Quaker Burial Grounds in Philadelphia

1683-present

Quaker burial grounds in Philadelphia were never entirely "select" -- that is, strictly limited to members of the Society of Friends. Many non-members were interred; conversely, some members chose to be buried elsewhere.

The Disciplines of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting specifically forbade grave markers until the last quarter of the 19th century as "Marks of Superfluity and excess" and "inconsistent with the plainness of our Principles and Practice."[1] However, it is clear from contemporary descriptions and also from repeated epistles that conformity was not absolute; meetings were instructed to remove these grave stones as they appeared. In general, however, researchers should not expect to find the exact location of interment in a Quaker burial ground until after the mid 19th century. Plot plans, where they exist, are very rare.

Each Philadelphia Quaker burial ground is described below with a brief chronological outline; the table that follows each entry lists existing records of interments in that ground. Some of these records were kept by the sexton or gravedigger. Other vitals were maintained by the monthly meeting of which the deceased were members, and may exclude members of other meetings or non-Quakers. 19th century meeting membership registers have not been included in this listing, but researchers may occasionally find burial information therein.

Eastern Ground (also called Arch Street)

Plot plan for Norris Family burials, ca.1750) and Plate D from G.M. Hopkins Atlas of Philadelphia, 1875

The first burial ground for Quakers in Philadelphia was located on the east side of 4th Street, south of Arch Street. This land was deeded to Friends by William Penn in 1701 "for a burying place." However, it had already been used as a burial ground for several years prior to that date. John F. Watson reported that the first burial there was that of Thomas Lloyd's wife, Mary, in 1683.[2] Over the years there have been varying estimates of the total number of interments, some as high as 20,000. By the time of the great Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 there was very little room left and burials were two or three deep. As the available space was taken up, more and more restrictions were imposed on non-Quaker burials.

The original burial ground on Arch Street -- earlier called Mulberry Street -- was L-shaped, containing about 2-1/3 acres. There were at least 2 small private burial grounds adjoining -- the Say Burial Ground located in the angle of the L, about 40"square and surrounded by a high brick wall.[3], and the Fox[4] or Jones Graveyard, to the east of Say, but not adjacent, about 17 feet square and also walled. Access to both was by an alley from Third Street.[5] The Friends' property at Arch Street was subdivided in 1817,[6] with the back end of the L retained by the Joint Committee of the Philadelphia monthly meetings for a common burial site, and the small area to the east of the meeting house reserved for future joint use.

Map of Property at Arch Street drawn by George Vaux, ca.1895

 

Many burials from 1834-48 were east of the meeting house (illustration left), and between 1848-1872 in the northeast corner of the southern plot (right); both of the charts were drawn from information supplied by George Vaux

 

TITLE

NOTES

ORIG

FILM

A Booke of records of bierthes and burials in Philadelphia in the Province of Penezlvania in Amerrica 1677-1808

Book A Register of births, deaths and burials of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting and continues as Middle District. Contains the following: births, 1677-1808; deaths, 1687-1805; record of burials of non-Friends, 1692-1731. Index laid in. Register commenced in 1689.

RG2/Ph/P46

365

Orders for interments, 1758-1819

Middle and Southern District orders for interment to Eastern Ground, mounted in volumes 1-5: 1758-64, 1764-70, 1770-85, 1785-1804, 1804-19. Microfilms 363 and 359 also include an index to early burials that is not entirely reliable but may be useful to some researchers.

 

363/ 364

Permits for interments, Ca.1758-1850

Alphabetical transcription made by Anna G. Cope in 1898; includes name, age, and date of permit.

 

396

Births and Deaths, 11mo 1772-1806

Northern District deaths beginning on p.60, listed chronologically by date of burial. Indexed.

 

408

Interments, 1773-1806

Typescript alphabetical index to Southern District interments

 

410

Burials (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1806-1823

2 grave-books kept by sexton John Chapman for recording burials at Arch Street burial ground, 1806-1815 & 1815- 1823. Includes information on name, charge, sex, disease, member or not, district, location (relative coordinates) of grave relative to the south gate and the brew house.

