Selected Entries

Pg 107 (Ref T/1062/41/107)

1699 (4th Quarter Provincial Meeting?)… such meetings that they will give account to ye next Pro. Meeting. The severall mens meetings are desired to collect such matters relateing to ye affairs of truth, as hath happened in their severall quarters since ye last 3/Mo suitable to be added to ye progress of truth Viz what Strange friends from any part besides their own what meetings have been in Strange & needfull places, what sufferings tht happened to friend beyond whats common either in their persons or substance, or what Judgments hath attended persecutors,or any other matter relateing to truth & send ye same in writeing to ye next Pro. Meeting. The six friends having given account in writeing to this meeting tht they held their meeting yesterday in this place where sundry matters relateing to truth have been under their consideration, that they received accounts from overseers of worship & testymonies & from visiters except from Coothill & Ballymony quarter, of which neglect & hateing to oversee we desire friendsfor ye future may be more carefull the said friends advise tht friends care & labour of love hath been prevalent upon found to ye bettering of their conditions, & where ye testymony of truth by others have been sleighted & inept, Care hath been taken taken to clear truth of such, and also they advise, tht some meetings have not made so thorough a visitt as they should have done, therefore those friends who have nott fully done tht service are desired to do it before ye next Pro. Meeting, & return account of their service to ths meeting. Notwithstanding friends care concerning matters in Antrim both as to ye business between Israel Wilkisson & James Willson, & also of ye lease of ye meeting house Nothing is yet perfected, nor agreed to. Wherefore its ye desire of this meeting tht ye means meeting of Grange do take care to see ye advice of ye last Province Meeting performed in all ye parts of it or otherwayes give account to ye next meeting who are refractery tht ye Judgment & desire of friends may pass upon ye refractory past.

1700 Att a Province Mens Meeting held at Richard Boyes ye 10th of ye 2nd Mo 1700. The article of ye meeting house in Coothill being sent to this meeting & perused, it appears by a clause therein tht at whatsoever time George Richardson renews his lease with his landlord that he shall grant ye like renewall to friends free of any demand of title & And now this meeting being acquainted tht ye said George hath renewed his lease the friends of ye mens meeting of ye quarter of Coothill are desired to take care to get friends title renewed for ye full time ye said George hath of ye place made sure to friends to ye meeting house & other priveledges. Tho. Braddock & John Bell are desired to take care to gett it done, by ye first of whence ye article is returned,

Pg 108 (Ref T/1062/41/108)
According to ye desire of last meeting William Gray brought the sufferings to this meeting examined & queries upon what errors appeared, which hath been amended to ye said William is desired to gett thm carefully recorded, ye sum of ye whole for tythes is 229-15-8 ½ for which rates so called 1-6-0 ¼ (Summed 231-1-8.) Alexr Mathews, Joseph Robson, & John Turner, gives account tht according to ye order of last meeting they went to use their endeavour to gett Isaac Davenport, Charles ffisher, William Bevan, & George Richardson released or discharged from their confinement upon account ot tythes, which hath thro ye Lords assistance proved so efectuall tht all parties concerned have acquitted their demands, except ye Chancellor one (Whellenhall Snead) by reason whereof they are not released, yett they are so enlarged tht they are at liberty, Edward Lucas of Castle Shane was friendly & gave good assistance towards ye said friends, enlargement, so tht for ye present this meeting do not think convenient to be further concerned abt them till further account of their being again confined, or further sufferings come upon them. The several meetings having returned accounts how many of George ffox’s doctrinall books they will take, is as followeth. Charlemount Meeting 2, Ballyhagan 2, Lurgan 1, Walter Clark for Grange 1, (Total 6). Most of ye meetings having returned what accounts they had suitable to be added to ye progress, John Walker, Joseph Robson, & John Hoope are desired to putt them in order & to collect such other matters out of ye province book relateing to friends (Insinforment?) & to Insert Nicholas Lock & Charles Howels service in ye County of Down, & also the disorder or confusion tht Alexr Gordon, a presbeterian preacher near Rathfryland fell into, with other things which they may find & send ye same to ye half year meeting. Alexr Seaton, William Gray, John Walker, & John Hoope are desired to meet at Lurgan ye 28th Instant & draw a pertinent Epistle to ye half years meeting & ye following friends to attend ye said meeting (Viz) Alexr Bell, Robt Richardson, Toby Courtney, Alexr Seaton, Wm Whitesile ye elder, Barthol. Garnet, James Plenol?, Hugh Hamilton, Wm Gray, Wm Richardson, Robt Hoope, John Hoope, John Walker, Robt Robinson, John Robsen, Joseph Robson, George ffox, John Cristy;

