_His first Journey, on a religious Visit, into_ East-Jersey, _in
Company with_ ABRAHAM FARRINGTON--_His Thoughts on merchandizing,
and his learning a Trade_--_His second Journey, with_ ISAAC ANDREWS,
_into_ Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, _and_ North Carolina--_His
third Journey, with_ PETER ANDREWS, _through Part of_ West _and_
East-Jersey--_Some Account of his Sister_ ELIZABETH, _and her
Death_--_His fourth Journey, with_ PETER ANDREWS, _through_ New-York
_and_ Long-Island, _to_ New-England--_And his fifth Journey, with_
JOHN SYKES, _to the eastern Shore of_ Maryland, _and the lower
Counties on_ Delaware
My esteemed Friend, _Abraham Farrington_, being about to make a Visit to
Friends on the eastern Side of this Province, and having no Companion,
he proposed to me to go with him; and, after a Conference with some
elderly Friends, I agreed to go: We set out the fifth Day of the ninth
Month, in the Year 1743; had an Evening-meeting at a Tavern in
_Brunswick_, a Town in which none of our Society dwelt; the Room was
full, and the People quiet. Thence to _Amboy_, and had an
Evening-meeting in the Court-house; to which many People came, amongst
whom were several Members of the Assembly, they being in Town on public
Affairs of the Province: In both these Meetings my ancient Companion was
enlarged to preach, in the Love of the Gospel. Thence we went to
_Woodbridge_, _Raway_, and _Plainfield_; and had six or seven Meetings
in Places where Meetings of Friends are not usually held, being made up
chiefly of _Presbyterians_; and my beloved Companion was frequently
strengthened to publish the Word of Life amongst them: As for me, I was
often silent; and, when I spake, it was with much Care, that I might
speak only what Truth opened: And I learned some profitable Lessons.--We
were out about two Weeks.
Near this Time, being on some outward Business in which several
Families were concerned, and which was attended with Difficulties, some
Things relating thereto not being clearly stated, nor rightly understood
by all, there arose some Heat in the Minds of the Parties, and one
valuable Friend got off his Watch; I had a great Regard for him, and
felt a strong Inclination, after Matters were settled, to speak to him
concerning his Conduct in that case: But I being a Youth, and he far
advanced in Age and Experience, my Way appeared difficult; but, after
some Days Deliberation, and inward seeking to the Lord for Assistance, I
was made subject; so that I expressed what lay upon me in a Way which
became my Youth and his Years: And, though it was a hard Task to me, it
was well taken, and, I believe, useful to us both.
Having now been several Years with my Employer, and he doing less at
Merchandize than heretofore, I was thoughtful of some other Way of
Business; perceiving Merchandize to be attended with much Cumber, in the
Way of trading in these Parts.
My mind, through the Power of Truth, was in a good degree weaned from
the Desire of outward Greatness, and I was learning to be content with
real Conveniences, that were not costly; so that a Way of Life, free
from much Entanglement, appeared best for me, though the Income might be
small. I had several Offers of Business that appeared profitable, but
did not see my Way clear to accept of them; as believing the Business
proposed would be attended with more outward Care than was required of
me to engage in.
I saw that a humble Man, with the blessing of the Lord, might live on a
little; and that where the Heart was set on Greatness, Success in
Business did not satisfy the craving; but that commonly, with an
Increase of Wealth, the Desire of Wealth increased. There was a Care on
my Mind so to pass my Time, that nothing might hinder me from the most
steady Attention to the Voice of the true Shepherd.
My Employer, though now a Retailer of Goods, was by Trade a Taylor, and
kept a Servant-man at that Business; and I began to think about
learning the Trade, expecting that, if I should settle, I might, by this
Trade and a little retailing of Goods, get a Living in a plain Way,
without the Load of great Business: I mentioned it to my Employer, and
we soon agreed on Terms; and then, when I had Leisure from the Affairs
of Merchandize, I worked with his Man. I believed the Hand of Providence
pointed out this Business for me; and was taught to be content with it,
though I felt, at Times, a Disposition that would have sought for
something greater: But, through the Revelation of Jesus Christ, I had
seen the Happiness of Humility, and there was an earnest Desire in me to
enter deep into it; and, at Times, this Desire arose to a Degree of
fervent Supplication, wherein my Soul was so environed with heavenly
Light and Consolation, that Things were made easy to me which had been
otherwise.