RG2/Ph/P46

365

Burials in Arch St. & Western Burial Grounds, 1806-1827

Copy of grave-books listed above by Ambrose Smith from the original which was in possession of the Hicksite branch in 1877. Writing is clearer than the original. Indexed

 

377

Record of burials of deceased Friends and others, 1806-1826.

Also contains a record of births, 1783-1827. Book #2 for the “Middle District” only in Eastern. Includes name, date of death, where buried, late residence, notes (member or not); after 1821 lists disease instead of place of burial.  Indexed.

RG2/Ph/P46

738/ 365

Record of Interments, 1807-1872

Southern District interments. Includes date, age, disease, member or not, and where buried. Proceeded by index.

 

424

Births and Deaths, 1806-1885

Northern District volume also includes non-members, name, death date, age, where buried, late residence, and notes.

 

408

Burials, 1807-1872

Typescript alphabetical index to Southern District burials

 

424

Births & Deaths, 1814-1887

Western District births & deaths, 1814-1883 and 1883-87, indexed. Also includes burials of members elsewhere.

 

354/ 434

Burials, 1816-1940

Green Street Monthly Meeting register also contains: births (1816-1936). Includes non -Quaker burials. Accompanied by: 23 pertinent items removed from register and foldered separately (not microfilmed).

RG2/Ph/G7

206

Orders for interments, 1819-1854

Middle and Southern District orders for interment to Eastern and Western grounds, mounted in volumes 6-8: 1819-32, 1832-54, and 1840-54 (Southern District), indexed.

 

377

Account of Interments in the Burial Ground near Fourth & Mulberry Streets, 1820-1872

Copy made by George Vaux in 1866 and continued. Includes date, name, age, monthly meeting, disease, remarks (member or not). Indexed. The extensive notes by Vaux in 1897 document his research into the placement of graves; also includes correspondence concerning re-interment in 1915.

 

378

Burials (Philadelphia, Pa.), 1824-1828

Continuation of grave-books belonging to Philadelphia MM Hicksite meeting, 1824 1mo 31-1828 1mo 1. No coordinates, but lists location either NG (Western) or blank (Eastern).

RG2/Ph/P46

365

Deaths, 1827-1903

Register for Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite) also contains births, 1827-1900. Includes index. "This separate Record of Births and Deaths (to the year 1869) has been copied from the Record of the members of Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia and thereafter is to be kept regularly in conjunction with said record book of members as authorized at a monthly meeting held the seventeenth day of second month 1869." Includes disease, late residence, and notes.

RG2/Ph/P46

365

Interments, 1829-1831

Robert Letchworth’s grave-book. Includes name, disease, date, charge, meeting, burial ground, and payment received.

 

378

Interments in Arch St. & Western Burial Grounds, 1848-1872

Stubs for orders of interment.

 

377

Orders to Remove, Western & Eastern Burial Ground, 1907-1922

   

379

Western Burial Ground (also called Sassafras or Cherry)

The Western Burial Ground comprised the entire block from 16th to 17th Street and Race Street to Cherry Street. Burials were recorded there from 1823 until 1884 when the site was taken over by Friends Select School.

TITLE

NOTES

ORIG

FILM

Orders for interments, 1758-1819

Middle and Southern District orders for interment to Eastern Ground, mounted in volumes 1-5: 1758-64, 1764-70, 1770-85, 1785-1804, 1804-19. Microfilms 363 and 359 also include an index to early burials that is not entirely reliable but may be useful to some researchers.

 

363/ 364

Permits for interments, Ca.1758-1850

Alphabetical transcription made by Anna G. Cope in 1898; includes name, age, and date of permit.

 

396

Births and Deaths, 1806-1885

Northern District volume also includes non-members, name, death date, age, where buried, late residence, and notes.