1701 At a Province Mens Meeting (probably 9th Mo 1701). (Previous Pg not copied.) That Patrick King, William Whitesile, Barthol. Garnett, William gray, William Brownlowe, John Hoope, George ffox, Richard Boyes, Toby Courtney, Eli Crocket, & Thomas Wilkison, devide Richard Claridges books. R.C.’s Books: Old Castle 14, Charlemount 22, Ballyhagan 44, Lurgan 70, Lisburn 70, Antrim 60 (Total 280). Publick Charge : National 12-16-8, to John Hays for writeing - 16-9, Cariage of R.C.’s books -6-00, to John Hoope towards 5 years paper 0-5-00, to Francis Hobson for recording sundry papers 0-6-00, Wm Gray for making a book for recording of 6 days papers 0-01-06, To Toby Courtney for so much dispensed for hyre of a horse 0-09-00, to William Whitesile for so much dispensed on messingers 0-09-00, to ditto for a side of beef for James Kenedy 0-10-00, to Robert Hoope for Balance of his accct 2-6-3, Merrick King for their means meetings( extraordinary expence in Wm Collins 3-5-0) 0-6-00. Total L18-7-08. This divided Old Castle 0-18-04 ¾, Charlimount 1-10-7 ¾, Ballyhagan 3-1-3 ¾, Lurgan 4-11-11, Lisburn 4-11-11, Antrim 3-13-6 ¼. Total 18-7-08.

Pg 58
1701 Att a Province mens meeting held at Richard Boyes ye 24th of 11th Mo 1701. Thomas Wilkisson advises this meeting tht ye Lord Massereen is willing that friends have tht part of John Willsons houlding in Antrim to build a meeting house upon so tht ye friends appointed last meeting are desired to continue their care. The sufferings came to this meeting, butt some being imperfect & others nott full are returned to be amended & desired to be sent to ye next province meeting.

Pg 59
Joseph Pierson and Martha Deal both of Ballyhagan meeting, having appeared and declared their Intentions of Mariage with each before this meeting, James Moreton Richard Wetherill, Esther Tough, and Mary Blackburn Ailce Bell, Margaret Fisher, Mary Robinson, & Kathrine Kirk being appointed from ye said Ballyhagan men and woemens meetings ye first day of ye 11th Mo Instant to make enquiry concerning their clearness orderly proceedings consent of parents and relations concerned, having returned their answers that they have made enquiry, and finds nothing appear to obstruct their proceedings, butt that they may lawfully Marry, so its ye appointment of this meeting tht ye said Joseph Pierson do publish or cause to publish their said Intentions in tw severall meetings, at Ballyhagan and if nothing yt appear against them they may in a convenient seeson take each other in Mariage, James Moreton & Richd Wetherill are desired to see ye said Mariage perfected in good order & to bring or send ye certificate thereof to ye next Pro. Meeting. Were maried at Bellyhagan ye 5th day of ye 12th Mo 1701 as by certificate may appear.