After some Time, my Employer's Wife died; she was a virtuous Woman, and
generally beloved of her Neighbours; and, soon after this, he left
shop-keeping, and we parted. I then wrought at my Trade, as a Taylor;
carefully attended Meetings for Worship and Discipline; and found an
Enlargement of Gospel-love in my Mind, and therein a Concern to visit
Friends in some of the Back-settlements of _Pennsylvania_ and
_Virginia_; and, being thoughtful about a Companion, I expressed it to
my beloved Friend, ISAAC ANDREWS, who then told me that he had Drawings
to the same Places; also to go through _Maryland_, _Virginia_, and
_Carolina_. After considerable Time past, and several Conferences with
him, I felt easy to accompany him throughout, if Way opened for it. I
opened the Case in our Monthly-meeting; and, Friends expressing their
Unity therewith, we obtained Certificates to travel as Companions; his
from _Haddonfield_, and mine from _Burlington_.
We left our Province on the twelfth Day of the third Month, in the Year
1746, and had several Meetings in the upper Part of _Chester_ County,
and near _Lancaster_; in some of which, the Love of Christ prevailed,
uniting us together in his Service. Then we crossed the River
_Susquehannah_, and had several Meetings in a new Settlement, called the
_Red-Lands_; the oldest of which, as I was informed, did not exceed ten
Years. It is the poorer Sort of People that commonly begin to improve
remote Desarts: With a small Stock they have Houses to build, Lands to
clear and fence, Corn to raise, Clothes to provide, and Children to
educate; that Friends, who visit such, may well sympathise with them in
their Hardships in the Wilderness; and though the best Entertainment
such can give may seem coarse to some who are used to Cities, or old
settled Places, it becomes the Disciples of Christ to be content with
it. Our Hearts were sometimes enlarged in the Love of our heavenly
Father amongst these People; and the sweet Influence of his Spirit
supported us through some Difficulties: To him be the Praise!
We passed on to _Monoquacy_, _Fairfax_, _Hopewell_, and _Shanando_, and
had Meetings; some of which were comfortable and edifying. From
_Shanando_ we set off in the Afternoon for the old Settlements of
Friends in _Virginia_; and, the first Night, we, with our Pilot, lodged
in the Woods, our Horses feeding near us; but he being poorly provided
with a Horse, and we young and having good Horses, were free the next
Day to part with him; and did so. In two Days after, we reached to our
Friend _John Cheagle's_, in _Virginia_; so we took the Meetings in our
Way through _Virginia_; were, in some Degree, baptized into a feeling
Sense of the Conditions of the People; and our Exercise in general was
more painful in these old Settlements, than it had been amongst the back
Inhabitants: But, through the Goodness of our heavenly Father, the Well
of living Waters was, at Times, opened to our Encouragement and the
Refreshment of the sincere-hearted. We went on to _Perquimons_, in
_North-Carolina_, had several Meetings, which were large, and found some
Openness in those Parts, and a hopeful Appearance amongst the young
People. So we turned again to _Virginia_, and attended most of the
Meetings which we had not been at before, labouring amongst Friends in
the Love of Jesus Christ, as Ability was given; and thence went to the
Mountains, up _James-River_, to a new Settlement, and had several
Meetings amongst the People, some of whom had lately joined in
Membership with our Society.
In our journeying to and fro, we found some honest-hearted Friends, who
appeared to be concerned for the Cause of Truth among a backsliding
People.
From _Virginia_, we crossed over the River _Patowmac_, at Hoe's Ferry,
and made a general Visit to the Meetings of Friends on the Western Shore
of _Maryland_; and were at their Quarterly-meeting. We had some hard
Labour amongst them, endeavouring to discharge our Duty honestly as Way
opened, in the Love of Truth: And thence taking sundry Meetings in our
Way, we passed homeward; where, through the Favour of divine Providence
we reached the sixteenth Day of the sixth Month, in the Year 1746; and I
may say that, through the Assistance of the Holy Spirit, my Companion
and I travelled in Harmony, and parted in the Nearness of true brotherly
Love.
Two Things were remarkable to me in this Journey; first, in Regard to my
Entertainment, when I ate, drank, and lodged at free-cost, with People
who lived in Ease on the hard Labour of their Slaves, I felt uneasy;
and, as my Mind was inward to the Lord, I found, from Place to Place,
this Uneasiness return upon me, at Times, through the whole Visit. Where
the Masters bore a good Share of the Burthen, and lived frugally, so
that their Servants were well provided for, and their Labour moderate, I
felt more easy; but where they lived in a costly Way, and laid heavy
Burthens on their Slaves, my Exercise was often great, and I frequently
had Conversation with them, in private, concerning it. Secondly; this
Trade of importing Slaves from their native Country being much
encouraged amongst them, and the white People and their Children so
generally living without much Labour, was frequently the Subject of my
serious Thoughts: And I saw in these southern Provinces so many Vices
and Corruptions, increased by this Trade and this Way of Life, that it
appeared to me as a Gloom over the Land; and though now many willingly
run into it, yet, in future, the Consequence will be grievous to
Posterity: I express it as it hath appeared to me, not at once nor
twice, but as a Matter fixed on my Mind.