 

408

Burials in Arch St. & Western Burial Grounds, 1806-1827

Copy of grave-books by Ambrose Smith from the original which was in possession of the Hicksite branch in 1877. Writing is clearer than the original. Indexed

 

377

Record of Interments, 1807-1872

Southern District interments. Includes date, age, disease, member or not, and where buried. Preceded by index, also on reel.

 

424

Births & Deaths, 1814-1887.

Western District births & deaths, 1814-1883 and 1883-87, indexed. Also includes burials of members elsewhere.

 

354

Burials 1816-1940

Green Street Monthly Meeting register also contains: births (1816-1936). Includes non -Quaker burials. Accompanied by: 23 pertinent items removed from register and foldered separately (not microfilmed).

RG2/Ph/G7

206

Orders for interments, 1819-1854

Middle and Southern District orders for interment to Eastern and Western grounds, mounted in volumes 6-8: 1819-32, 1832-54, and 1840-54 (Southern District), indexed.

 

377

Row-book, 1823-1881

Row book compiled by Ambrose Smith from original records in ca.1880.

 

378

Accounts of Interments in Burial Ground on Sassafras and Cherry Streets & 16th and 17th Streets, 1823-1836

Copy made by George Vaux in 1866 and continued. Includes date, name, age, monthly meeting, disease, remarks (member or not). Indexed.

 

378

Burials (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1824-1828

Continuation of grave-books belonging to Philadelphia MM Hicksite meeting, 1824 1mo 31-1828 1mo 1. No coordinates, but lists location either NG (Western) or blank (Eastern).

RG2/Ph/P46

365

Deaths, 1827-1903

Register for Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite) also contains births, 1827-1900. Includes index. "This seperate Record of Births and Deaths (to the year 1869) has been copied from the Record of the members of Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia and thereafter is to be kept regularly in conjunction with said record book of members as authorized at a monthly meeting held the seventeenth day of second month 1869." Includes disease, late residence, and notes.

RG2/Ph/P46

365

Interments at Western Burial Ground (16-17th, Race & Cherry Sts.), 1829-1884

And Children, 1829-78

 

379

Interments, 1829-1831

Robert Letchworth's grave-book. Includes name, disease, date, charge, meeting, burial ground, and payment received.

 

378

Grave-book, 1832-1840

Labeled Book F. Bound with Books B, D, E. Prob. Hicksite.

 

378

Grave-book, 1832-1884

Chronological, cover labeled Book B Offley Hopper's grave-book; includes date, location of grave, use of hearse, payment. Also includes burials of members of Green Street. Indexed. Bound with Books D, E, F.

 

378

Interments at Western Burial Ground (16-17th, Race & Cherry Sts.), 1833-1880

Labeled Book C; indexed. Row book, notes use of cases.

 

378

Births & Burials, 1834-1902

Spruce Street register. Includes name, date of death, age, residence, and remarks/where buried. Alphabetical. A few obituary clippings at end.

 

595

Grave-book, 1837-1850

Labeled Book E. Bound with Books B, D, F. Note that it appears to have been maintained by the Hicksites.

 

378

Grave-book, 1846-1866

Labeled Book D. Bound with Books B, E, F.

 

378

Interments in Arch St. & Western Burial Grounds, 1848-1872

Stubs for orders of interment.

 

377

Permits & orders to remove, Western Burial Ground, 1863-1884

Orders, 1863-84 & permits, 1862-84

 

379

Interments at Western Burial Ground (16-17th, Race & Cherry Sts.), 1864-1884

Labeled Book G; includes Green Street MM Burials. Chronological, includes list of removals to South-western and sketch of Western Burial Ground.

