Friends Meeting House - Catawissa Pa

 

The more than 200 year old Catawissa Meeting House stands at South and 3rd Streets in Catawissa.  It is a building that if it could speak, could fill volumes with its stories.  

Revolutionary War Soldier Hugh Hughes, who crossed the Delaware with Washington at Trenton, is buried in the cemetery there.

During the Great Runaway, Moses Roberts [who some historians credit for the Meeting House being built here] began to leave, got caught in a rain storm and decided it wasn't that dangerous after all, they could return.  Later, his home would be burnt down and he would spend more than a year in jail, charged with conspiring with the Indians, based on his decision to stay rather than flee.  Roberts had officially come to the area as a juror in a land dispute involving Samuel Wallis, who built Muncy Farms and was many decades later exposed as a traitor who worked with Benedict Arnold during the revolution. 

Miss Mary Emma Walker, at the Friends Meeting House, Catawissa

 And for more than 30 years, one woman was the only member of the congregation, having come to Catawissa by herself  to restore the building and grounds in 1890.  She faithfully attended each week, frequently alone, although occasionally others would come to visit her there.

 Exactly how old the building is is unclear, but it has stood for more than two centuries. One article states that the building predates the Revolutionary War, being built in 1746.  [Some reports stating that had been the  first building, the current building having been built on the same spot years later.]  The Historical Marker outside of the building states that it was constructed about 1775, and modern historians claim the building was constructed no sooner than 1789. 

John Eshelman, author of the 1940 History Of  Catawissa Friends Meeting, and a  letter to the editor by Lewis Theiss,  both credit Moses Roberts with the beginnings of the Friends Meeting in Catawissa.  The two both appear to have used records compiled by Thomas Chalkley  Matlack.  Those historians are either unaware of, or completely disregard,  older articles  referencing a Friends Meeting House on that spot as early as 1746.

Roberts first came to Muncy from Reading in 1772, one of the jurors in a trial between Land Speculator Samuel Wallis and the Proprietors of Pennsylvania.  Roberts then felt called to come back to the area of "Catewessy", as a missionary.  

The historical marker on the site states that the building was constructed "about 1775".  Lewis Theiss, a well respected historian, contends that the building was not constructed until 1789, after the deed for the grounds was settled.  According to him, and other historians, the Quakers would not have built on land that was not their own.  But this is no two story brick structure with stained glass windows - it's merely a wooden structure that the skilled pioneers could have built quite quickly, with little to no expense.  

Theiss states that there was no building there in 1775, but as Theiss was not alive at the time, that is purely conjecture on his part.   I do not think it impossible that they built a meeting house on private land, where a former meeting house had stood,  and only became concerned over the deed when officially being formed as a Friends organization, which included concerns in adding the burial grounds beside the building.  On the other hand,  state historical markers are not without errors. Perhaps Theiss is correct in his assumptions.

A 1909 newspaper article about the Catawissa building states that the benches in the meeting house "antedate the building itself, having come down from the earlier meeting house which stood on the same site in 1740.  Pitch pine certainly shows its enduring qualities in the long life that had been granted to this venerable and not well cared for structure."

Yet another article states that "Unfortunately some of the church records are scattered, but enough remain to show that before the Revolution this church was erected in 1746 o the Stony Bluff on the Catawissa"

If an earlier structure did indeed stand there in 1740, I personally believe it even more likely  that a new building was constructed  before the deed was settled.

In other words, the date of construction is simply not known, and unless a journal or record can be found that mentions the construction, we may never know for certain.

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Moses Roberts
From A  History Of  Catawissa Friends Meeting, by John E. Eshelman, 1940
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Moses Roberts, with some of his neighbors and several residents of Reading Pa, first came to the area that is today Muncy, in 1772. They had been summoned to serve on a jury for the case between the Proprietors of Pennsylvania (Plaintiff), and land speculator Samuel Wallis (Defendant).

 The  proprietors claimed they had reserved the "Manor Of Muncy" for themselves, and Wallis claimed that he had a previous claim to the same land.

