off"; she marries, 1771

52-5 Jacob & Ruth Warner insolvent, 1773; unwarrantable & aggravated circumstances to great reproach & scandal of truth & Friends; way of living that profits of trade would not support

56 Martha Ellington's misbehaviour, 1773

75-100 Zach. Neale's imprudent conduct; his sorrow; 1777, 1781

91-2,103 failure of Hen. Smith: his sorrow; 1780

107A letter about Anna Buxton, nee Hanbury, 1782

107 Rachel Taylor (nee Hill); she first married out in 1754; since then twice; absents herself from meetings; to be visited, 1782

112-3 disownment of Wm. Wooding, 1783

126 disownment of Pennington Exton, 1784

133-4 insolvency of Jos. Simcock, 1785

171-5 disownment of Jos. Haggar, 1788;

178-9 Hannah Haggar visited & disowned, 1788

187 Tho. Haggar visited: he was apprentice; absented himself from meetings; him master says he used profane language, did not keep his word, was out at unreasonable hours, 1789

199-200 Jn. Child jr. (who married out in 1775) is in borough gaol (so Horsley down writes); disowned, 1790

poor:

16,47,148 Ann Butterfield (see previous vol.): £19 in 1769

18,21 dispute with Horsley down on Jn. West;

Appeal to QM threatened; MM gives in, 1769

50 Ruth & Jacob Warner (in bad circs.), 1773

65 child of Wm. Warner abandoned, 1775

149 poor to be expense of united MM, 1786

172,182 collection for Tho. Lane: £29.17.0 to Horsley down;

Albans & Chorleywood 9.9.0

Luton 9.9.0

Hempstead 4.4.0

23.2.0

190 et seq. the Woodings

218 Wid. Lawrence, Ivinghoe (formerly Dunstable), necessitous, 1791

Schools:

89 nothing yet done about Ackworth, 1779

157,165,167-8,180,217 children at, 1787 etc. Ruth, Sarah & Mary Hill

Finance: e.g.

64 collection for Society:

Chorleywood 2.2.0

Hempstead 1.1.0

Albans 4.10.0

196,204 MM stock, 1789: 1790

Luton 1. 5.6 1. 5. 6

Albans 18.0 15.0

Chorleywood 4.6 4.6

Hempstead 12.0 12.0

3. 0. 0 2. 17. 0

Miscellaneous:

25 death of Jas. Archer, Albans, public Friend, 1770

115 Sufferings urges care over registers, 1783

English