 

378

Permits & orders to remove, Western Burial Ground, 1885-1907

Orders

 

379

Orders to Remove, Western & Eastern Burial Ground, 1907-1922, 1907-1922

   

379

South-Western Burial Ground

In 1860, a joint committee made up of members of the four Orthodox Philadelphia monthly meetings could not agree on the purchase of a new burial ground. At that time, Western District Monthly Meeting went ahead and purchased a tract of land from Charles H. Wilbank and wife in Delaware County, Pennsylvania for its own use. This purchase, at 236 Powell Lane, Upper Darby, was bounded by Marshall Road, Sellers Avenue, and Spruce Street, close to the border of the City of Philadelphia.

Western District's tract was called Friends South-Western Burial Ground. It was laid out with both single graves in rows and family plots. In 1880, the other two Philadelphia Monthly Meetings jointly purchased the Marshall Road Burial Ground on an adjacent site.

TITLE

NOTES

ORIG

FILM

Births and Deaths, 1806-1885

Northern District volume also includes non-members, name, death date, age, where buried, late residence, and notes.

 

408

Births & Deaths, 1814-1887.

Western District births & deaths, 1814-1883 and 1883-87, indexed. Also includes burials of members elsewhere.

 

354/ 434

Deed Book, No.1 1862-1915

List by lot number and deed number, #1-217, dated 1862-1884, with tipped-in map and ms. form of transfer. Also includes memorandum re: Jane Preston's bequest (1863), and alphabetical index to the early deeds, and cancelled/transferred deeds. Volume marked RS 633A, 1416.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 4

 

Duplicate Deed Book, No.1 1862-1884

Deeds #1-218, dated 1862-1884. Volume marked RS 63A, 1417.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 4

 

Interments, Southwestern Burial Ground, Upper Darby, 1862-1898

Loose orders, includes re-interments from elsewhere.

 

379

Orders of Board of Health, etc., 1862-1867

Interment permits issued by the Health Department include name and age of decedent, date and cause of death, occupation, place of birth, residence, and place of interment. Most of the documents are to Friends South-Western Burial Ground.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 2

 

Register, Lots, Friends S.W. Burial Ground, 1862-1883

Book #1418. Annotated by George Vaux. Duplicates some names in Register of Interments, 1863, but has more info on death dates.

RG2/Ph/C406

 

Register, Rows, Friends S.W. Burial Ground, 1863-1878

Book #1419.

RG2/Ph/C406

 

Orders for interment, Book A, 1884-1898

Certificates #1-300 (indexed). Books A-C used concurrently by Charles Roberts, George Vaux, and Samuel Rudolph respectively. This volume marked RS325.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 3

 

Orders for interment, Book B, 1884-1936

Certificates #301-498 (499-594 blank). Books A-C used concurrently by Charles Roberts, George Vaux, and Samuel Rudolph respectively. Filed in book were also the following: Correspondence and extracts re: Agnes Deaves Fund, 1885-1911, (2) annotated maps of the burial ground, (1) list of rules, and correspondence about sales, 1910-1935. This volume marked 325A.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 4

 

Orders for interment in Friends' South-Western Burial Ground, 1884-1912

Bound stubs (C) of certificates #601-889 (643-46 & 890-900 blank); photocopies in Box 2 and at Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. Completed stubs list name of decedent, dates of birth and death, names or parents and/or spouse, place of membership, residence, and lot number. Books A-C used concurrently by Charles Roberts, George Vaux, and Samuel Rudolph respectively.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 3

 

Friend's South-Western Burial Ground, Record of Interments, Book B, 1884 1884-1955

Book #1420. Duplicates some information in Register of Interments, 1863, and Register of Interments, 1895. Has some additional information on those listed: last known address, names of family members. With tipped-in map.