Wallis, gave instructions to his lawyers on which jurors to challenge, or not challenge, for his case.  Of Roberts, Wallis said:

"Moses Roberts, generally esteemed a very sensible judicious honest man, and will act from judgement.  A farmer and land-holder.  A Quaker preacher, and ought not to be struck."Otzinachion, by Meginness, Page 378

Roberts wrote of his journey to Muncy, as follows:

"at the time appointed, I went with the Sheriff and others to view the land at Muncy, and when we came amongst the inhabitants of the New Purchase, I lamented the loose and unreligous lives and conversations of the people.  Yet there was something that attracted my mind much to that country, which I could scarcely account for, and sometime after I returned home, I felt drawings of love in my heart to visit some friendly people about Catawesey, and to have a meeting amongst them for the worship of God; of which I acquainted my friends at Maiden Creek, and they consenting I performed it and returned in company with my uncle Mordecai Lee; and found great inward peave to attend my mind in so doing."

 Roberts returned to "catawesey" several times for meetings, and soon decided he should move to that area with his family.  

Two years after his trip to Muncy, Moses Roberts purchased a piece of land from Ellis Hughes near Catawesey.  ".... and we concluded to meet together twice in the week to worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth according to Christ's direction to the woman of Samaria.  And I was often confirmed in my mind by the consolation of soul that I felt, that I was in the way of my duty." -Journal of Moses Roberts, 1780

Former relatives and neighbors from the area of Oley and Exeter soon followed Roberts to the area of Catawissa.  They included:

Job & Thomas Hughes (Brothers of the above mentioned Ellis) & their families
John Webb Jr, his wife, and 8 children
Rachel Willits, widow and "ancient family friend"
John Wilson nand family
William Hughes, his wife and two children
George Hughes and Family
Isaac John, wife and several children (from Warringsont, York County)
Samuel Willits, Wife Ann & daughter Cassandra, from Maryland.

This small group of pioneers formed the original body of early Friends, settling in "Catawesey, also written as Cottowessey in early records, known today as Catawissa.

It is thought by some historians that Moses Roberts built the very first permanent home in Catawissa in 1775.  It stood a short distance from the mouth of Catawissa creek.  The first Friends gatherings were held there. [Again, this completely disregards mentions of an early meeting house constructed in 1746.  Whether this is because Eshelmen is unaware of those references, or he examined them and found them not to be credible, I do not know.] 

As the battle of Wyoming began, and the settlers began to flee in what would be known as the Great Runaway,  they passed by Catawissa and warned the community there that they were not safe.  Roberts, in his journal, wrote:

"And some of them importuned me greatly to go, too, to which I at length agreed, although with reluctance, for it did not feel to me that danger was so near.  So I want with my family and some of the neighbors toward Philadelphia, to a house about six miles off, where the people were removed out. And coming on a shower of rain, we concluded to remain there all night.  but I had little rest that night; for my conscience was troubled and it appeared to me that i had done amiss in removing and if I went further I would be in danger of losing my peae cith God.  So I concluded to return at every outward hazard, so that I might enjoy inward peace."

"So in obedience to what I believed the Great Master's will, I returned with my family and found his peace to accompany me; and I remained there, and attended meetings as usual, endeavoring to live every day and house as if it was to be he last; and labored to keep conscience void of offense towards God and man."

On April 4th 1780, several armed men from Sunbury came to Catawissa and arrested Roberts and some of his neighbors, on the charge of giving information to hostile Indians. No witness nor proof was given for he arrest.  They were taken by boat from Catawissa Creek down to the Susquehanna river, and confined in the Sunbury jail for ten days, where they were "persecuted to some degree."

Next they were taken on to Lancaster, where they were confined in jail for nearly an entire year, without a trial.  

Two months after their original arrest, a number of armed men from Sunbury again returned to Catawissa, turning the wives of John Hughes and Moses Roberts out of their homes, destroyed their possessions and took 4 of their horses.

The two wives, sisters, were not even permitted time to bake bread, trekked through the wilderness with seven children between them, the youngest not yet 5 weeks old, and with only two mares, one of which was blind, to help with the journey to Oley, to the home of their parents. 

 Roberts and Hughes were finally released from prison sometime around March of 1781, and they soon returned to Catawissa.  Roberts family remained there until 1787, when they returned to Oley.  Moses Roberts died in 1789, on Oley township. He was buried at the Exeter Meeting grounds.

According to records on file at Northumberland County, the group secured a clear titled to a lot of ground to be used for a Meeting House and Burial Ground in the fall of 1788.

In the early 19th century, there began a "great migration of Friends" from northern Pennsylvania to Canada, where new Quaker colonies were founded. The Catawissa membership was so reduced that in 1898, the remaining members were not confident they could sufficiently maintain a monthly meeting. Their last meeting was held December 24th 1808, and the Friends from Catawissa and Roaring Creek attached themselves to the Muncy Monthly Meeting.

