The Society of Friends
Quakers

The Society of Friends – aka Quakers – is a Christian Protestant sect founded by George Fox in the 17th century.

In 1717, they directed that stones should not be set up on graves, and that any already erected should be removed. Many were moved to private houses – see John Elam.

They held their services at meeting houses:

• Friends Meeting House, Halifax
• Friends Meeting House, Heptonstall
• Friends Meeting House, Highroad Well
• Friends Meeting House, Rastrick
• Friends Meeting House, Sowerby
• Friends Meeting House, Sowerby Bridge
• Friends Meeting House, Todmorden

They were very active in Rastrick. In 1759, there were more Quaker meeting houses in Halifax parish than those of any other group of Dissenters.

In general, Quakers could only marry other Quakers.

Quakers were banned from attending universities and went into trade and industry – such as Cadbury, Rowntree and Fry – rather than the professions.

Because of their pacifist beliefs, Quakers were not popular with the general public and were often persecuted.

An Order for Imprisonment of Friends [1660-1666] lists a number of Quakers aged over 18 years who had refused to take an oath of allegiance. They were ordered to be received into the gaol and held there.

The list included

• Robert Cowling
• Nathaniel Crowder
• Paul Greenwood
• Joshua Hodgson
• John Howker of Halifax
• William Midgley
• Thomas Pollard
• Joshua Rushforth of North Otteram [Northowram?]
• Samuel Rushforth
• John Wilson

They had their own Burial Grounds

• Friends Burial Ground, Halifax
• Friends Burial Ground, Hartshead
• Friends Burial Ground, Highroad Well
• Friends Burial Ground, Rastrick
• Friends Burial Ground, Shoebroad
• Friends Burial Ground, Shore
• Friends Burial Ground, Sowerby Bridge

There are several entries relating to Quakers in the district:

The Clay family of Rastrick The Collinson family of Halifax The Cooper family of Brighouse The Fryer family of Rastrick The Stancliffe family of Shibden Adult School Movement Albert Benjamin Bayes David Binns Bootham School, York Bottomley Henry Broadbent James Brooksbank Charles Roden Buxton John Clay Joseph Travis Clay Thomas Collinson Rev Henry Crabtree Thomas Dearnally District Friends' School, Ackworth Robert Duckworth Henry Dyson Simeon Dyson Robert Eastburn John Elam John Fielden John Fielden Joshua Fielden Joshua Fielden Joshua Fielden Joshua Fielden Thomas Fielden Thomas Fielden Joseph Firth Joseph Firth Thomas Firth Thomas Firth Alexander Fothergill George Fox Friends Adult School, Halifax Dr Joseph Fryer The Greene family Jonathan Halliday Sir Thomas Hanbury Richard Hanson Richard Hanson Abraham Hodgson

Sarah Hodgson Henry Kailey Abraham Kershaw John King Richard Lawson Jonathan Laycock Joshua Laycock Joshua Laycock Mankinholes Quaker Meeting House Newlands Meeting House, Rastrick William Parker Pilkington Hall Burial Ground, Mankinholes Pilkington Hall, Mankinholes Jonas Preston William Preston Quaker Burial Ground, Shoebroad Quakers in Brighouse & Rastrick Robert Ramsden Rowntree's of York Sir Richard Saltonstall Rev Thomas Shillitoe Shoebroad Farm Meeting House Shore John Smith Joshua Smith Joshua Smith Snake Hill Meeting House, Rastrick Snake Hill, Rastrick Sowerby Old Road Quaker Chapel Jonas Stansfield Steeple Tax Stones House, Todmorden Mary Storrs Daniel Sutcliffe Rev Christopher Taylor Captain Thomas Taylor Joseph Thorp Henry Wadsworth Judith Wadsworth Ephraim Winn Matthew Wright Yeoman clothier

See Quaker dates, Quaker names, Slave trade and Sufferings

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