RG2/Ph/C406

 

Interment Permits and Applications for Interment in Friends' South-Western Burial Ground 1884-1912

Separated permits #601-889 (643-46 & 890-900 blank) of above volume. Completed applications and permits list name of decedent, dates of birth and death, names or parents and/or spouse, place of membership, residence, and lot number, with location of grave within family plot noted on back of permit. Applications occasionally contain additional information on decedent.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 2

 

Plans of Family Lots, 1885-1956

Indexed; tipped-in map of burial ground, Sections B, C, D, & I. Note signed by George Vaux in 1885 indicates that he reconstructed burial locations from 1862-1885, and then entered the information concurrently with the event. Volume includes diagrams of placement of burials within each family lot. Marked Book 1601.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 5

 

Register of Interments from 1895, 1895-2004

Bound photocopies of the original volume which is still in use.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 1

 

Orders for Interment, 1899-1928

Loose certificates that were microfilmed together, some of which are represented above, 1884-1912.

 

380

Orders for Interment and Related Correspondence, 1900-1909

Loose orders and related correspondence, 1900-1909, chronologically arranged; mixed permit numbers. Box marked RS327, 1704.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 6

 

Original Orders for Interment Commencing -- 11.17.1909, 1909-ca.1923

Originally filed in a letter file box with the same title, RS 640, 134. Filed alphabetically: A-B, C-E, F-H, I-L, M-P, & R-Y. Box also included a small folder of correspondence related to the removal of remains from Eastern (Arch Street) and Western Burial Grounds to South-Western, 1914-1916.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 7

 

Friends' South Western Burial Ground Schedule of Lot Owner's 1911-1932

Duplicate volumes.

RG2/Ph/C406

 

Orders for Interment Stubb Book, 1912-1942

Stubbs of Orders for Interment, #1501-1800. Marked Book B (book F).

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 6

 

Interment Permits and Applications for Interment in Friends' South-Western Burial Ground, 1918-1925

Separated permits 1923-1925: (#468-484 - 478 missing); 1918-1925 (#1260, 1299-1332 - 1310 missing); 1920-1925 (#1600, 1615-1635 - 1625 missing). Completed applications list name of decedent, dates of birth and death, names or parents and/or spouse, place of membership, and residence; lot number, with location of grave within family plot noted on back of permit. Photocopies at Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting and in second folder in Box 2.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 2

 

Certificates for Family Lots, Book C, 1926-1981

Volume containing completed stubs and also blank forms for receipt of payment for the right of interment, #601-853 (854-900 blank), with some loose agreements.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 1

 

Orders for interment in Friends' South-Western Burial Ground, 1938-1956

Bound stubs of certificates #1201-1549 (1550-1560 blank). Completed stubs list name of decedent, dates of birth and death, names or parents and/or spouse, place of membership, residence, and lot number. Photocopies in folder in Box 2.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 3

 

Interment Permits and Related Correspondence 1945-1955

Loose permits and related correspondence, removed from box marked "Interment Records, 1945-1956." Arranged by permit number: #1298-1399, 1400-1499, 1500-1528, and 1820-1823 (Benjamin Cadbury's records).

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 6

 

Plans of Family Lots, 1950-1956

Continuation of previous volume, Plans of Family Lots. Includes Section I (Lots 119, 202-210), only pages 363-368 completed, Indexed; tipped-in map. Marked Book 1602.

RG2/Ph/C406/Box 5

 

Marshall Road Burial Ground

Friends Marshall Road Burial Ground was originally part of the property purchased by Philadelphia Monthly Meeting for the Western District called Friends South-Western Burial Ground. In 1880, the other Philadelphia Orthodox meetings purchased this western section to use as a substitute for Western Ground at Sixteenth and Cherry.

In 1915, remains were removed from Arch Street due to construction of the "new administration building" and related heating tunnel; a few individual burials were identified and there were also a large number of unidentified remains -- these were re-interred in Friends' Marshall Road in Row D Section X (4 rows in from Sellers Avenue, between Penn and Central). That same year a small number of burials were removed from the southwestern corner of Western Burial Ground, due to the building of the Parkway, and they were also re-interred in Row D Section X.[16]

TITLE

NOTES

ORIG

FILM

Friend's Marshall-Road Burial Ground, Duplicate, Register of Interments 1880-1922

Book # 1720. Includes records from first book, and re-interments from Arch St. and Western Burial Grounds.

