The latter end of the sixth month I went to the general meeting of ministers and elders And, Oh! the loss that his dear wife and for the east part of New-Jersey, and to the tender children will have of him, really affects quarterly and youths' meeting at Burlington, me with sorrow in penning these notes; but and to a general meeting at Stony-brook, and the sorrow, in these things, is all on our side; to the quarterly meeting of the county of for he, without doubt, is at rest with his great Bucks. John Oxley, of Barbadoes, and Master in heaven. We had a larger meeting Joshua Fielding, of London, were at divers at his funeral than ever was known to be

to boast of; it is the Lord's grace and mercy which saveth us.

Having occasion to make another voyage to Barbadoes, I wrote to the teacher of my children as followeth :

"Frankford, 10th of Tenth month, 1727. "Loving friend,

there before, as an ancient Friend told me, which was solemn and serviceable to many. Some time after, having been at divers meetings about home, John Oxley and I, in company, visited Friends on Long island. At Flushing we were at the burial of Jonathan Dickinson many people of divers persuasions, were at the meeting on that occasion, and were very sober and attentive. I was at "Being about to embark for Barbadoes, I the yearly meeting for the south side of the is- leave the charge of my little children to thy land, at a place called Sequetague, which meet-care, not doubting thy management of them, ing was large, many Friends and others coming to it over the Plains. I was afterwards at the yearly meeting at Shrewsbury, in East Jersey, which held three days, and was very large, and the last day the people were very still. Joshua Fielding was at this meeting, and was therein concerned to preach the gospel of Christ with good authority, and matter suitable to a true gospel minister; John Oxley was ill of a fever, so that he could not be there; but there were brethren from divers parts, and the power and presence of the Most High was with and among us; blessed be his name.

I was also at Rahway river, where was a solid, good meeting. From thence I returned home, having been abroad about a month, and at above twenty meetings, and travelled above three hundred and fifty miles.

In the eighth month, at Frankford, we had three burials out of one house, at one time; the mother, daughter, and grand-daughter, of which I had never known the like instance before. On this occasion we had the company of many neighbours, and a very solemn meeting at our meeting house at Frankford.

About this time I was at meetings at Philadelphia, Abington and Burlington: we had an evening meeting at Burlington, with Richard Smith, jr., who had been so ill that he could not get out to meetings for some months: it was such a satisfactory meeting, that he and I, and others who were there, will not easily forget it, our hearts being broken together.

The world still continued to frown upon me; but though this was the case, yet at times, I had great consolation in Christ; and in the midst of my troubles, when I looked back, I could truly say that I had not been extravagant, but frugal; not covetous, but charitable; not idle, but industrious; not willing to be such an infidel as not to take care for my family. This was some solid comfort to my mind; and I bless the Almighty, that I always preferred his work and service to my own, and therein had great peace. This I can also say, if it were the last I should say, that I never wilfully, or knowingly, wronged any man, woman, or child, since I came to years of discretion; and yet I have nothing

by their growing in their learning; please to instruct them to sobriety and the fear of God, and faith in Christ; and if I should never see them nor thee any more, our lives being uncertain in this world, pray let them know that it was their father's will and desire, that they should mind their learning, and above all things, mind the fear of the Most High. When my little daughter hath read her testament through, I would have her go to writing; and George the same, on the same terms. Please to learn them the use of chapter and verse, that if any ask them where they are learning, they may tell. And kind friend, inasmuch as I perceive thou hast followed my former directions, I look on myself obliged to thee; therefore am so much the more free to impart my mind to thee, now on my departure; which, with real love, is from thy loving friend,

"THOMAS CHALKLEY.

"P. S. Although my care is great for my children's learning their books, yet it is much more so as to their learning true piety and virtue."

