A book containing the handwritten minutes of the men’s portion of the Chesterfield [New Jersey] Monthly Meeting is on-line, and contains a lot of good data about how meetings dealt with those members who weren’t going along with the official testimony against paying militia exemption fines. Here are some examples:
These excerpts can also be found in the book American Quaker War Tax Resistance.
Joseph Ridgway produced an acknowledgment condemning his having inadvertently paid a fine in lieu of personal services in the militia which was read and received.
Jacob Cook produced an acknowledgment condemning his having met with the militia at their monthly training in order to save his fine which was read and received.
But a few years later, Cook was in trouble again over “taking strong drink to excess and neglect[ing] attendance of our religious meetings.” He again repented, and the meeting accepted his acknowledgment.
The preparative Meeting of Mansfield report that John Decow has been so far concerned in military services as to answer to his name when called at the place of training to save his fine and has since paid a fine in lieu of personal services and that Joseph English, Jr. has likewise answered to his name when called at the place of training to save his fine. Benjamin Field, Barzillai Forman, and Fretwell Wright are appointed to treat with them and report to next meeting.
The preparative meeting of Bordentown reports that Timothy Bunting has transgressed the rules of our discipline in paying a fine in lieu of his training with the militia, and accepting the trust of a committee man in support of or encouraging military measures, and justifies his conduct, and that Charles Taylor has transgressed by paying a fine on the same account and justifies his conduct. John Wetheril and Isaiah Robins are appointed to treat with them and report to next meeting.
John Decow had already been in trouble for “bearing of arms in a military manner” and had submitted a written condemnation of his actions to the meeting in . This time a “testification” was produced against him and Joseph English, Jr., and they were informed of their appeal rights. Neither chose to appeal, and that’s the last we hear of Decow. English is still a member as late as , when a mention is made of his intent to marry (the wedding, alas, was reported to have been accompanied by a “too free circulation of spirituous liquors” and so English got another scolding).
A “testification” was made against Bunting & Taylor, which was “read, approv’d, and sign’d” and they were informed of their appeal rights, but there’s no indication of what happened after that.
The preparative meeting of Chesterfield informs that Francis Borden, Jr. has been guilty of striking a man in anger, and has paid a fine in lieu of personal services in the war, and neglects the attendance of our religious meetings. Isaiah Robins and Thomas Thorn are appointed to visit him and let him know the charge exhibited against him and that unless he makes satisfaction agreeable to Discipline the meeting will be under the necessity to testify against him.
The said meeting likewise informs that James Combs has paid fines in lieu of personal service in the war, and has hired a man to go to war in his room, and neglects attending our religious meetings…
The said meeting also reports that Daniel Thorn has gone out in marriage with a woman not of our society and has been concerned in bearing arms in a warlike manner, pressing of wagons, and hiring a man in lieu of personal service…
A “testification” was later produced against Francis Borden, Jr., and Friends were appointed to let him know his appeal rights, but the minutes don’t say what happened next. The same process took place with Daniel Thorn. He chose not to appeal.
Caleb Shreve’s acknowledgment condemning his repaying the money to those who had bought his goods taken for military fines was read and received.
, Shreve had been in trouble, along with some others, for “being concerned in military services” and those Quakers who had visited him and his fellow-offenders found that “they seemed to justify [that is, make excuses for] their conduct” rather than repent. And so another delegation was sent to try to bring them around.
Nonetheless, Shreve was considered to be enough in good standing to be sent as a representative to the quarterly meeting in , and to serve as a disciplinarian in his own right — for instance, being sent by the meeting to chide one William Lippincott, who “has bore arms as a soldier, been guilty of unchaste freedom with a woman he has since married, and neglects the attendance of our religious meeting.”
A testification was also produced against James Combs for neglecting the attendance of our religious meetings, and being concerned in promoting military measures by paying a fine and hiring a man to go to war in his room. Thomas Thorn and Nathan Robins are appointed to serve him with a copy and inform him of his right of appeal and report to our next meeting.
A James Combs had also been in trouble earlier for having married outside the Society and contrary to its rules, but he repented of this. There’s no indication of how this second disciplinary proceeding played out.
The Preparative Meeting of Chesterfield reports that John Robins has deviated from the rules of our Discipline in being guilty of training and paying of fines in lieu of personal service in the war and does not appear in a disposition of condemning the same. Thomas Thorn and James Lawrie are appointed to visit him on the occasion and let him know that if he does not condemn it to the satisfaction of the monthly meeting he will be testified against and make report to our next meeting.