RG2/Ph/C406

 

Register of Interments, Friend's Marshall-Road Burial Ground 1880-1885

Book # 1719. First record of Marshall-Road Burial Ground. A new system for numbering rows was adopted c. 1887, and all these entries were incorporated into new books. Includes deed of a family plot to Amy Y. Tatum, 1875, conveyed to Charles Hartshorne, 1878, and to his heirs, 1924.

RG2/Ph/C406

 

Fair Hill Burial Ground

In 1681, William Penn granted 1250 acres of land in Pennsylvania to George Fox. In 1686 Fox's memorandum specified six acres for a meeting house and burial ground.[17] The property at Fair Hill was deeded in 1705, but the title was not fully confirmed to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting until 1767. Part of the land was set aside as a burial ground as early 1707, but there were few interments. In 1818 the Fair Hill property was confirmed to Green Street Monthly Meeting.

In 1830, it was proposed that a burial ground be established for three Hicksite Philadelphia Monthly meetings: Philadelphia, Spruce Street, and Green Street. Title was to be held by Green Street, with the cemetery initially under the care of a joint committee from the three meetings. It comprised the entire block bounded by Germantown, 9th, Cambria, and Indiana. A Joint Committee on Interments was appointed in 1843 to prepare rules and regulations for the management of funerals and to oversee the burial ground at Fair Hill. The committee included representatives of the three Hicksite monthly meetings in Philadelphia, viz. Cherry Street, Green Street, and Spruce Street. The sub-committee which had the direct oversight of the Fair Hill Burial Ground was called the Committee of Nine

In 1985, the property was sold to Ephesians Baptist Church. In March, 1993, Fair Hill Burial Ground was incorporated, and in the same year, the property was purchased by the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, which now owns and maintains the burial ground.

Burials 1816-1940

Green Street Monthly Meeting register also contains: births (1816-1936). Includes non -Quaker burials. Accompanied by: 23 pertinent items removed from register and foldered separately (not microfilmed).

RG2/Ph/G7

206

Deaths, 1827-1903

Register for Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite) also contains births, 1827-1900. Includes index. "This seperate Record of Births and Deaths (to the year 1869) has been copied from the Record of the members of Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia and thereafter is to be kept regularly in conjunction with said record book of members as authorized at a monthly meeting held the seventeenth day of second month 1869." Includes disease, late residence, and notes.

RG2/Ph/P46

365

Births & Burials, 1834-1902

Spruce Street register. Includes name, date of death, age, residence, and remarks/where buried. Alphabetical. A few obituary clippings at end.

 

595

Index of Interments, 1843-1917

Handwritten

RG4/069/Box 7 (oversize)

 

Register of Burials, 5/1843-12/1850

 

RG4/069/Box 2

 

Register of Interments, Vol. 1, 5/1843-11/1917

Alphabetical, includes burial location.

RG4/069/Box 3

216

Register of Interments, Vol. 2, 12/1917-9/1981

 

RG4/069/Box 3

 

Index of registers, Vol. 1 and 2 (typescript)

Filmed to 1969.

RG4/069/Box 2

217

Other Burial Places

Friends claimed equitable title to an early burial ground at Blockley -- on the west side of the Schuylkill near High Street. From the beginning the Blockley site was difficult to control and had become a "nuisance" by the 18th century: there were many undocumented burials and some of the graves were disturbed. The Joint Committee relinquished this tract to the Board of Health in 1819. In 1850, the plot was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

As it became clear that the Arch Street site was not going to be sufficient, a number of alternate properties in Philadelphia were purchased for use as burial grounds, but there is little evidence that they were ever used for that purpose. The Joint Committee purchased a 3 acre lot at the northeast corner of 8th & Spruce, for instance; it was opened for use in 1788, but the water table was too high and only one documented burial was attempted. Southern District Friends purchased property in Southwark (4th & Carpenter Streets) for their own use; the Joint Committee authorized its sale in 1843 as "inconvenient." Another plot at 5th, Jefferson, and Camac Streets, "above the Mill Pond," was also intended for burial purposes; it was purchased in 1816 and authorized to be sold in 1843 as well.