On the 25th of the tenth month we set sail from Philadelphia in the sloop Dove, Oswald Peel, master; having taken a solemn farewell of my dear wife, children and friends, in order for the support of my family, and answering my just debts, which I had contracted. On the 27th day of the month, in the evening, we took in our boat and put to sea; had some rough weather in our passage, but lived comfortably; we being all loving and obliging one to another. On the 15th of the eleventh month, we safely arrived at Speight's-town, in Barbadoes; and the 18th, between the hours of five and six in the morning, we felt the greatest earthquake that I had ever felt; having been sensible of three, one at London, one at Jamaica, and one at Frankford, in Pennsylvania. I was thankful in my heart to the Lord for my safe arrival, and that we were all preserved safe in our stormy passage, and deeply loaded vessel; one vessel being lost that came out a little time before us; and another, which came from our port to this

island a few days sooner than we, lost three two hours, but did not come to. I was thankmen by the violence of the storm, and received ful for this water, it being my constant drink; much damage otherwise; one of them being it was also very serviceable to the people on a neighbour of mine, with whom I was well board. After we left the isle of Sombrero, acquainted, it affected my mind very much. we saw a sail, which we thought stood after I visited Friends' meetings in Barbadoes, and us, and hearing at Christopher's that several some divers times over; and had occasion in Spanish privateers were on that coast, our some meetings to mention the earthquake, master, and some others on board, were a which I told them I did believe was a visita- little surprised; but we soon left her out of tion from the Almighty, in order to put people sight, and we afterwards went pleasantly on in mind of mortality, and to reform them our way, till we came to the latitude of Berfrom the evil of their ways, and call them to muda, where the winds blew fresh, and much repentance. against us; and this winter having been very hard, we felt the sharp blasts of the latter end of it. We had a passage of about thirty days, and came very pleasantly up the bay and river; and it pleased God that I got home once more to my beloved wife and children, and was joyfully received by all my family, whom I found in a good degree of health; for which I did, as I had occasion to do, bless and praise the great name of the Most High, who is worthy for ever.

After I came home I was at many meetings

While I was in Barbadoes, Francis Gamble died, whom I went to visit several times in his sickness at his funeral was a large gathering of his neighbours, and others; and divers, not of our Society, expressed their satisfaction with the meeting. The people in and about Speight's-town, in Barbadoes, were very loving and kind to me, more than I ever had observed before; even some vile, profane men, whom I could not forbear to reprove for their swearing, and taking the sacred name in vain, yet they showed respect, notwith-in Pennsylvania and Jersey, viz: at Philadelstanding I reproved them sharply. Who can phia, Burlington, Bristol, Byberry, Frankford, take the sacred name of God into their mouths Germantown, New Hanover, Crosswicks, &c., in vain, and be guiltless? or who can hear it, in all which meetings I had some service to and forbear reproving it, without being remiss Friends' satisfaction, and was comforted with in their duty? This great evil is too frequently the goodness of God in the midst of my practised in this rich (poor) island of Barba- afflictions. My business lying much at Burdoes; rich in earthly, but poor in heavenly lington, I spent pretty much of my time there treasure, which caused me many times to mourn in secret before the Almighty, praying him for the reformation of the people, for Christ's sake, and for the glory of his own eternal name.

for several weeks; where my friends manifested a tender and hearty respect towards me, and sympathized with me in my troubles and travels; and there I prepared for another voyage; for I was fully resolved, through diThe 27th of the first month, 1728, having vine assistance, to pay all my just debts, which done my business in Barbadoes, and seen I contracted, and lay on me, through many Friends generally, an opportunity offered for losses, or else to die in the pursuit of it; in my return home, in the brigantine Sarah and which resolve I had inward peace and satisMary, Samuel Gallop, master, bound for Bur-faction; though such labour, travail, and lington, in company with William Dury and separation from my family, was a great cross William Callender, both of Barbadoes. Our to nature. master was exceedingly kind to us in the voyage. The wind hanging northerly, we could not go to windward, but drove to leeward, and sailed by the isles of Lucia, Martinico, Dominica, Guadaloupe, Antigua, Montserrat, Rodondo, Nevis, Christopher's, Eustatius, Saba, Martin's, Anguilla, Bartholomew's, Sombrero, and four other small islands, which are called the Saints. It was very pleasant sailing by these islands, only some of them were so exceedingly high, that in some places we were becalmed, and the clouds appeared below the tops of the mountains. At Christopher's, which is counted the highest of them, there being a small river of good fresh water, we sent our boat on shore for some, having none very good on board: we lay off and on about

