Quakers / Religious Society of Friends
Friends' Meetings
Yonge Street Meeting House, Newmarket, Ontario.
Built in 1810
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the Canadian Friends Historical Association
Quakers and My Ancestors
Into Canada the Quaker immigrants brought those principles of forthright simplicity, sobriety, personal integrity and fair dealing which had enabled their forebearers, led by William Penn, to found Pennsylvania as the only commonwealth in the United States which was free from warfare with the Indians. There ws in them neither hatred nor fear of any human being. History bears witness that Quakers never doffed their hats to kings, to potentates or even to judges in the court of law; that they submitted in simple dignity, level-eyed and serenely erect to scourgings,flayings and burnings in New England but would not forbear their preaching of peace and brotherhood even in the face of death; that John Till, the maternal great-grandfather of Deborah, Ann, Amy, Susannah and Jonathan Heacock among these very settlers, had lain in prison in Stafford, England at the grim behest of Oliver Cromwell, for six long years for failure to attend the public worship, until released by Charles the Secon, but would not yield his faith. Of such stock, were made these early Canadian pioneers" ( Pioneer Families of the Niagara Frontier by Lee F. Heacock; Buffalo Evening News, May 2, 1931)
Quakerism began in the mid 17th century in England, by George Fox. It is reported that he had not intended in starting a religious society, but people of like mind, gravitated toward him. As it was a time of religious and political unrest, the Parliament and the established church did not take kindly to the new ideas of George Fox and his followers. They believed in the concept of "that of God within", which then made it impossible for them to bear arms against another, or support those who did,(army). However, they did not sit idly by, but often stirred people up, against the traditional churches. In retaliation, Parliament passed the Quaker Act of 1662, which punished members who refused to take an oath of allegiance, or for those who assembled in groups for 'unauthorized worship'.Then, the Conventicle Acts of 1662 and 1670 were passed, increasing the persecution. It was no wonder that they chose to flee the country.
The first Quakers came from Britain to Canada, via America (United States), about the late 18th century, and continued through the 19th century. They arrived in the Maritimes, and settled there, as well as, in what is now the province of Ontario. A splinter group, "Children of Peace", was established in Sharon, Ontario. They in turn, were great supporters of the Sons of Temperance.
My Heacock ancestors were originally members of the Quakers, participated in the Sons of Temperance, and as time went on, became members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and then the United Church of Canada. The more I understand the religious history of my maternal family, the more I understand the strictness of my younger years. I resented that I was not allowed to play cards or sew, on Sundays. It was a 'day of rest'. I never took the time to understand the sacrifices of my ancestors.
Sharon Temple
Sharon, Ontario
Quakers in York North, Ontario
American Friend Obituary Index, 1894-1960.
Quaker Marriages
(from: Record of Pennsylvania Marriages, Prior to 1810
Volume II, Harrisburg. Lane S. Hart, State Printer. 1880)
Click below to see a list of marriages at the following Monthly Meetings:
Marriage Records of New Jersey
Chesterfield(Burlington County) Friends' Monthly Meeting.
Yonge Street Meeting House and Hicksite Quaker Church
(from Early Settlements of King Township, Ontario by Elizabeth McClure Gillham, 1975.)The first building erected for the purpose of religious worship north of Toronto was the meeting house of the Society of Friends, constructed in 1810 by "orthodox" Quakers, on lot 92, concession 1; this building still remains a landmark on Yonge Street. The Friends' Meeting House did not hold regular services after 1930. It was used from May first until the end of October by the Friends' Society, which held service at eleven o'clock in the morning. Winter services were discontinued as heating by means of a wood stove proved unsatisfactory. The members are scattered, some coming from Mono Mills, Mono Road, Sharon and Don Mills. Visitors are always welcome. In 1974, work was begun to install central heating, electric lights, and running water.
Nearly two decades after the Friends' Meeting House was built, in 1829, the "Hicksite" Quaker church was constructed south of the Friends' church, on lots 89 and 90, concession 1. The Hicksite Church was less strict in observances than the Friends' and, for example, permitted music during services. Their cemetery was located just north of the entrance to the home of Elton Armstrong (lot 89). Isaac Phillips, a former owner of lot 89, gave the land for the church and for the cemetery. The church was demolished in 1942.