Soon after my Return Home, I felt an increasing Concern for Friends on
our Sea-coast; and, on the eighth Day of the eighth Month, in the Year
1746, with the Unity of Friends, and in Company with my beloved Friend
and Neighbour, PETER ANDREWS, Brother to my Companion before-mentioned,
we set forward, and visited Meetings generally about _Salem_, _Cape
May_, _Great_ and _Little Egg-Harbour_; and had Meetings at _Barnagat_,
_Mannahocking_, and _Mane-Squan_, and so to the Yearly-meeting at
_Shrewsbury_. Through the Goodness of the Lord Way was opened, and the
Strength of divine Love was sometimes felt in our Assemblies, to the
Comfort and Help of those who were rightly concerned before him. We were
out twenty-two Days, and rode, by Computation, three hundred and forty
Miles. At _Shrewsbury_ Yearly-meeting, we met with our dear Friends
MICHAEL LIGHTFOOT and ABRAHAM FARRINGTON, who had good Service there.
The Winter following my eldest Sister, ELIZABETH WOOLMAN, jun. died of
the Small-pox, aged thirty-one Years. She was, from her Youth, of a
thoughtful Disposition; and very compassionate to her Acquaintance in
their Sickness or Distress, being ready to help as far as she could. She
was dutiful to her Parents; one Instance whereof follows:--It happened
that she, and two of her Sisters, being then near the Estate of young
Women, had an Inclination, one First-day after Meeting, to go on a Visit
to some other young Women at some Distance off; whose Company, I
believe, would have done them no Good. They expressed their Desire to
our Parents; who were dissatisfied with the Proposal, and stopped them.
The same Day, as my Sisters and I were together, and they talking about
their Disappointment, _Elizabeth_ expressed her Contentment under it;
signifying, she believed it might be for their Good.
A few Years after she attained to mature-Age, through the gracious
Visitations of God's Love, she was strengthened to live a self-denying
exemplary Life, giving herself much to Reading and Meditation.
The following Letter may shew, in some Degree, her Disposition.
HADDONFIELD, _1st Day, 11th Month_, 1743.
Beloved Brother, JOHN WOOLMAN,--In that Love which desires the
Welfare of all Men, I write unto thee: I received thine, dated
second Day of the tenth Month last, with which I was comforted. My
Spirit is bowed with Thankfulness that I should be remembered, who
am unworthy; but the Lord is full of Mercy, and his Goodness is
extended to the meanest of his Creation; therefore, in his infinite
Love, he hath pitied, and spared, and shewed Mercy, that I have not
been cut off nor quite lost; but, at Times, I am refreshed and
comforted as with the Glimpse of his Presence, which is more to the
immortal Part, than all which this World can afford: So, with
Desires for thy Preservation with my own, I remain
Thy affectionate Sister,
ELIZ. WOOLMAN, jun.
In the fore Part of her Illness she was in great Sadness and Dejection
of Mind, of which she told one of her intimate Friends, and said, When I
was a young Girl I was wanton and airy, but I thought I had thoroughly
repented of it; and added, I have of late had great Satisfaction in
Meetings. Though she was thus disconsolate, still she retained a Hope,
which was as an Anchor to her: And sometime after, the same Friend came
again to see her, to whom she mentioned her former Expressions, and
said, It is otherwise now, for the Lord hath rewarded me seven fold; and
I am unable to express the Greatness of his Love manifested to me. Her
Disorder appearing dangerous, and our Mother being sorrowful, she took
Notice of it, and said, Dear Mother, weep not for me; I go to my God:
And, many Times, with an audible Voice, uttered Praise to her Redeemer.
A Friend, coming some Miles to see her the Morning before she died,
asked her, how she did? She answered, I have had a hard Night, but shall
not have another such, for I shall die, and it will be well with my
Soul; and accordingly died the next Evening.
The following Ejaculations were found amongst her Writings; written, I
believe, at four Times:
I. Oh! that my Head were as Waters, and mine Eyes as a Fountain of
Tears, that I might weep Day and Night, until acquainted with my God.
II. O Lord, that I may enjoy thy Presence! or else my Time is lost, and
my Life a Snare to my Soul.
III. O Lord, that I may receive Bread from thy Table, and that thy Grace
may abound in me!
IV. O Lord, that I may be acquainted with thy Presence, that I may be
seasoned with thy Salt, that thy Grace may abound in me!
Of late I found Drawings in my Mind to visit Friends in _New-England_,
and, having an Opportunity of joining in Company with my beloved Friend,
PETER ANDREWS, we, having obtained Certificates from our
Monthly-meeting, set forward on the sixteenth Day of the third Month, in
the Year 1747, and reached the Yearly-meeting at _Long-Island_; at which
were our Friends SAMUEL NOTTINGHAM, from _England_, JOHN GRIFFITH, JANE
HOSKINS, and ELIZBETH HUDSON, from _Pennsylvania_, and JACOB ANDREWS,
from _Chesterfield_. Several of whom were favoured in their publick
Exercise; and, through the Goodness of the Lord, we had some edifying
Meetings. After this, my Companion and I visited Friends on
_Long-Island_; and, through the Mercies of God we were helped in the
Work.