On the 14th of the fifth month we went on board the brigantine Sarah and Mary, Samuel Gallop, master, for Barbadoes; and on the 16th we sailed down the bay and put to sea, and I wrote a loving, tender letter, to my wife and family, and another to my friends at Burlington. We had fair winds for about two weeks, after which they were contrary for several days, during which two of our men had a fever, and our vessel proved leaky, though tight in smooth water, which was some concern to us, and obliged us to pump every half hour; but the leak being much the same while at sea, we were the more easy about it: I took care of those two people that were sick, who soon recovered. The 3d and 4th days of the sixth month it was very

pretty generally on the continent of America, in the ministry of the gospel, and was now on his return homewards, with whose visit Friends had good unity, and certified the same to our brethren of the meeting where he lived in Great Britain.

windy, with lightning, thunder and rain; in which rough weather one of our best sailors put his shoulder out of joint, and they brought him to me to see if I could do him any service. I was not forward to meddle; but the man and the people believing if I would undertake for him, I might help him; I told After this I was at divers meetings in Pennthem that though I did not understand bone sylvania and Jersey; and the latter end of the setting, I would instruct them the best I could; ninth month, Sarah, the wife of Jeremiah Elthen I ordered him to sit down upon the deck, freth, died very suddenly; having been the and to be stripped to the waist, and got a round day before walking in her garden: she was a piece of wood as thick as his arm, and wrap-sober young woman, and her death was much ped a piece of cloth about it, that it might not lamented. Her burial occasioned my stay at bruise his flesh, and put it under his arm, and Philadelphia, which I had shunned, because ordered two men, one at each end of it, to lift | a concern had been on me for some time, to up strongly, and a third man to stretch his declare to the people of that city, that the arm out, and keep it down withal; which Lord was angry with the legislators of Pennbeing done, the bone went into its place; for sylvania, because they were not so much conwhich I was thankful in my heart to the Al- cerned to promote religion and piety, as they mighty. About the 10th of the sixth month ought, and to make such laws as might prewe safely arrived at Speight's-town, in Barba- vent the excessive increase of public houses, does, being the first-day of the week. From which often prove seminaries of satan; but whence I had an opportunity, by Alexander strove to promote parties more than religion: Seaton, master of a vessel bound to Pennsyl- and that the Lord was angry with the magisvania, to send an account of our safe arrival.trates, because they did not so much as they I had many meetings in the island, and might, and ought, to put those good and wholemade several visits to sick persons, one of some laws in execution, which were already which was particularly to the satisfaction of the person visited and his relations: he died, and was buried at Hethcott's bay, and we had a large meeting at our meeting house, where were many people, and it was a good, seasonable opportunity; in which I had occasion to remind them of their mortality, and press them to a holy life, the way to a happy immortality. I had divers meetings at Bridgetown, Speight's-town, and the Spring; where the testimony of Christ's gospel was well received. After a stay of three weeks, I left Barbadoes on the 1st of the seventh month, and took my passage in the Amity, Charles Hargrave, master, who was very friendly to me in my passage, as were all on board. We arrived at our port without casting anchor in all our voyage, and laid the vessel to the wharf at Philadelphia; and on my landing, I immediately went into the meeting of ministers and elders, it being just meeting time, where we were much comforted together in Christ; after which I went home, being lovingly received by my wife and family, having been from home about ten weeks.

After I came home from this voyage, I visited the meetings of Friends at Philadelphia, Frankford, Germantown, the Falls of Delaware, Burlington, New Hanover, Mount Holly, Fairhill, &c.

made, against vice and immorality; and that the Lord was angry with some of the better sort of people, because they seek and mind the things of this world, more than the things of God and his kingdom. But I was helped to clear myself in the morning meeting to the satisfaction of many of the honest hearted, and unburden my mind of a great exercise that I had long laid under.

In the afternoon we had a large meeting at the Bank meeting house, occasioned by the aforesaid burial; the resurrection of the dead was declared in that meeting, according to the doctrine of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, the great author of the Christian religion, and also of the eminent apostle, Paul; and the old and false calumny, that our Society denied the resurrection of the dead, was publicly denied and refuted. The people were exhorted to live well, that they might die well; and then they need not doubt, but that they would rise well at the resurrection in the last day. The meeting concluded with praise to the Almighty for all his mercies, and prayer to him that he would sanctify that day's service to the people.

In the tenth month I prepared for another voyage to the island of Barbadoes, and had the ship Bristol Hope consigned to me, but the winter setting in sooner than common, caused The 2nd of the ninth month I was at the our stay much longer than we expected, wherequarterly meeting of ministers and elders at by I had the opportunity to visit divers meetPhiladelphia, where I met with Joseph Tay-ings, as Burlington, the Falls of Delaware, lor, a Friend who had visited our meetings Neshaminy, Wright's town, and Philadelphia.