John Robins produced an acknowledgment condemning his going to training and paying a fine in lieu of personal services which was read and received.
John Robins was soon in trouble again, though, this time for “being the father of an unlawful begotten child and going out in marriage” (or as it was later put: “fornication with a woman he afterward married with the assistance of a priest”). In he left town without requesting a certificate from his meeting to give him an introduction to a meeting at his destination, and he was formally disowned.
Isaac Antrum produced an acknowledgment condemning his having paid a fine for refusing to bear arms which was read and received.
Joshua Newbold produced an acknowledgment condemning his having paid a fine in lieu of personal service in the military way which was read and received.
The Preparative meeting of Chesterfield report that Joseph Taylor has paid a fine in lieu of personal services in the war, attended trainings, and been concerned in horse racing. Fretwell Wright and Amos Middleton are appointed to let him know the charges against him and that unless he condemns the said transgressions to the satisfaction of Friends the meeting will be under a necessity to testify against him and report to our next meeting.
A testification was produced to this meeting against Joseph Taylor for paying a fine in lieu of personal service in the war, answering at a place of training, and horse racing which was read, approved, and signed. Nathan Middleton is appointed to give him a copy, let him know his right of appeal, and, if he does not appeal, to publish it at the close of a first day meeting at Chesterfield and report to our next meeting.
Taylor was informed of his appeal rights, and the testification against Taylor was published.
The Preparative Meeting of Chesterfield report that Daniel Taylor has paid fines to exempt him from personal service in the militia. Isaac Wright and John Taylor of Bordentown are appointed to treat with him on the occasion and report to our next meeting.
The committee who were appointed to enquire how far Friends have through fear, or from lucrative motives, balked our religious testimony against war report: John Thorn has taken the Test, paid fines, and hired a man to go out in the Militia. Isaac Field has paid a fine for his servant in lieu of personal service, holds an office of trust in the present unsettled state of public affairs, and is supposed to have taken the Test.… John Wetherill has paid a fine for his boy in lieu of personal service in the Militia, and after his goods were sold he paid the money and took them again. Fretwell Wright, Caleb Ogborn, John Elliss, and Barzillai Furman are appointed to treat with them and report to next meeting.
The said committee likewise report that Nathan Beakes, Jr. has paid fines for military Services, Josiah Furman and John Haworth are appointed to treat with him and inform him that if he does not make satisfaction he will be testified against, and report to next meeting.
Isaac Ivins, Jr. produced an acknowledgment to this meeting condemning his having signed the Association and paying fines in lieu of personal service in the war which was read and referred for the consideration of next meeting.
Isaac Ivins, Jr. next shows up in in a dispute over an unpaid debt (assuming he isn’t the same person as plain old Isaac Ivins, who starts showing up in as a wayward payer of militia exemption taxes).
A testification was produced to this meeting against Daniel Taylor for paying fines to exempt him from personal service in war, which was read, approved, and signed. Isaiah Robins and Isaac Wright are appointed to give him a copy, if required let him know his right of appeal, and report to next meeting.
John Wetherill produced an acknowledgment to this meeting condemning his having paid a military fine demanded on account of his lad and for buying his wagon after it was distrained and sold, which was read and received.
Gamaliel Warren produced an acknowledgment to this meeting condemning his having paid a fine in lieu of personal service in the military way, which was read and received.
1780
Testifications were produced to this meeting against John Thorn who has so far deviated from our religious principles as to take the Test and pay fines in lieu of personal service in the militia and hiring a man to act therein… Likewise against Nathan Beakes, Jr. for paying fines in lieu of personal service in the militia, which were read, approved, and signed.
Mansfield Preparative meeting report that Ezra Black is charged with taking too much Strong Drink, has paid a fine for the support of war, and has been in the neglect of attending our Religious meetings…
Isaac Field produced an acknowledgment to this meeting condemning his having paid a fine in lieu of personal service for the support of war, and also to hold office in the present unsettled state of public affairs requiring a qualification, the consideration of which is referred to our next meeting.
William West son of Bartholomew has married a woman, contrary to the rules of our Society, that is not in membership with Friends, and has paid fines to exempt him from personal service in the Militia and justifies his conduct therein.