Records of Burial of Philadelphia Quakers in Other Places

TITLE

NOTES

ORIG

FILM

Deaths 1781-1874

Record of Green Street Monthly Meeting; burials at places other than Fair Hill. Includes early burials at Frankford, Germantown, and Cedar Hill. Register also contains: births (1775-1869) and deaths.

RG2/Ph/G7

206

Burial permits 1843-1844

49 loose burial permits from Green Street

RG2/Ph/G7

No film

Notes of deceased Friends : who have been members of Philad Monthly Meeting of Friends [1827-1843]

Hicksite. Earliest recorded death is that of Samuel Richards, 9mo 23, 1827; latest recorded death is that of Mary Gibbs, 11mo 24, 1843. Title from label on cover. "Intended to be enlarged & to complete the record of that meeting." Undated. Dates of earliest and latest deaths taken from register of births and deaths, 1827-1903. Compiled ca. 1850.

RG2/Ph/P46

No film



[1] Rules of Discipline and Christian Advices. Philadelphia: Samuel Sansom, Jun., 1797. p. 59.

[2] John F. Watson. Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in the Olden Time. Philadelphia: Leary, Stuart Co., 1927. Vol.1, p.449.

[3]According to George Vaux:  The Friends' Meeting-House Fourth and Arch Streets Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Pa.: John C. Winston Company, p.25.

[4] This is probably the same lot bequeathed to Joseph Fox by James Portues in 1737, as cited in Vol.1 of John W Jordan's Colonial Families of Philadelphia. New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1911, p.320.

[5] Vaux, p.26

[6] Until the early 19th century, all property in Philadelphia owned by the Society of Friends -- including the meeting houses -- was held as joint property by Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (1683- ), Philadelphia Southern District (1772-1872), and Philadelphia Northern District (1772-1914) -- then with Philadelphia Western District (1814-1956) and Green Street Monthly Meetings (1816-). In 1817, due to the increasing difficulty of administering the property of five meetings in common, most of the holdings and funds were divided; the burial ground, however, was continued as a joint responsibility.

[7] The eastern end of the L was bounded by a strip of land 30' wide and fronting on 3rd street, originally granted to Richard Orme in 1684.

[8] The Yearly Meeting considered building a meeting house on the site as early as 1738,[8] but the decision was not finally made until after 1794-95

[9] Joint Committee minutes, 4mo 1796.

[10] An architectural study conducted in 1968[10] concludes that only a crawl space -- rather than a full cellar -- was excavated, apparently to avoid disturbing earlier burials.

[11] Friends Bookstore was at 302 Arch and Friends Library at 304 Arch Street. In 1886; the Library was moved to its own place at 142 N.16th. Street

[12] Joint Committee Report, 11mo 13 1848

[13] When it became necessary to dig deeper foundations, what was surmised to have been pits dug at the time of the Yellow Fever epidemic (1793) were discovered -- this conclusion was reached because the skeletons were laid in a variety of directions. In fact, this area is probably the same as is sketched in an original plan of the Norris-Lloyd family plot. Three additional large boxes of unidentified remains were re-interred at Marshall Road.

[14] Members of Southern District were concerned about the distance of Western Ground from their neighborhood, and purchased a lot in Southwark for their own use.

[15] In 6mo 1899, all of the mounds remaining over graves except for a few specially reserved were leveled and the site sowed with grass seed. George Vaux recorded information on this site before the work was done.

[16] RG2/Ph/C406 Register of Interments, 1880-1922.

[17] The Friend, vol.LXIII, no.7 (1889), p.45