1707 (Province Meeting ?9th Mo 1707? Opening of meeting not copied.) Pg 107 The friends appointed last meeting to make further enquiry concerning ye clearness of Esther Sweets mariage with John Wallace, particularly of ye death of John Sweet ye said Esthers former husband, having returned answers tht they went with Wm Davis to William Walkinton a Justice of peace who hath given a certificate, tht ye said Wm Davis, was present when ye said John Sweet was killed, which with other circumstances in writeing doth clearly appear, tht ye same is true, & nothing otherwayes appearing to obstruct them butt tht they may lawfully marry, Its ye appointment of this meeting tht ye said John Wallace do publish or cause to publish their said Intentions in two severall meetings in Antrim & Colerain and if nothing then appear against them they may in a convenient season take each other in Mariage Lewis Resend & Tho. Willkisson are desired to see ye said mariage perfected in good order & to bring or send ye certificate thereof to ye next province meeting. (Note in margin: Were marryed in ye town of Antrim on ye 9th day of ye 1st Mo 1707/8 as ye Certificate may appear.) Samuel Miller of Dunclady meeting & Margaret Moore of Coleraine meeting having appeared and declared their Intentions of Marriage before this meeting, John McCool & Wm Boyd, Sarah ?Melrin? & James Beverlin being appointed by ye men & woemens meetings held att Grange to make enquiry concerning their clearness orderly proceedings, consent of parents & relations concerned have returned their answers that they made enquiry & finds nothing to obstruct their proceedings butt tht they may lawfully marr. So its ye appointment of this meeting tht ye said Samuel Miller do publish or cause to publish their said Intentions in two severall meetings att Dunclady, & one at Coleraine, & one at Corkey, & if nothing thn appear against them they may at a convenient season take each other in Mariage James Sterrot & John McCooll James Hamersly & Edward Hudson are desired to see ye said mariage perfected in good order & to bring or send ye certificate thereof to ye next Province Meeting. (Note in Margin: Were marryed at Corkie in ye County of Antrim on ye 11th day of ye 1st Mo 1707/8 as ye Certificate may appear.) In the Epistle from ye means meeting from Coothill there, account tht on ye 23rd of ye last month, Charles ffisher, Isaac Davenport, George Richardson & Wm Bevan, were taken prisoners, and putt in Cavan goal on account ot tythes at ye Suit of Michael Arnell priest of ye parish of Drumgoone & tht Frances or Edward Lucas of Castle Shane may be a propper person to apply to in order to obtain ye said friends release; therefore its desired tht Alexr Mathews, John Turner, & Joseph Robson do take a convenient season as soon as possible to enquire of ye manner of ye said friends imprisonment & to ye said Lucas or any other person they may see to be most propper to gett ye said friends released or enlarged; and also to befitt ye friends in their sufferings, and if they do not obtain their desire to give account of their proceedings to William Whitesile ye younger, William Richardson and William Brownlow who are desired to use their endeavours also, and all to give account of their success to ye next Province meeting. This meeting having received Epistles from ye sundry means meetings in ye rovince, whereby it appears tht friends have had under their consideration what was recommended to them, both by ye last quarterly meeting & ye half years meetings Epistle, and have given answers mostly in writeing to ye cause and in as much as there is an omission in force of ye papers & acc. What books of George ffox or friends will take; Its desired of this meeting having appeared & declared their Intentions of Marriage with one another before this meetin Will. Wyly & Hen MacChattum Jannet Wilson & Hannah Reford being appointed by ye men & woemens meetings held at Bellinacree ye 27th of ye 10th Mo last to make enquiry concerneing their clearness & orderly proceedings have returnd their answers tht nothing appears to obstruct them yet upon this meeting stricter enquiry they understand tht this Esther had been married before to a soldier one John Sweet who is repported to have been killed at the battle of Blenheim and att ye certainty tht appears thereof is by a certificate from one Will. Davis as may appear with which as it is friends not being well assured & satisfied of ye Sd Johns death its ye desire of this meeting tht Jonas Shaw & James Moreton tell ye Will Daviss & go along with him to some Justice of peace & bring a certificate from him of what he can say or doth say to ye Sd Justice of ye Sd mans being dead as also Lewis Reford & Joseph Wilisson are desired to write to one Serjeant Hill where he may be found & to desire a certificate from him wittnesed by some Justice of peace what he can say of ye said John being dead as also tht they enquire for what Letters they can hear of which may give an account of ye said Johns Death, and return other answers to ye next province meeting to which ye said John Wallace & ye said Esther Sweet may appear a second time. The last half years Meetings Epistle & an Epistle from our ancient friend Will. Edmondson being read in this meeting & friends having good unity with them, have sent copies of both to the sundry means meeting in ye province desireing tht ye particulars therein recommended may be carefully taken notice of & partinent answers returnd to such minutes as requires Vis. Tht relateing burialls, 2ndy tht none but qualified friends sit in meetings of business, 3rdly to observe & meet at ye 10th hour also what of G.F. doctrinall books every Meeting will take.

