Friday, July 24, 2015

Preserving the Ha(y)worth Family History for Future Generations, Part 8

Before we get into the last of the letters, I wanted to share with you something I found on Ancestry.com. It is the marriage intention, of George Haworth and Sarah Scarborough. It that was found in the Quaker records dated September 9, 1710 (1).

According to the Haworth Association website (2), these are the vows exchanged between George and Sarah.
"Whereas George Haworth of ye Township of Makefield in ye County of Bucks & Province of Pennsylvania, Weaver, and Sarah Scarborough, daughter of John Scarborough of ye township Solebury in ye county and province aforesaid, spinster, having intentions of taking each other in marriage did publish ye same before several monthly meetings of ye people called Quakers in ye county aforesaid according to ye good order used amongst ye, whose proceedings therein after a deliberate consideration thereof & having consent of relations and parties concerned nothing appearing to obstruct were approved of by ye at meetings."
"Now these are to certify all whome it may concern yt for ye full accomplishment of their said intentions this 28th day of 9 mo/anno 1710 they ye sd George Haworth and Sarah Scarborough appeared in a publick meeting of ye said people and other matt together at their usual meeting house in ye township of Buckingham and County aforesaid and ye ad George Haworth taking ye ad Sarah Scarborough by ye hand did in a solemn manner openly declare yt he took her to be his wife and did likewise promise to be to her a true and loving and faithfull husband untill death should seperate ym & yn and there in the said assembly she ye ad Sarah Scarborough did likewise declare yt she took ye ad George Haworth to be her husband promising to be unto him a loving and faithfull and true wife untill death should seperate them and moreover ye ad George-Haworth & Sarah Scarborough, (she according to ye custom of marriage assuming ye name of her husband) as a further confirmation thereof did then and there to those present sett their hands & we whose names are hereunder subscribed being amongst others psent at ye solemnization of their ad marriage and subscription in manner aforesaid as witnesses thereunto have also to these psents set our hands ye day & year above written."


George and Sarah were married on September 28, 1710.


The last letter George sent to his brother was in October 1722, Quaker calendar.  It's shorter than the rest but he starts off letting him know that all are well.  "These are to let thee know that we thy kindred are all in good health, blessed be the Lord for it..."  He goes on to let them know a little about Mary and her family.  "My Sister Mary and children desire dearly to be remembered to thee and the rest of our kindred in England; all her children is married and doth well three of them married according to the good order of Friends, her husband died a year and eight months ago." (All italics are excerpts from George’s letters, as written.(3) )


George wants to know more about his brother's health. "So dear Brother I heartily desire thy wellfare both Soul and body. Give my dear Love to my Sisters and to all my Relations and Friends."


At this point in time, George has more children.  "I have 4 children 3 boys and one daughter. Our country is pretty healthy at present blessed be the Lord for it."  


He brings up something in this letter that kind of surprised me.  "We have been affraid of War by the Indians, thro' some ill indian traders but now we have had a treaty of peace."  Indians?? Yikes!  I knew there were Indians around but didn't think about the fact that they might go to war.  


George gives information about the state of the country in 1722.  "Our Country encreaseth and the inhabitants groweth large and fast, Corn is cheap and money scarce."   


The last writing we have from George is, "so having not much more at present but our dear love to you all I rest and remain thy Loving Brother.

George Haworth

P.S. I have received no letters since one from John Laycock; Dear Brother I often think of you forget not to write to me by what oppertunity thou can."  He is still trying to get the family to write to him.  I have loved having these letters to read.  It shows just how important it is to save old papers, letters, newspapers, etc., so future generations can learn things about us.  Take some time to write down information about your family or record a conversation with an older relative! Your future generations with thank you!


Today's Terri's Tidbit:  I just found another podcast that is fun for those working on their family history.  The phone app is called Extreme Genes Family History Radio.  They have a Facebook page.  Click here to visit it.  Their website is here and they have the podcast available there too. Check it out!

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(1) Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.North Carolina Yearly Meeting Minutes. Hege Friends Historical Library, Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina.Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes. Earlham College Friends Collection & College Archives, Richmond, Indiana.Haverford, Quaker Meeting Records. Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania.
(2)Haworth Association Website: http://haworthassociation.org/
(3)George's letters can be found in many publications but most notably in:
Early Letters from Pennsylvania, 1699-1722
George Haworth The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 37, No. 3 (1913), pp. 330-340

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