Besides going to the settled Meetings of Friends, we were at a general
Meeting at _Setawket_, chiefly made up of other Societies; and had a
Meeting at _Oyster-Bay_ in a Dwelling-house, at which were many People:
At the first of which there was not much said by way of Testimony; but
it was I believe, a good Meeting: At the latter, through the springing
up of living Waters, it was a Day to be thankfully remembered. Having
visited the Island, we went over to the Main, taking Meetings in our
Way, to _Oblong_, _Nine Partners_, and _New-Milford_.--In these back
Settlements we met with several People, who, through the immediate
Workings of the Spirit of Christ in their Minds, were drawn from the
Vanities of the World, to an inward Acquaintance with him: They were
educated in the Way of the _Presbyterians_. A considerable Number of the
Youth, Members of that Society, used to spend their Time often together
in merriment; but some of the principal young Men of that Company being
visited by the powerful Workings of the Spirit of Christ, and thereby
led humbly to take up his Cross, could no longer join in those Vanities;
and, as these stood stedfast to that inward Convincement, they were made
a Blessing to some of their former Companions; so that, through the
Power of Truth, several were brought into a close Exercise concerning
the eternal Well-being of their Souls. These young People continued for
a Time to frequent their publick Worship; and, besides that, had
Meetings of their own; which Meetings were a while allowed by their
Preacher, who, sometimes, met with them: But, in Time, their Judgment,
in Matters of Religion, disagreeing with some of the Articles of the
_Presbyterians_, their Meetings were disapproved by that Society; and
such of them as stood firm to their Duty, as it was inwardly manifested,
had many Difficulties to go through. And their Meetings were in a while
dropped; some of them returning to the _Presbyterians_; and others of
them, after a Time, joined our religious Society. I had Conversation
with some of the latter, to my Help and Edification; and believe several
of them are acquainted with the Nature of that Worship, which is
performed in Spirit and in Truth.
From hence, accompanied by AMOS POWEL, a Friend from _Long-Island_, we
rode through _Connecticut_, chiefly inhabited by _Presbyterians_, who
were generally civil to us; and, after three Days riding, we came
amongst Friends in the Colony of _Rhode-Island_. We visited Friends in
and about _Newport_, and _Dartmouth_, and generally in those Parts; and
then to _Boston_; and proceeded eastward as far as _Dover_; and then
returned to _Newport_; and, not far from thence, we met our Friend,
THOMAS GAWTHROP, from _England_, who was then on a Visit to these
Provinces. From _Newport_ we sailed to _Nantucket_; were there near a
Week; and from thence came over to _Dartmouth_: And having finished our
Visit in these Parts, we crossed the _Sound_ from _New-London_ to
_Long-Island_; and, taking some Meetings on the Island, proceeded
homeward; where we reached the thirteenth Day of the seventh Month, in
the Year 1747, having rode about fifteen hundred Miles, and sailed about
one hundred and fifty.
In this Journey, I may say, in general, we were sometimes in much
Weakness, and laboured under Discouragements; and at other Times,
through the renewed Manifestations of divine Love, we had seasons of
Refreshment, wherein the Power of Truth prevailed.
We were taught, by renewed Experience, to labour for an inward
Stillness; at no Time to seek for Words, but to live in the Spirit of
Truth, and utter that to the People which Truth opened in us. My beloved
Companion and I belonged to one Meeting, came forth in the Ministry near
the same Time, and were inwardly united in the Work; he was about
thirteen Years older than I, bore the heaviest Burthen, and was an
Instrument of the greatest Use.
Finding a Concern to visit Friends in the lower Counties on _Delaware_,
and on the eastern Shore of _Maryland_, and having an Opportunity to
join with my well-beloved ancient Friend, JOHN SYKES, we obtained
Certificates, and set off the seventh Day of the eighth Month, in the
Year 1748; were at the Meetings of Friends in the lower Counties,
attended the Yearly-meeting at _Little-Creek_, and made a Visit to the
chief of the Meetings on the eastern Shore; and so Home by Way of
_Nottingham_: Were abroad about six Weeks, and rode, by Computation,
about five hundred and fifty Miles.
Our Exercise, at Times, was heavy; but, through the Goodness of the
Lord, we were often refreshed; and I may say, by Experience, _He is a
strong Hold in the Day of Trouble_. Though our Society, in these Parts,
appeared to me to be in a declining Condition; yet, I believe, the Lord
hath a People amongst them, who labour to serve him uprightly, but have
many Difficulties to encounter.