In this city a concern was on my mind to declare to the people, that the Almighty had showed me, that he had often visited those in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania with his own hand, and with his rod; but if that did not work the designed end for which he visited them, of which they were told also before it came to pass, he then would chastise them with the rod of man, and this was as plainly spoken to me in my own habitation, as if it had been the voice of a man, though it was not vocal.

vered from the surprise, and I to the use of my speech, to help me on his horse, and 1 rode home, but in extreme misery, and I was under great concern, lest I should surprise my wife and children suddenly. We sent to Philadelphia for Dr. Griffith Owen, who came in about two hours, and let me blood, and ordered several things to be applied and taken, which through divine favour, proved very serviceable to me; notwithstanding which, I was in great pain many days, and the nights were long and tedious, not being able either to feed The 12th of the eleventh month, being first- myself, or to turn in my bed, for a great day, I was at Horsham meeting, and had a while. In this confinement I was at times tender bowing time therein; and in my way favoured with a very comfortable sense of home visited some Friends who were sick, it the presence of God, whose providence is being a time of general visitation in those over all his works; and as his love to me parts; and the next seventh-day I was at the was great, so the love of his people was also, meeting of ministers and elders at Philadel- many of whom, and of my neighbours, came phia, where we had a good meeting. Here I to see me, sympathizing with me in my diswas earnestly desired to be at the funeral of tress; but among them I had one of Job's Edmond Orpwood, the eldest Friend belong-comforters, who wickedly abused me in this ing to Frankford meeting; but was in a strait, low state. I can scarcely forbear mentioning this Friend being my neighbour, and I had his name, having example for it in holy Writ, before engaged to be at the burial of one with but through the Lord's help, I will put on whom I had been acquainted nearly forty charity. years. I did my endeavour to be at both, The 9th of the twelfth month I got abroad being each of them buried in the afternoon, the first time to our meeting at Frankford, and five miles distant; the days being short with which divers expressed their gladness to also, divers told me it was impracticable. I see me there again. In this meeting I extold them they might be mistaken, as they horted them to think on eternity, and to prewere; for though we had a large meeting, pare for it, by living to-day, as though they and the company of Rowland Wilson, from were to die to-morrow; for I found it by exBritain, who had large and good service perience to be needful, and then if sudden therein, yet after meeting we mounted, and death comes, it will not surprise us. got to Philadelphia about a quarter of an hour after the corpse was brought into the meeting house, as I was informed. We had a large, and as I thought, a good meeting; after which I went home, being weary in my body, but thankful in my heart, that the Almighty had been with us, and helped us to perform that day's service.

As I now found it my business to go to sea for a livelihood, I undertook the charge of the ship New Bristol Hope, as master, though it was a way of living to which I did not incline. I took care in our vessel that there should be no swearing in my hearing, nor drunkenness, to my knowledge, without reproof; and if I could not be instrumental in On the 20th of the eleventh month, and that way to break them from swearing and second-day of the week, I went into a piece drinking to excess, my manner was, to put of ground, which I was clearing for meadow, them away, so that we generally had a pretty in order to give directions to the workmen ; quiet ship. We left Philadelphia the 13th of one of the trees fell contrary to the kerf, and the twelfth month, but storms and contrary also to the wind, which was then at north- winds detained us in the river and bay, so west, and when I saw it falling towards me, that we did not get out to sea till the 21st of I ran from it, but before I could get out of the said month, when the pilot left us, by whom I way, it fell upon me, across my back, from wrote to my wife and family. And now I my shoulder to my hips, and struck me down thought I felt the benefit of the good wishes to the earth, where for some time I lay speech- of my beloved friends whom I had left beless, and in all likelihood I should have been hind, which did me a great deal of good, as immediately killed, if I had not been provi- it often hath done on the like occasion; for dentially preserved by the body of the falling faithful friends and good Christians, are as tree laying on a stump, which prevented its epistles written in one another's hearts. In crushing me, as I lay on the ground. A our passage we took several dolphins, which Friend who was near me, with a horse, de- were very welcome to us, we having a long sired the wood-cutters, when they were reco-passage, and our fresh provisions being nearly