Three Apostles of Quakerism: Popular Sketches of Fox, Penn and BarclayRhodes, Benjamin
History
Three Apostles of Quakerism: Popular Sketches of Fox, Penn and Barclay
Rhodes, Benjamin
Barclay, Robert, 1648-1690; Fox, George, 1624-1691; Penn, William, 1644-1718; Society of Friends
"To whom is my dear and unfeigned love in the unchangeable
Truth, of whom to hear is always refreshful to me. I know
it will be acceptable to thee to understand that at last
the tedious persecution at Aberdeen seems to have come to
an end, for Friends have had their meetings peaceable near
these two months, and dear P. L. (Patrick Livingstone)
after having had several peaceable meetings, is now come
away a noble conqueror from that place, and is gone to
visit Friends in the west country, and then intends
homeward by way of Newcastle. I doubt not, but that God
will abundantly reward his courage and his patience; for
his stay hath been of great service to Truth and Friends in
these parts.
"I came here at the earnest desire of W. P. (William Penn)
and other Friends to speak to the Duke of York concerning
the New Jersey business; but fear there will be little
effectual got done in it. I doubt it has been spoiled in
the managing at first. * * * I should be very glad, if thy
freedom could allow of it, to see thee in this country in
the spring. I know it would be of great service, for there
are several things that would need it. Several things go
cross, and are so now in divers places; and I know no man's
presence could so easily remedy it as thine." He signs
himself, "thy real friend, R. BARCLAY."
Whilst in London in 1682, Robert Barclay was appointed governor of
East Jersey (the Eastern part of New Jersey) which had been purchased
by William Penn, the Earl of Perth, and other of his friends. He was
made one of the proprietors, and "to induce him to accept thereof [of
the Governorship] they gifted him a propriety with 5000 acres _more_
for him to bestow as he should think fit." "Charles II. confirmed the
grant of the Government, and the royal commission states that 'such
are his known fidelity and capacity, that he has the Government during
life; but no other governor after him shall have it longer than three
years,'" He appointed as his deputy Gawen Laurie, a London Friend and
merchant, already attached to the province as one of the proprietors of
West Jersey. His brothers John and David intended to settle there, but
David died on the voyage. He was a youth of great piety and promise,
greatly beloved, especially by his father. John settled at Perth-Amboy,
the capital of the province, where he died in 1731. The only mention
of him which I can find is in Smith's History of New Jersey, where
it is said, "He bore the character of a good neighbour, and was very
serviceable to the public in several capacities, but more particularly
in Amboy, where he lived and died."[26]
[26] Both brothers were members of the Society of Friends, and the
younger was already a minister at the time of his death.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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