That arrangement continued until 1814, when the Catawissa & Roaring Creek friends complained that the distance to Muncy was too great.  On June 15th 1814 the group began meeting at Roaring Creek.  

November 14, 1855 at Berwick. It was suggested that the Catawissa Preparative Meeting be

"laid down" (discontinued), and the monthly Meeting united in agreement. It was referred to the Fishing Creek Half Yearly Meeting for approval. 

"The minutes do not refer to this subject again and it must therefore be assumed that the Catawissa Preparative Meeting was laid down. However Catawissa remained as a member of the Roaring Creek Monthly Meeting until the Monthly Meeting was laid down in 1917. It is also possible that Catawissa may have held Firstday Meetings at the homes of members as was later done at Roaring Creek."

 But in 1890, one woman moved to Catawissa to preserve the meeting house, and for the next 30 years, she was the only member of the congregation.

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Miss Mary Emma Walter

A Congregation Of One at Catawissa Meeting House, For More Than 30 Years

Although the building is more than 200 years old, it was only used by a congregation for a short time.  By 1890 the building had stood empty for more than 20 years - one article stating that it had been abandoned as early as 1814.

If you had visited in 1909, you would have seen a notice posted stating that absolutely no games of any kind were to be played on the grounds, and that the birds were not to be disturbed by anyone.  This was under the initiative of Mary Emma Walter, a woman who moved to Catawissa and restored the grounds. For more than 30 years she was the only member of the congregation.  Walters attended the church each week, frequently being the only person in attendance.

"Ms. Walter lived in Philadelphia, and It was while attending meeting. there that she learned chat the historic meeting house at Catawissa had  been closed, because there no longer. was any one there who cared to worship or even to guard and preserve the interesting old building. 

This condition seemed to be so regrettable to her that she determined to change her residence in order to look out for a structure that had seen the worship of her gentle people before the dawn of the nineteenth century.

She went to Catawissa, and was courteously welcomed by the town authorities, who turned over to her the key, and gave her permission to make needed repairs. 

Her first act was to put the roof in repair, and have done other work necessary  after two decades of disuse. 

Photo Taken February 2022

The grounds were overgrown with brush, and the place was surrounded by distracting influences. Grass as high as a man's head grew all around the structure. A football team played in the yard, a gun shop occupied part of the same, a goat pasture there, and the graveyard was overgrown with poison vine. It was not an inviting place to a woman, but although at first she was alone in spirit of the work as well as in its actual performance, Miss Walker set bravely about her self-appointed task. She secured the key to the meetinghouse, she had the roof mended and the place put in order, and from that beginning has given all her time to the building and grounds, until she is now recognized as the custodian. Though the work of getting everything in order was not easy or brought about without without indefatigable labor, that was not as difficult as it was to dislodge the "squatters" who had taken advantage of the long abandonment of the property.

Though naturally retiring, and of gentle disposition, Miss Walter did not hesitate when she found it necessary to obtain certain rights in her line of duty in a more or less public manner, and when she found she could not oust the intruders alone she went to the town council to state her grievances. She was given a courteous hearing and proper aid, and through her perseverance and untiring efforts the grounds were finally cleared of objectionable features."

April 18, 1897 at Bear Gap. Mary Emma Walter asks for the establishment of a Preparative

Meeting at Catawissa. At the May meeting it was noted that "the way does not open for a

Preparative Meeting at Catawissa."  

The Altoona Tribune

December 24 1923

"For twenty five of the thirty three years during which she has been the lone attendant, Miss Walter missed only two Sundays, although it was rarely she had a companion.  Following the custom of the Friends, she spent an hour each time in silent devotion."

Miss Walter is usually the only worshiper on First Day. On Sabbath morning she goes to the house and stays all day. When the weather requires she kindles fires in the old sheet iron stoves. 

At first a few others came or went as they pleased, but gradually they stayed away and she is left to hold weekly meeting alone. Yet many visitors come on Sunday afternoons, particularly in the summertime. Miss Walter says: "I talk with hundreds as they come around asking of the way, the truth and the life, and if they begin on points of difference we get on points of unity before long and find the gospel is the same, no matter how we divide in sentiment."

The structure itself  is still in excellent condition despite its century and quarter of existence. The board  shutters and window frames fit as closely as do those of more recent construction, and the narrow doors open on either side of the necessary  partition of the early times intended to keep the sexes apart during worship."

