An English Quaker Minister's Visit to Colonial America, 1773-1775

Abstract

An English Quaker Minister's Visit to Colonial America, 1773-1775 John M. Moore* In spite of the difficulties of travel in the 18th century, a steady stream of Quaker ministers from England visited the American colonies on religious missions during that period. These visits were often reciprocated as American Friends returned to the mother country in response to the Divine call. Frederick B. Tolles described these close contacts between British and American Friends in his Quakers and the Atlantic Culture. ' Other writers have supplemented his list of Quaker ministers and other travellers.2 Among the last to make an extended journey to America before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War was Robert Walker (17?- ?785) whose manuscript journal has been acquired by the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College. This journal records Robert Walker's visit to America from 1773 to 1775 during which time he travelled about 5000 miles on horseback and visited Friends and Friends meetings in all of the thirteen original colonies. His visit is of particular interest because of the growing tension between the governmental authorities in London and those elements in the colonies who were becoming increasingly restive under British rule. While Robert Walker conceived his mission as a purely religious one, he repeatedly cautioned his Quaker listeners not to involve themselves in political agitation but to wait quietly before the Lord. Robert Walker was a clothier by trade who lived in Gildersome, near Leeds in Yorkshire. He was married and had several children, one of whom migrated to New York State after the War of Independence . Robert Walker felt himself called to the ministry in 1751 and was so recorded. At first he ministered only in his own meeting and its vicinity, but in 1765 he began to travel more widely in England and Ireland. He set out for America on the 25th of May 1773 when he was 56 years of age and had been married for 29 years. He left his wife and children to care for the family business and set off for * John M. Moore is professor emeritus of religion and philosophy at Swarthmore College. He is a former editor of Quaker History. The unpaged manuscript of Robert Walker's Journal, 1773-1775, is in the Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College. 1 . Frederick B. Tolles, Quakers and the Atlantic Culture (Chapel Hill, 1960), chap. I and II. 2.See, for example, G.J. Willauer, "First Publishers of Truth in New England, A Composite List, 1656-1775," Quaker History, 65.1 (Spring, 1976) 35-44. 104Quaker History London by coach where he attended the yearly meeting. He visited other Friends meetings in Norwich, Colchester, and elsewhere before sailing from Gravesend during the night of July 18-19. He sailed in the company of three other English Friends: Elizabeth Robinson of Wensleydale, Mary Leaver from Nottingham, and Morris Birkbeck from Settle. The group also included two sisters, Sarah and Deborah Morris, who were returning to America after a religious visit to England. Robert Walker's journal contains daily notes about the weather and the progress of their voyage. The six Quakers held meetings for worship on First Day and once or twice during the week. They gathered on deck if the weather was fair or in the cabin if it was not. The voyage lasted two months, about average for that period. They landed at Chester in Pennsylvania on the 18th of September, attended meeting there the next day, and proceeded in the afternoon to Philadelphia. Robert Walker lodged at the home of Joshua Fisher while the others scattered to the homes of other Friends. Robert Walker busied himself immediately with the main purpose of his journey, attending Friends meetings and bearing his religious testimony. He attended the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Ministers and Elders on Monday, 10th mo. 1st, 1773, and meetings for business at several Philadelphia meetings during the ensuing couple of weeks.3 His journal contains a meticulous record of the meetings which he attended and the Friends in whose homes he was entertained, but says little of his message. It is clear, however, that he pled for the renewal of Friends' zeal and for adherence to the...