1707 Att a Province & Quarterly mens meeting held in Lurgan, ye 28th day of ye 12th Mo 1707/8. Alexr Martin having neglected to send ye article of ye meeting house of Coothill as was desired by last meeting, is now again desired to send it to ye next Prov. Meeting. The sufferings being now brought to this meeting with account, tht they have been pretty carefully collected & examined, yet for teir being in a full and orderly condition to record, Wm Gray Wm Brownlow, Wm Richardson & Francis Hobson are desired to peruse & examine thm again and give account to ye next meeting, with acct of ye Sum they amount to, both for tyths, & church rates so called distinct…

1708 …sometimes without ground by considering or suggesting things tht are not true, and sometimes by misrepresentations from others for remedy whreof this meeting earnestly & concernedly Intreat, all & every friend who makes profession of ye blessed truth of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ to mind his blessed precepts & directions left upon record in tht case, tht is if thy brother trespass against thee go tell him his fault between thee & him alone; if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy brother; butt if he will nott hear thee thn take with thee one or two more tht is ye mouth of two or 3 wittnesses every word may be established Mathew ye 15th & 18th with many more texts of scriptures relateing thereto as Cor:1-10:32 (or 2nd 6th & 3rd). Ecclesiastes 10 & 9th Romans ye 16 & 17, by which you may see how carefull ye profession of truth should be of giving offense, by their buisy telling & whispering which ought to be avoided by all.
This meeting seeing a service in making a visitt to ye meetings of Antrim, Grange, Ballymony, Coleraine & those in ye County of Derry, do desire tht Alexr Seales, Robt Hoope, Toby Courtney, Wm Whitefiles ye elder & younger, Barly Garnett, & John Hoope to go to such of those particular meetings as they may see occasion before ye next means meeting at Grange, & to be at tht meeting & give account of their service to ye next province meeting.
John Bell, John ffreeman, Wm Whitesile, Barth. Garnett, Wm Gray, Wm Richardson, John Hoope, Robt Hodgson, Richd Boyes, Richard Mercer, Edward Hudson, John ffausett, & John McCooll are desire to devide ye publick charge.
Account of each meetings advance of ye 60-18.00 for ye friends of Lisburne
Old Castle first 0-15-0 Stn? 1-3-2
Charlimounr 2-5-0; 3-9-5
Bellyhagan 2-15-0; 1-1-10
Lurgan 5-15-0; 8-17-8
Lisburn 4-00-00; 6-3-9
Antrim quarter 4-10-00; 6-19-2
Sum 20:50:00; 30:18:00
30:18:00 plus (by Wainwright) 10:00:00 total 60:18:00.
Province & its part of Nationall Charge 26:17-00
Old Castle pt 01:00:01 ¾, Charlimount 3:--:4 ¾, Bellyhagan 3:13:10 ¼ , Lurgan 7:14:3 ¾ , Lisburn 5:7:5 ½, Antrim quarter 6:00:10, sum 26:17:--.
Old Castle dispursals 1-18:2, their part of charge 1-00-1 ¾, remaining 0-18-00 ¼ pd Jno ffreeman. Charlimount 5:14-5, charge 3:--4 ¾ remaining 2:14 00 ¼ pd Wm Whitsit Junr, Bellyhagan 6:19:10, charge 3:13:10 ¼, remaining 3:5:11 ¾ pd Wm Gray; Lurgan 14:12:8, charge 7:14:3 3/4 , remaining 6:18:4 ¼ pd ths meeting per J.H, Lisburn 10-3-9, charge 5-7-5 , remains 4-16-3 ½ pd Toby Courtney, pd Ed. Hudson, Antrim quarter 11:9:2, charge 6:0:10, remains 5-8-4 pd Ed. Hudson.
Thomas Wainwrights (Inplass) Creditted with 10-0-0, charge 34:01:00, 20:17:00, 60:18-00.