"On either side of the. room is" an antiquated sheet iron stove, and when the weather becomes too chill for the Interior to be comfortable, the custodian of the building, Mrs. WaIter herself kindles a little fire. When the house was built it fronted on the old Reading road, which wound its way through the woods.- But the house has, outlived the road, which is there no more. The ground has 'been filled in around the door so! that only the top of the stone of the old time horse block remains In evidence, a reminder of the days when women as well as men used to ride to service."

Mary Emma Walter was born September 4th 1841 in Northumberland County Pa, the daughter of John & Eliza Violetta [Hicks] Walter. She died March 24th 1930.

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Revolutionary War Soldier Hugh Hughes

In the cemetery rests not only many of the first settlers of the area, including the parents of Miss Walters, and  also Hugh Hughes, who traversed the Delaware River with George Washington during the American Revolution.

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Other Local Quaker Meeting Houses

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eMillville Meeting House

Pennsdale Meeting House

Catawissa Meeting House

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READ MORE
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1928

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MARY EMMA WALTER, who has become so well known to the residents of Catawissa, Columbia county, by her devotion to the upkeep of the old Friends' meetinghouse there, belongs to a famous family of Friends, her grandfather, Dr. Gilbert Edward Hicks, having been a cousin of Elias Hicks, founder of the Hicksite branch of that denomination.

Dr Gilbert E. Hicks was born 3d mo.11,1773 in Bucks county, Pa., and came to Catawissa, Columbia Co.Pa., at an early day, when peace had been restored in this section. In 1794 he bought property here. He followed his profession with great success, being a minister of repute in the Society of Friends. He died in 1836 and is buried in the cemetery of the Friends' meetinghouse at Catawissa. Dr. Hicks was twice married, , his first union, which took place in 1798, being broken by the death of his wife and child. In 1801 he and Catherine Hibbs, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Blaker) Hibbs, were united in marriage in Roaring creek meetinghouse and the parchment certificate, signed by a number of witnesses, is in existence yet. They had two children: Eliza Violetta, born 12 mo. 28,1802, and William T., born in 1807, who was drowned in the Susquehanna river when seventeen years old, 7th mo.25, 1825.

Eliza Violetta Hicks was first married, in 1828 to J.J. John [Jesse Jones John 1803-2 Sept 1829], by whom she had one son, Dr. J.J.John, the well known historian of Shamokin, PA. [Jesse Jones John, Jr. [2 September 1829-1903]. Her second husband was John Walter, who was born in 1796 in Chester county, Pa., and died 7th mo. 20,1865, in Locust township, Columbia county; he is buried at the Catawissa Friends' meetinghouse. He was a miller and followed his trade in his earlier life, after taking up farming and also conducting a sawmill. Three children were born to John and Eliza V. (Hicks) Walters: William Edward, who died 3 mo.11,1880, and is buried at the Catawissa meetinghouse; Mary Emma;and Anna Maria, who married George Ormsby, of Philadelphia, and died in 1910. John Walter had married for his first wife Abigail Kille and they had children: Sarah, Abner, Ann Eliza, Henry, Susan, David and Rebecca.

Mary Emma Walter was born 9th mo.4,1841, and received A common school education, with one quarter's tuition at Elysburg Academy, in 1860. She remained with her parents as long as they were living. Her mother died 2mo,15, 1889, in Locust township Columbia county, after which the home was sold and Miss Walter came to Catawissa to reside, in 1892, and quietly came to meeting, whether anyone else came or not. While attending Philadelphia yearly meeting she overheard someone who had learned her name and place of residence say that the meetings composing Roaringcreek monthly meeting were laid down. Upon investigation she found that the meetinghouses at Berwick and Catawissa had been closed, the latter for twenty years; the property of the former had been sold. Upon return home home she continued her inquiries into the matter and concluded there was a work for her. The grounds were overgrown with brush, and the place was surrounded by distracting influences. Grass as high as a man's head grew all around the structure. A football team played in the yard, a gun shop occupied part of the same, a goat pasture there, and the graveyard was overgrown with poison vine. It was not an inviting place to a woman, but although at first she was alone in spirit of the work as well as in its actual performance, Miss Walker set bravely about her self-appointed task. She secured the key to the meetinghouse, she had the roof mended and the place put in order, and from that beginning has given all her time to the building and grounds, until she is now recognized as the custodian. Though the work of getting everything in order was not easy or brought about without without indefatigable labor, that was not as difficult as it was to dislodge the "squatters" who had taken advantage of the long abandonment of the property.