Thomas Thorn reports William West son of Bartholomew has been informed of the charges against him he having married a woman, contrary to the rules of our Society, that is not in membership with friends, and has paid fines to exempt him from personal service in the Militia therefore this meeting disowns him the said William West from being any longer a member of our religious Society until he comes to a sense of his misconduct and condemns the same as Discipline directs.
A William West was also busted in for “taking spiritous liquor to excess, using unbecoming language, and neglecting the attendance of our religious meetings,” but since the above two notes are careful to call this William West “son of Bartholomew” I’m guessing this is to distinguish him from another William West, so that may not be the same fellow.
Isaac Field produced a paper to this meeting condemning his having paid a fine in lieu of personal service in the war, also to hold an office in the present unsettled state of public affairs requiring a common affirmation for the true performance thereof, which is referred for the consideration of next meeting.
There is an “X” drawn in pencil through that last paragraph (possibly because it is a duplicate of an earlier entry in the minutes). Field had also had to “produce a paper” in to condemn his marrying outside the Society and its customs.
Chesterfield Preparative meeting informs Thomas Thorn, Jr. has been in the practice of paying military fines to exempt him from the service thereof. Benjamin Linton and Fretwell Wright are appointed to treat with him, inform him of the charge, and report to next meeting.
A testification was produced to this meeting against Ezra Black for neglecting the attendance of our religious meetings, taking spirituous liquor to excess, and paying a fine for the support of war, which was read, approved and signed. William Satterthwait and Barzillai Furman are appointed to give him a copy, inform him of his right of appeal; if he does not appeal, to publish it at the close of a First Day meeting at Mansfield and report to next meeting.
Ezra Black decided to appeal to the Quarterly Meeting; he later withdrew his appeal, but the meeting minutes are silent about him after that, so it’s unclear if he reconciled with the meeting.
The friends appointed report they visited Thomas Thorn, Jr., that he did not appear disposed to make friends satisfaction, he having been in the practice of paying military fines to exempt him from the service thereof, therefore this meeting disowns him the said Thomas Thorn from being a member of our religious society untill he comes to a sense of his error and condemns the same to the satisfaction of the Meeting.
A testification was produced to this meeting against Caleb Wright for being guilty of fornication with a woman whom he did not marry, taking spirituous liquor to excess, striking a man in anger, and paying a fine in lieu of personal service in war, which was read and approved, and the clerk is desired to transcribe and sign on behalf of the Meeting. Richard Wey Furman and Joseph Pancoast are appointed to give him a copy, inform him of his right of appeal; if he does not appeal, to publish it at the close of a First Day Meeting at Upper Springfield and report to next meeting.
Wright later “produced an Acknowledgment to this Meeting concerning his having unchaste freedom with a woman not now his wife and also striking a man in anger,” but this, being a little incomplete, and in any case “not being satisfactory,” some Friends were assigned to inquire further into the nature of his repentance, and particularly into “whether he has satisfied the Woman.” Meanwhile, a “testification” was drawn up, signed, and published, and he was read his rights (he chose not to appeal).
Upperfreehold Preparative Meeting informs Isaac Ivins has acted as a juryman on a jury appointed for the confiscation of estates, has paid an exempt or substitute tax for the support of war, and neglects the attendance of our religious meetings. John Bullock and Joseph Bullock are appointed to treat with him, inform him of the charges, and report to next meeting.
Isaac Ivins produced a paper to this meeting condemning his serving as a jury man for the purpose of confiscating estates, and being in the practice of paying all the monies demanded of him for carrying on the present unhappy contest without enquiring for what use intended, from which he apprehends it reasonable to suppose he has paid one or more substitute or exempt taxes, and neglecting the attending of our religious meetings, which was read and received.
Jacob Taylor has taken strong liquor to excess, paid money towards hiring a substitute for war, and neglects the attendance of our religious meetings. Fretwell Wright and Isaiah Robins are appointed to Treat with him on the occasion and report to next Meeting.
A testification was produced to this Meeting against Jacob Taylor for taking strong liquor to Excess, paying money towards hiring a substitute for the service of war, and neglects the attendance of our religious meetings, which was read, approved and signed. Fretwell Wright and David Kelly are appointed to give him a copy thereof, inform him of his right of appeal; if he does not appeal, to publish it at the close of a First Day meeting at Bordentown and report to next meeting.
Jacob Taylor declined to appeal, and the testification was published.