Pg 110
1708 (?4th Mo?) …Thomas ffawsett of Grange meeting & Lydia Boyes of Ballenderry Meeting having appeared & declared their Intentions of marriage with one another before this meeting, Edward Hudson & John Lowden being appointed by ye mens meeting held at Grange, & Mary Courtney & Mary Murray being appointed by ye woemens meeting held at Lisburn to make enquiry concerning their clearness orderly proceedings consent of parents & relations concerned have returned their answers tht they made enquiry, & finds nothing to obstruct their proceedings butt tht they may lawfully marry; so its ye appointment of this meeting tht ye said Thos ffawcett do publish or cause to publish their said Intentions in two several meetings at Grange & at Richd Boyes and if nothing tht appear against them they may in a convenient season take each other in marriage. Toby Courtney, & Alxr Bell are desired to see ye said mariage perfected in good order & to bring or send ye certificate thereof to ye next Pro. Meeting. (Note in margin: were maried at ye house of Richd Boyes ye 2nd day of ye 4th Mo 1708 as by certificate may appear.)
Thomas Garnett, & Sarah Baker both of Charliamount meeting having appeared & declared their Intentions of Mariage with one another before this meeting, Wm Whitesile ye elder & Wm Whitesile ye younger, Margaret Marshall, & Rebecca Armstrong being appointed by ye men & woemens meeting of Charliamount to make enquiry concerning their clearness orderly proceedings consent of parents & relations concerned, have returned their answers that they made enquiry, & finds nothing to obstruct their proceedings, butt tht they may lawfully Marry; so its ye appointment of this meeting tht ye said Thomas Garnett do publish or cause to publish their said Intentions in two severall meetings near Charlimount aforesaid, & if nothing thn appear against them they may in a convenient season take each other in Mariage after a certificate is got from ye said Sarah’s father of his willingness both ye said William Whitesiles are desired to see ye said marriage perfected in good order & to bring or send ye certificate thereof to ye next Province meeting. (Note in margin: were maried at the publick meeting house of Charlimount meeting ye 16th day of ye 4th Mo 1708 as per certificate may appear. Ye certificate from Sarah’s father being first gotten.)

1708 At a province Mens Meeting held in Lurgan the 3rd day of ye 5th Mo 1708. The lease of the Meeting house at Coothill is not yet being perfected, but a rough draft is brought to this meeting for approbation in order to get it done, which being perused, & some thing added & a new draft made, Alexr (O’Martin?) is desired to get the same perfected before the next province meeting. Charles ffisher gives account that he, Isaac Davenport, Wm Bevan, and Geo. Richardson are clearly released from their Imprisonment, save only the Shereff, who hath not quitt his fees, yet they are not confined, nor is he troublesome to them, so that untill he give the said friends trouble its not thought necessary to do any thing therein. Grange friends gives account that the lease of the meeting house in Antrim is perfected, and in Wm Wilkisons hands.

1710 Charles Fisher & George Richardson being appointed by ye Mens Meeting held att John Stans? Near Ballyhaes ye 26th of ye 12th Mo last & Elizabeth Brownlow & Mary Hobson by the woemens meeting held at Ballyhagan, to make enquiry concerning their clearness orderly proceedings consent of parents & relations concerned have returned their answers tht they made enquiry & finds nothing to obstruct their proceeding but tht they may lawfully marry, soe its ye appointment of this Meeting tht ye Sd John McDannell do publish or cause to publish his said intentions in two severall Meetings att Ballyhagan & Cootehill & if nothing thn appear they may in a convenient season take each other in marriage. William Brownlow & Francis Hobson are desired to see ye Sd Marriage perfected in good order & to bring or send a coppy of ye Certificate to ye next Province Meeting.