Though naturally retiring, and of gentle disposition, Miss Walter did not hesitate when she found it necessary to obtain certain rights in her line of duty in a more or less public manner, and when she found she could not oust the intruders alone she went to the town council to state her grievances. She was given a courteous hearing and proper aid, and through her perseverance and untiring efforts the grounds were finally cleared of objectionable features. So well did she sustain her point in the contentions over these matters that one lawyer said, "I would not want to meet her argument in opposing counsel" Much of the work required to bring the place to is present condition of beautiful order has been done by her hands, and in spire of her advancing years she continues to do most of its unaided. Even on hot summer days she may be found busily engaged in the graveyard or elsewhere about the property, and in spite of the warning of physicians against overwork, because of a weak heart, she enjoys her labors and asserts that she is better physically for them. To quote her own words, "I cannot sit down idly and I feel that this just as much of my mission as the spoken work is the minister's although my ministry is a silent one."

Miss Walter is usually the only worshiper on First day. On Sabbath morning she goes to the house and stays all day. When the weather requires she kindles fires in the old sheet iron stoves. At first a few others came or went as they pleased, but gradually they stayed away and she is left to hold weekly meeting alone. Yet many visitors come on Sunday afternoons, particularly in the summertime. Miss Walter says: "I talk with hundreds as they come around asking of the way, the truth and the life, and if they begin on points of difference we get on points of unity before long and find the gospel is the same, no matter how we divide in sentiment."

Fifteen Episcopalian ministers have taken the opportunity of an interview, while other ministers of every sect and people from almost every State in the Union have come to see her, for her adherence to the faith and by her preservation of the meetinghouse property arouses sentiment in the minds and hearts of all, and they desire to know more of a sect that can produce such as she. To quote the Philadelphia NORTH AMERICAN of Sunday, Oct., 17, 1909: "Of all the figures that the religious life of America has produced none is more inspirational than this venerable Quakeress." "For the morning hour of worship she sets alone (outwardly) and communes with the spirit according to the practice of the Society of Friends. With no thought of being conspicuous or of doing anything unusual--anything more than her simple duty as she sees it--she has for the past eighteen years, with some few exceptions when absent from the place, sat in meeting thus on Firstday morning."

Very occasionally passing Friends stop and hold an "appointed meeting." Some years ago Joseph S.Elkington, of Philadelphia, and Joseph Thomason were there, and a good company gathered in the old house, including a class of girls brought from one of the churches by their teacher. Once a year in 6th month, a sesson of Roaring creek monthly meeting is held in the house, as the members are on their way to attend Fishingcreek half-year meeting, at Millville,Pa., and this is the only executive meeting held there, the other business sessions being held at Bear Gap, the Roaringcreek house being used but one a year, in 8th month, when a reunion is held.

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Matlack Notebook, Book 4. Histories, photographs and other data written and gathered by T. Chalkley Matlack on "Friends Meeting Houses, and the Boarding Homes, Schools, and Burial Grounds associated with them," located in Columbia, Delaware, and Lycoming Counties. This notebook includes Berwick, Catawissa, Chester, Cheyney, Chichester, Concord, Darby, Haverford, Lansdowne, Loyalsock, Media, Middletown, Millville or Greenwood, Muncy, Newtown Square, Pendle Hill, Providence, Radnor, Roaring Creek, Springfield, and Swarthmore Meeting Houses.

https://digitalcollections.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/object/hc139938#page/1/mode/1up

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Hugh Hughes was born in a log cabin more than 165 years ago.  The exact location of this cabin is not known, but it was somewhere in what was known as Exterer Mission, and now Berks County, Pennsylvania.

He was the oldest son of Morgan Hughes and his wife, Ann Johnson Hughes. [Most records that this submitter as seen show that Ann Stephens was Hugh's mother.]   Morgan Hughes and his brothers were among the early settlers of Philadelphia and the territory just northwest of the city. Radnor, Pennsylvania. 

Reverend Edward Hughes, uncle of Morgan Hughes, was one of the early ministers at  Radnor, Pennsylvania.  His grave may yet be seen in the yard of the old Historic St. David Church where he was buried more than two centuries ago.

