%eadnotat; ]> rahplmm RECORDS OF RAHWAY AND PLAINFIELD AND WOODBRIDGE MONTHLY MEETINGS An Inventory of Its Records at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College Inventory prepared by: FHL Staff 2007 Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Finding aid encoded by FHL Staff 2007 Finding aid written in English Summary Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends (1828- : Plainfield, N.J.) and Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting of Friends (Orthodox : 1827-1910) Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting Records 1686-1988 2.7 linear ft. RG2/NY/R431 These records are entirely in English For current information on the location of records, please consult the Library’s online catalogue Records on Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting, 1685-present. Includes minutes 1723-1988, vital records 1705-1979, miscellaneous 1841-1989, and newsletters 1937-ongoing. History of the Meeting

A monthly meeting at Amboy was established in 1686 as part of Shrewsbury Quarterly Meeting. It began to circulate to Woodbridge in 1689; from 1689 to 1704 this meeting was discontinued due to the Keithian Separation; in 1706 a monthly meeting was reestablished at Woodbridge. In 1763, Woodbridge Monthly Meeting began to circulate between Plainfield, Rahway, and Woodbridge. In 1769, the monthly meeting moved from Woodbridge and alternated between Plainfield and Rahway; its name was changed to Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting. In 1827 it divided into Orthodox and Hicksite branches. The Orthodox branch stayed within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and was laid down in 1910; its members were attached to Chesterfield. The Hicksite branch affiliated with New York Yearly Meeting (Hicksite) in 1833 along with the rest of Shrewsbury Quarterly Meeting (Hicksite). Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting has continued to the present day.

Scope and Content of the Records

Records of Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting, 1685-present. Includes minutes 1723-1988, vital records 1705-1979, miscellaneous 1841-1989, and newsletters 1937-ongoing.

Organization of the Records

Divided into series: Minutes; Women's minutes; Vital Records; Ministers' and Elders' Minutes; Miscellaneous; Newsletters.

Access Restrictions:

Where available, access is through microfilm.

Use Restrictions:

Information on reproduction policies available in the library.

Custodial History:

The Orthodox records, formerly catalogued as RG2/Ph/R337, were transferred to RG2/NY/431 in 2011.

Acquisition Information:

Pre-Separation, Hicksite, and United records deposited by New York Yearly Meeting in 1997. Pre-Separation and Orthodox records deposited by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

Other Information

Volume 3.5 also has Ministers' and Elders' minutes, 1966-71.

Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings. Researchers desiring materials about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.

Earlier Meeting Names: Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : 1763-1828 : Plainfield, N.J.). Woodbridge Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : 1686-1763 : Woodbridge, N.J.). Topics: Society of Friends -- New Jersey -- Union County. Subjects: Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : 1763-1828 : Plainfield, N.J.) Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends (1828- : Plainfield, N.J.) Woodbridge Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : 1686-1763 : Woodbridge, N.J.) Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting of Friends (Orthodox : 1827-1910) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

Monthly meeting records normally include minutes of men’s and women’s meetings for business and registers of births, deaths, marriages, removals (transfers), and disownments. In general, non-members are not mentioned in the minutes, even when they attended meeting for worship on a regular basis.

Note to Researchers: To request materials on-site, please make sure to use the correct call numbers; patrons must use microfilm if it is available.

Vital Records Births & Deaths Register copy 1687-1872 1 vol. Pre/Hicksite RG2/NY/R431 3.8

Copy and abstract by Hugh D. Vail, ca.1870.