1710 Answers from ye severall mens Meetings in ye province being read in this meeting signifying friends care in matters recommended to them which this meeting is glad to hear tht friends seem to have a concern upon thm to have ye several advices put in practice, but this meeting doubting tht friends have not so generally observed tht part of former advice to settle their outward concerns by wills or otherwise its therefore ye desire of this Meeting tht every Means Meeting do putt ye question relateing thereto to every particular friend in fellowship with thm whether they have settled their concerns or not where itt is not deone to provoke & know tht such do itt according to their severall circumstances as soon as possible. The Six friends having Signified in writeing tht they held their meeting yesterday in this place & in receiving accounts from overseers of Worshipp & testimonies & also from visitors, they advise tht little appears at present, only tht ye labour of love among friends hath had a good efect on some & (loveing desires?) of others, therefore ye concerned friends in ye severall meetings are entreated to continue their case & go on another service as ye lord shall enable you. The severall minutes from ye last half years meeting relateing to this province, having been read in this meeting severall of wch is to be answered next half years meeting its therefore ye desire of this meeting tht ye several means meetings do peruse ye said Epistle, & give such answer thereto in writeing to ye next province meeting as may concern them.
John Foul & Ann Gray both of Ballyhagan Meeting having appeared & declared their Intentions of marriage with one another before this Meeting, James Stephenson & David Kell, Abigail Gray & Mary Pooll being appointed by ye Mens & Woemens Meetings held at Ballyhagan to make enquirey concerning their clearness orderly proceedings consent of parents & relations concerned have returned their answers that they made enquiry & finds nothing to obstruct their proceedings but that they may carefully (name?) soe its ye appointment of this meeting tht ye said John Joul doe publish or cause to publish their Sd Intentions in two severall meetings att Ballyhagan & if nothing thn appear against thm they may in a convenient season take each other in marrage ye said James Stevenson & David Kell are desired to see ye Sd marriage perfected in good order & to bring or send a Coppy of ye Certificate to ye next Province Meeting. (Note in margin: were married at Bellyhagan ye 6th day of ye 2nd Mo 1710 as by certificate may appear.)
James McDonnell of Cootehill Meeting & Elizabeth Barnes of Ballyhagan Meeting having appeared & declared their Intentions of Marriage wth one another before this Meeting

1710 Att a Province Mens Meeting held att Richard Boyes ye 29th day of ye 2nd Mo 1710. ffriends gives account tht by favour of ye Sheriff, Isaac McNeece is for ye present at liberty & like to be: ye Sheriff being friendly. William Gray hath given account tht he hath examined ye sufferings sent him from ye last province meeting & thinks tht some of those from Antrim Meeting are too high valued, which this meeting upon viewing is of ye same mind. And ye friends well being have to give account tht they may be united, and also for tht they have well been read and examined at their mans meetings as they ought to have been, the said sufferings are sent back by Samuel Wilkisson to be read, converted & amended at thir next mens meeting, & returned perfect to ye next Pro. Meeting, minding to gett ye value (tho it may be less) according as friends have computed here tht ye Sum may agree with tht Intended to be sent to ye next half years meeting which is for tythe L354:04:09 ½ & for repairs etc 6:04:08 ye whole for ye year 1709 L360:09:05 ½ .
To mind ye meeting house att Coothill. According to the desire of ye last province meeting accounts are received from ye several means meetings, what they have to answer in relation to ye last half years meeting Epistle, generall minutes & queries which now being read, John Walker, William Gray, and John Hoope are desired to consider ye said answers, and accounts and write a suitable & pertinent Epistle to ye half years meeting & to incert in ye answer tht ye houses in Lisburn are near ready, and tht this province thinks tht they & ye land (except ye house tht Elizabeth fleer lives in meeting house & stable) may be worth 26 a year, and tht Robt Richardson thinks to come to one of them butt John Beck nott yett being fully resolved takes it to farther consideration: And for as much as there may be some difference in ye value & conveniencyof ye two houses, John Conely, Robt Hodgson and John Robson, on ye 4th day next are desired to view & (consult?) ye …