Hugh Hughes married Mary Hutton, a daughter of James and Hannah Lee Hutton, about the year 1780.  They had nine children, who, after maturity, settled in various places throughout eastern Pennsylvania. Their oldest son James settled near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and his descendants are now marking his grave.

Hannah Lee Hutton was the daughter of Anthony Lee.  He was  born in England in 1879 (error), came to our country and married Mary Whittacre, daughter of Charles and Sarah Baker Whitaker, at Oley, Pennsylvania, daughter in 1713.

Lee was a Quaker and always lived at Oley, where he held offices of trust and was a man of sterling charcter.  When he first settled there his nearest neighbors were Indians.  He was a friend of the Indians and always respected by them.  The following illustrates this fact:  It is told that Lee's Indian neighbors received a rumor that a rival tribe was coming on a certain night to murder Lee and his family. The Indians said nothing about the rumor to Lee, but as it began to grow dark on the night of the supposed murder, and the Lees were surprised to find their house surrounded by Indians.  The family not knowing the meaning of this strange actions, barricaded their doors, thinking there might possibly be an attack during the night. At day day break the Indians were still there, but appeared very friendly.  They later explained their mission, but upon being assured by the kind pale faces that he had no enemies any where, they went away.  Each night afterward they returned to guard the house until such a time as they believed the danger had passed.  Anthony Lee died at Oley, February 6, 1764, loved by the Indians and whites alike.

The records show that Hugh Hughes was enlisted in Capt. Geo. Nagle's Company of  Col. Wm. Thompson's Battalion of rifleman.  This detachment was originally made up of 10 companies, 6 from Pennsylvania, 2 from Virginia and 2 from Maryland. These troops marched from Pennsylvania to Cambridge, Mass., and were first to salute Geo. Washington, the young Virginian under whom many of them had fought years before on the banks of the Monongahela.  They participated in the siege of Boston, which was raised by the Brittish on the morning of Mar. 17, 1776.  The campaign in the East having come to a successful close, Washington marched his forces through Connecticut to Long Island and soon New York  became the center of military operations.

While encamped on Long Island the term of enlistment  of Col. Thompson's Battalion of Rifleman was about to expire. Gen. Washingtonon Aprill 22, 1776 addressed a letter to the Continental Congress, recommendeng that some measure be taken to induce the battalion of Col. Thompson to re-enlist, as the loss of such a valuable and brave body of men would be of great injury to the service.  On July 1, 1776 at Long Island, Col. Thompson's command enlisted in the Pennsylvania line and with other Pennsylvania troops were formed in a division which was the old guard of Washington's Army, noted for its sturdiness under fire and for its bravery when it crossed ice filled Delaware and captured the Hessians at Trenton and then on to Princeton where it again defeated the British.

The name of Hugh Hughes is inscribed on the roll of Capt. Geo. Nagles Co. of Col. Thompson's Battalion of Rifleman. (See Pa. Archives Vol. 2 Page (?) 3rd or 5th series.

As a businessman, he (Hugh) was successful.  After the war closed he was a farmer, but entered the milling business.  He built a stone house in Rush Township, Northumberland County, in 1786, the mechanical part of which was said to be the best ever seen, the inside was as smooth as glass  He also built a gristmill near Danville, Pennsylvania and one in the vicinity of Catawissa, which is still standing  He later was interested in the Iron business and manufactured of stoves.  He  filled the various duties of life with fidelity.  His integrity was  beyond reproach.  He deservedly obtained the confidence of his fellow men.

Among his descendants who have left a mark upon this county may be mentioned the late Alvin Hughes and his first wife, Harriet Vastine both of whom were grandchildren of Hugh Hughes.  Also the late Dr. Palemon John, one time editor and publisher of the Columbia County Republican.  The late Col. Wellington Edt was a great grandson of the Revolutionary soldier. 

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August 11, 1841 at Catawissa. Elida John is directed to take charge of the scattered meeting

records, as well as the library.

February 8, 1843 at Catawissa. Rebecca John of Shamokin, a Gospel Minister, and Perry John

husband of Rebecca wishes to join her in paying a religious visit to the families of the Roaring

Creek Monthly Meeting. At this time quite a few people, mostly from Shamokin Township

around Elysburg, made request to come under the care of the Friends.

April 16, 1845 at Catawissa. Shamokin Friends report that "the time has arrived to establish a

Shamokin Meeting".

