Catalogue description [Albans] - Luton & Leighton MM

Folio vol., contemporary parchment binding;

only 102 pp written;

(pp.3-8: minutes 1754-5 copied here because "omitted from the fair book")

indications as to organisation:-

YM & Sufferings

p. 9 case about militia read, 1778

11 advice from Sufferings on recruitment

31 general collection required

54 "divers members absent at", 13/6/1783

57 directs apptmt. of registrar for births, marriages, burials

85 printed epistles distributed "as usual"

QM

44 directs visits to families where necess., 1782

(family at Dunstable being deficient in points of conduct, this meeting appoints Rich, Jos & Jn Brown; p.45 the visit in some degree to satisfaction)

slavery (see under testimonies)

94 QM arranges visitations of the several MMs of Albans, Luton & Ampthill

98 QM approves merger of Luton & Albans MMs

MM merger with Albans

95 Albans expresses willingness, 1785

97 junction to mutual benefit, 1786

98 approved QM as above

100 meetingplaces to be:-

1. Hemel

2. Luton

3. Albans

4. Luton

5. Hemel

6. Luton

7. Albans

8. Luton

9. Hemel

10. Luton

11. Albans

12. Luton

but not Chorley Wood.

The MM to be called Albans.

Overseers

39 some alteration being thought necessary touching the present appointment, Rich & Jos Brown are apptd. by this meeting.

Registrar

57 apptd. for births, mar., bur., (on requirement of Mtg. for Suff.), Jos Brown sr., 1783

Travelling Friends

53 Sam Spavold visits families "much to comfort & satisfaction", 1783

Routine business not noted

(but e.g. sufferings p.15 "taken from Friends in harvest" (most Chris Pryor £53.14.6.) and p.66 "taken in hay & corn harvest, also militia tax & church rates", 1784)

Meetinghouses etc.

Dunstable: p.13 caretaker paid; also repairs;

p.21 repairs; p.78 etc. 1784

Sewell: p.13 caretaker paid; p.78 etc.

p.21 "entertainment at", £1-2-6

Luton: p.13 rent paid (etc.)

p.22 notice to quit meetinghouse

(see below: disownment of Dan Brown)

p.78 etc.

burial cart repaired p.13

Discipline

p.9-10 Elias Hill, despite promises, still a reproach (drinking);

therefore therefore to be disowned; see also below;

14-15 Wm Freeth readmitted on request, 1779

15-18 Dan Brown's misconduct, 1779; visit not as satisfactory as could be wished; disowned; (unlawful connection with his late servt. Lydia Ward - also disowned)

39-41 asks to be readmitted 1783 & is accepted.

34-40 Thos Burr (visit not satis.) disowned; wholly withdrawn & joins himself to public way of worship

49,55,59 Edm Humphrey (minute discont. for present)

70-3 Eliz Chessy disowned: unlawful intimacy with Fowler

77,79 Wm Freeth fails again, 1784

81,87 help given for his children at Ackworth

90 visited by Horslydown mtg.; disowned again.

Charity

89 children of Elias Hill at Ackworth (but he absents himself from his master - to be visited; p.97 he is disowned by Gracechurch St. MM)

98-9 Rich Brown's 2 children in difficulty;

101 Horslydown mtg. asked for 6s. week

Books

23 epistles of Ste Crisp

Ackworth School p.44 (and see above) etc.

Testimonies: slavery

89 Herts. QM meeting at Hitchin asks answer from Beds QM to query in YM mtes. respecting the slave the slave trade.