Pg 48
1722 At a Province & Quarterly meeting held at Ballyhagan ye 2nd of 4th Mo 1722. Lurgan friends gave account tht they had been to view ye half acre of ground which Saml Murphy hath reserved for ye use of friends near Rathfryland & signifies tht it’s a very convenient spot for a meeting house & grave yard; & Saml being at this meeting & very willing to grant ye said half acre for ye use of friends Lurgan meeting is desired to get a lease of ye same from Saml all ye time he hath of it himself at ye rate of ten Shill. Pr annum; and ye said Saml being willing to take ye trouble to get a little meeting house & stable built upon ye sd ground, This meeting desires Samuel with ye assistance of such other friend of Rathfryland meeting as he may think propper, to build a meeting house of 30 foot long, 16 broad & high in ye clear & a stable of 10 or 12 foot, at ye end of it, as soon as possible, making ye lace with other things agreeable to ye service of it; & Lurgan seet. Is desired to disburse ye Cost, & in a convenient time bring ye same to ye province.
The friends nominated to speak to Edwd Lucas about a place for a meeting house at Castle Shane, give accot tht they have, & he is willing to grant a place, which friends thinks is convenient, therefore Wm Whitesite, Bart. Garnet, Wm Gray, Wm Brownloe, are desired to agree with said Edwd & get a lease renewable, as he proposes, of ye place in their names, & afterwards transfer it to more friends for better security, & ye meetings of Charliamt & Bellyhagan are desired to appoint friends with ye assistance of Wm Pigeon to get a meeting house built thereupon of 30 foot long, 16 wide & 8 high, all to be done at a proodent charge, & ye yearly rent to be paid out of Thos Wainwrights efects, as also ye ( ) above mentioned to Saml Murphy out of ye same.
Answer from ye several means meetings in ye province, as also a paper from ye Select meet.s held yesterday, being read in this meeting, signifying tht there is a remnant in every meeting concerned for ye prosperity of Truth; And for ye several meetings further encouragement in ye service of Truth, &tht all things might adorn ye gospel, ye following matters which came from ye Select meeting, are Communicated to be observed. (Viz)
In a renesesence of ye love tht hath been raised in our hearts at this time do we dearly Salute you, fervently desiring tht we may be all sound in ye well doing so as we may witness every one for our selves peace in ye end of our time here in this transitory & troublesome world. And do hereby acquaint you tht we have according to our wanted manner, this day held our meeting in peace & love one with another; having a due consideration for ye welfare of our brethren, have made dilligent enquiry look after what manner meetings for performing worship to Almight God are kept up where settled throughout this province; which we at this time have received pretty fully; & also how things are in relation to publick testimonies that may from time to time be born therein? As to ye first we understand there is still too much of a slackness remains with several under ye profession of Truth, as to their performance of religious duties, notwithstanding all ye care, labour & fervent concern that hath & sstill remains upon a remnant, to have things tht are amiss amended.
And altho in said accounts there hath not come any direct complaint against any tht may have publick testimonies in meetings, our friends being very tender in tht respect, nonetheless we have been at this time under some concern of mind, as at several times heretofore, with earnest desires tht all that’s concerned in tht honourable sstation of bearing testimony for ye Lord, may duly attend ye same, & not to be hindred or clogged with ye affairs of this life; and further we think tht very needful for all that’s publickly concerned in Church affairs, both ministers & (others) to labour with utmost sincerity to walk orderly in their conversations, having ye fear of God before their Eyes, if they may be clear from laying stumbling blocks in ye way of any tht may cause ye way of Truth to be evil spoken of. And afterwards joined with ye meeting of ministers & others met to gether with our dear friends, Eliz. Fisher & Mary Broklebank, from England, with whom we had a comfortable season, there being both close & pertinent matter delivered in tht meeting by our said friends both to ministers & others particularly concerned in Church discipline, with a tender Caution to those of ye Ministry, to keep in a Lively frame of mind tht their Ministers may be Lively, which helps much to make a Lively people or meeting which they may be concerned withoall; and tht every one concerned to preach ye Gospel, may live by the Gospel, the power of God, which with many other things, tht opened upon their minds in said meeting, in relation to ye qaualifications of those in tht station, which was agreed to ye concern tht took hold of friends of ye Select meeting before.
Now we earnestly desire & fervently instruct all friends but more especially Ministers & others who are particularly concerned in ye management of Church affairs, may use the utmost endeavours to walk inoffensively unto all, & tht Ministers may keep in a self( )ing way, & let ye power of ye Gospel open their way in all their services in & amongst ye Lords people;