March 11, 1846 at Roaring Creek. A committee of six, including Mahlon Hicks, Reuben John,

Joseph Pelkington, Sarah H. John, Emily Thomas and Elizabeth Johnson agree "that the

Preparative Meetings be held alternately at Catawissa and Shamokin Meeting Houses - - - -".

This plan was adopted at the next meeting held April 15, 1846, and the meetings were held at

Shamokin in the second, fourth, eighth and tenth months.

May 10, 1852. Abisha Thomas, sole surviving Trustee now in membership of the Society called

"Quakers" belonging to and within the compass of the Roaring Creek Monthly Meeting now held circular [rotating] at Roaring Creek, Catawissa, Berwick and Shamokin, executed a Deed of Trust with Joseph Pelkington, Reuben John and Elida John to have and hold the Lot for the use of the Meeting House, and for no other purpose whatsoever. 

November 14, 1855 at Berwick. It was suggested that the Catawissa Preparative Meeting be

"laid down" (discontinued), and the monthly Meeting united in agreement. It was referred to the Fishing Creek Half Yearly Meeting for approval. The minutes do not refer to this subject again and it must therefore be assumed that the Catawissa Preparative Meeting was laid down. However Catawissa remained as a member of the Roaring Creek Monthly Meeting until the Monthly Meeting was laid down in 1917. It is also possible that Catawissa may have held Firstday Meetings at the homes of members as was later done at Roaring Creek.

October 13, 1858. An application was made to the Court of Common Pleas at Bloomsburgh [sic] for permission to sell the school house lot (No. 48) at Catawissa.

December 10, 1859 at Catawissa. Friends noted that an objectionable monument had been

placed in the Roaring Creek burial ground. A large head stone was later removed.

January 16, 1861 at Roaring Creek. The Half Yearly Meeting at Fishing Creek agreed to "lay

down" the Roaring Creek mid-weekly meeting. Enoch Kester and Samuel Hampton were

ordered to take charge of the Roaring Creek Meeting House and burying ground.

October 14, 1869 at Catawissa. It was proposed to hold the Roaring Creek Preparative Meeting alternately at the home of Mary Ann Cherrington, wife of Lawson Hughes, and at the home of Enoch Kester, who was the husband of Ruth Ann, sister of Mary Ann Cherrington above. Note: The above minute is a proposal and may not have been carried out at this time, but does indicate that meetings would soon be held in private homes. Much uncertainty exists about the time when First-day (Sunday) Meetings were no longer held in the Meeting House at Roaring 

Creek, but were held in private homes.

 J. H. Battle in the History of Columbia and Montour

Counties states on page 306, "Friends in the vicinity of the Roaring Creek Meeting House have had regular meetings until a few years ago. For 90 years it was a place of worship". Written in 1887 this would give around 1884 as the year of ending. Older citizens remember when meetings were held at the homes of Mary Ann Hughes, Ruth Ann Kester, widow of Enoch Kester at Mill Grove and William John at Bear Gap.

June 16, 1869 at Catawissa. It was decided that the Berwick Meeting should be laid down.

April 16, 1870 at Shamokin. The Court appointed a jury to view the placing of a road through the lot adjoining the grave yard at Catawissa. A year later they received $100 damage for allowing the road.

April 18, 1897 at Bear Gap. Mary Emma Walter asks for the establishment of a Preparative

Meeting at Catawissa. At the May meeting it was noted that "the way does not open for a

Preparative Meeting at Catawissa."

Several reasons can be given for the decline of the Quaker following in the Catawissa and

Roaring Creek area. Many Quaker families moved away. Most of these emigrated to Younge

Street near Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, others went to Pelham, near Fenwick, west of Niagara

Falls, Canada, while some went to Short Creek, Ohio. The Quakers were looking for good farm

land, and it is likely they found such land at these places. A Monthly Meeting was set up at

Younge Street and at Short Creek, and Friends corresponded with these centers for years.

Another reason for leaving Catawissa and Roaring Creek, especially the latter, was the dwindling

supply of land. After the Quakers opened up the "Old Reading Road" in August 1789, German 

settlers moved into the valley over this same road, and occupied the eastern end of Roaring

Creek Valley. This reduced the land available for Quakers.

A third reason may be found in the Quaker organization. When a man or woman married

"outside of the Faith" [or "out of unity"] it was the general rule to drop them from membership.

This meant the loss of the family, and through the years, the loss of their children and their

children's children. In the early years when the Quakers needed support and growth, they were losing families. In the later years they realized their mistake and changed the rule, but much of the damage had been done.

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