Delilah Heacock gravestone
Jan. 7, 1816 - Apr. 11, 1880
(from: Toronto of Old: collections and recollections, illustrative of the early settlement and social life of the capital of Ontario. Scalding, Henry. Adam , Stevenson & Co., Toronto. 1873)
In the Gazette of October 4, 1806, we read: On Tuesday the 30th of September, the following address from the Quakers residing on Yonge Street was presented to his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor:
"The Society of the people called Quakers to Francis Gore, Governor of Upper Canada, sendeth greeting. Not withstanding we are a people who hold forth to the world a principle which in many respect differs from the greater part of mankind, yet we believe it our reasonable duty, as saith the Apostle, 'Submit yourselves unto very ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be the king as supreme or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well'; in this we hope to be his humble and peaceful subjects. Although we cannot for conscience sake join with many of our fellow mortals in complimentary customs of man, neither in taking up the sword in order to shed human blood-- for the Scripture saith that 'it is righteousness that exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people' -- we feel concerned for they welfare and the prosperity of the province,hoping they administration may be such as to be a terror to the eveil minded and a pleasure to them that do well: then will the province flourish and prosper under thy direction; which is the earnest desire and prayer of they sincere friends.
Read and approved in Yonge Street monthly meeting, held the 18th day of the ninth month, 1806. Timothy Rogers and Amos Armitage are appointed to attend on the Governor therewith. Signed by order of the said meeting; Nathaniel Pearson, clerk."
(from Friends and Peace: Quaker Pacifist Influence in Ontario to the Early Twentieth Century By Lise Hansen)
The first American Quakers who settled in Upper Canada in 1784, and those who followed, were part of a great migration of Americans which lasted until the 1820's. Some pro-British Quakers fled the United States to be free of political persecution and post-revolutionary economic hardship. Although not technically United Empire Loyalists, the Quakers were invited and welcomed to Upper Canada by Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe because of their qualities of honesty and hard work, as well as their sense of community building in the wilderness. Although, a few American Quakers fought for the British (and lost Quaker membership as a result), those who had not fought had at least not supported the revolution. Although, Simcoe would have preferred to populate Upper Canada with members of the Church of England who would have been willing to further British ideals, including a strong militia, insufficient numbers of Anglicans were available. Therefore, he enticed the American peace sects, including the Quakers, Mennonites and Tunkers, to Upper Canada with promises of the benefits of British law, an abundance of land, and respect for their pacifist ideals.
These ideals were reflected in the Militia Act of Upper Canada of 1791 which excused the peace sects from military service, but in lieu of bearing arms the law imposed a tax on all military-aged objectors. Whereas the Mennonites felt that the tax was simply an imposition and a financial hardship, the Quakers could not reconcile payment with their religious principles as paying money for the support of war was tantamount to supporting war. The Quakers, therefore refused to pay the tax and, as a result, their goods were frequently seized and sold to cover the amount of the tax.
As an ill-will was brewing, not only between the Quakers and the government, but between the Americans and the British, Quaker leaders felt a need to reassert their principles of non-compliance. In 1806, Timothy Rogers and Amos Armitage of Yonge Street Monthly Meeting met with Lieutenant-Governor Gore to advise him of Quaker loyalty to the existing government and to reaffirm Quaker opposition to war. The Governor indicated his support and acknowledged the Quaker peace testimony. Nonetheless, in 1809, a law was passed authorizing military officials to impress horses, carriages, and oxen to be used for military defence and imposing jail sentences upon religious objectors who had not paid their tax in lieu of military service. Men from the Yonge Street Monthly Meeting, which was located on a military road, were regularly jailed or went into hiding to avoid imprisonment. Local meetings suffered confiscations estimated in the thousands of dollars. These impressments, seizures and incarcerations resulted in a strong, active lobby by each of the peace sects for the repeal of the 1809 statute. During the following War of 1812, the Anglican governing class of Upper Canada suspected all American immigrants of disloyalty to the Crown. Thus, settlers were, for a while, threatened with the loss of their land and at least one Quaker lost his right to vote and hold office. Yet, for the most part, despite physical and emotional hardship, Ontario Friends refused to be co-opted into this war effort.