Pg 49
And at times when things of tht kind may be at a low Ebb, to be content to sit in silence before ye Lord in meetings appointed for performing worship unto him, & release his power ariseth & gives strength & ability, then is ye times to strengthen & comfort ye brethren which could be buch better & tend to our mutual comfort & satisfaction, than for any to multiply words when life doth not attend ye same, which is a means to being flatness over meetings, where such things happens; we are not willing to enlarge upon this subject, desireing tht a word to ye wise may be sufficient.
And further, we would have all to consider tht may be concerned as before stated, how hurtful a thing it is when any thing appears in those tht have occasion to advise others tht hath any degree of disorder in it, either in conversation, or management of their gifts otherwise, for this reason, tht there is no confusion or inconstency in ye Truth & ye operation thereof, by our profession & declared principles, is to be Led & guided by ye holy Spirit thereof. Therefore if any thing appear that’s of a contrary nature, its of an evil consequence unto us as a peo;le; these things are offered in true love & concern, with desires that the same be minded.
The last half years meetings preceedings with James Willsons testimony having been read in this meeting who finding good unity therewith & Copies thereof being drawn are sent to ye several meetings, who are Indicated to put ye good advice therein in practice & return answers thereto in propper & to send each preparation of ye publick charge to ye next Pro. Meeting. L9:3:10 to National Charge thus divided (Viz)
Coot-hill quarter at 1-0 per – 0:13:9
Charliamount at 2:4:per 1:1:6
Ballyhagan at 2:5: per 1:3:1
Lurgan at 5:11 per 2:14:4
Lisburn etc at 4:0 per 1:10:9
Grange etc at 3:9: per 1:14:5
Total L9:3:10.
The next prov. Meeting to be at Mary Boyes’.

At a Province meeting held at Mary Boyes ye 14th of ye 5th Mo 1722. Rough drafts of ye Leases from Edwd Lucas & Saml Murphy, as also of ye transfers being brought to this meeting, Lurgan meeting is desired to take care to get tht of Saml Murphy perfected as also ye transfers; & Wm Whitesite Bartho. Garnet, Wm Gray & Wm Brownlow are desired to take care to get tht of Edwd Lucas & his brother ffrancis about ye Mess perfected, as also ye transfer & proceed as soon as possible towards building ye meeting house.
The several meetings have sent their proportion of ye National Charges, pd to Mordecai Barrow, all but Coothill & Grange quarters, who are desired to send thm also to Mordecai, who is desired to take care to discharge this pro. Of ye same.
Joseph Williamson & Ann Winter, both of Bellyhagan meeting, having appeared & declared their Intentions of Marriage wth each other before this meeting; Robt Dunlap, Wm Broomlee, Eliz. Broomloe & Margery Reed, being appointed to make enquiry concerning their clearness, orderly proceedings consent of parents & relations concerned, have returned thr answers, tht now matters relating thereto, as far as they can understand, are clear, some proceedings both by ye Sd Joseph & Ann having been disorderly, they have each confest their transgression to reasonable satisfaction, so tht now nothing appears against them but tht they may lawfully marry; So its ye appointmt of this meetg tht ye said Joseph do publish or cause to publish their sd Intentions in two Several meetings at Bellyhagan, & if nothing thn appear against thm they may with convenient season take each other in marriage; Wm Brownloe & Robt Delon are desired to see ye said marriage perfected in good order, to get ye Certificate recorded & to return a Copy throf to ye next province meeting, the which is to be held in Lurgan.
(Two notes in margin: Coothill & Grange meetings have paid their parts of publick charge & Mordacai hath pd Joseph Gill. Were maried at Bellyhagan ye 26 of ye 5th Mo 1722 as by certificate may appear.)