America's First Quakers—Where, When, and by Whom?

Abstract

America's First Quakers—Where, When, and by Whom? Kenneth L. Carroll* For generations it was widely believed that Quakerism in the mainland American colonies first appeared in New England. Earlier in this century both Rufus Jones (in 1911) and Elbert Russell (in 1942) raised the possibility that Maryland Quakerism pre-dated that of Massachusetts.1 I, myself, entered into this discussion in 1968 with my article "Elizabeth Harris, the Founder of American Quakerism."2 Recently the questionhas been reopened by Jay Worrall, Jr., inhis 1994 book The Friendly Virginians which carries the subtitle "America's First Quakers."3 Worrall offers still another answer, claiming that it was within the present-day bounds of the State of Virginia that Quakerism first appeared. His introductory chapter dealing with the establishment of Virginia Quakerism by Elizabeth Harris in 1655 might easily catch the unwary reader off guard. A more critical reading, however, soon reveals the surprising fact that Worral offers absolutely no proofor evidence (from either Quaker or non-Quaker sources) that Elizabeth Harris was ever at work in that area which today is known as the State ofVirginia. He writes that it is a "fair guess" that Elizabeth Harris was one of the two young women from London who sailed to Barbados in May 1655 (p. 3), although others have insisted it was Ann Austin who accompanied Mary Fisher to Barbados before the two of them proceeded to Boston. He then continues, "She evidently landed at Kickatan (Hampton) offsome ship" (p. 6), adding "Shemusthavegone straight from her ship to the Dissenting remnant south of the James" (p.6—italics mine). Worrall believes that the "Governor" whom Harris convinced during her American labors was Richard Bennett (p. 7), who actually ceased to be governor of Virginia on April 1, 1655, some time before Worrall claims Harris left England for Barbados! There is no proof whatsoever that Bennett was convinced of Quaker principles and beliefs, although he was friendly toward Quakerism in later years. The "governor" whom Harris convinced was actually someone other than Bennett and in a colony other than Virginia. There is no evidence of any Quakerism existing in what is now the State ofVirginia before the arrival ofThomas Thurston and Josiah Coale late in 1657. Likewise, the "Virginian named Thomas Chapman" (p. 1 1), who served as a guide through the *Kenneth L. Carroll, a former president ofboth the Friends Historical Association (U.S.A.) and the Friends Historical Society (U.K.), has published widely on both American and British seventeenth-century Quakerism. 50Quaker History wilderness for Coale and Thurson, was already a Marylander living on Kent Island by 1650. How was it possible for Worrall to come up with such an erroneous answer to the question of where and when American Quakerism first appeared? His analysis stems primarily from his lack offamiliarity with a good deal of important material as well as a lot of later literature dealing with 1) the full meaning of the designation or name Virginia during the 1650s, 2) the work of Elizabeth Harris, and 3) the activity of Thomas Thurston and Josiah Coale who were actually on their way to Severn in Maryland to follow up on the work ofElizabeth Harris there before going on to New England when they were landed in Virginia late in 1657 for a briefand soon-to-be-abortedministry there.4 He may alsohavebeenmisled somewhat by his great love for the State ofVirginia and, to some degree, by the long outdated views ofJames Bowden whose History5 he has used. It is ofparamount importance to realize that the term or name Virginia in the 1650s applied to a much larger territory than the present state by that name. The 1606 grantby James I to the Virginia Company included all the land between Passomoquoddy Bay in Maine and the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. The northern boundary ofVirginia was first reducedby the founding ofNew England, but Virginia still included much land both north and south of the Old Dominion. This can be seen quite clearly when one looks at the evidence provided by cartographers ofthat period (remembering that maps are important for what they leave out as well as for...

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