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Archiver > QUAKER-ROOTS > 2000-06 > 0961976127


From: "Seth Hinshaw" <>
Subject: Re: [Q-R] Plainfield MM-Belmont Co., OH
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 16:35:27 PDT


There must be a typographical error in the information
which Dan Treadway used in his report on Plainfield MM.

Plainfield had been a PM under Concord MM for five years
when it was set off as a MM by Short Creek QM on 3/12/1808.

Plainfield MM was laid down at Stillwater QM during a
tumultuous session on 5/28/1828. The Hicksites chose to
open a new Plainfield MM of their own. The Clerk of
Plainfield MM seceded from Ohio Yearly Meeting, taking
the record books with him, so the Hicksite minutes
continue in the older minute book.

The Hicksites represented about 80% of the membership
of the old Plainfield MM, and several of the subordinate
meetings were solidly Hicksite (e.g., Goshen). The
Hicksite meeting declined in membership rapidly throughout
the 19th century. The 1883 Belmont County Atlas does not show
the Meeting House, suggesting that it had been torn down by
that time. The women's MM minutes end in 1880, and the men's
minutes end in 1894. The MM was laid down by Stillwater QM
on 8/28/1902.

The Orthodox Plainfield Meeting continued as a PM under
the care of Stillwater MM. A new Plainfield MM was granted
in 1834. Many of the members of this meeting moved to
Morgan County in the 1830s, which greatly weakened the
meeting. Among these Friends was Caleb Gregg, who along
with his brother Burr Gregg (Hicksite hatter) were the
progenitors of many Iowa Friends.

The Orthodox meeting split in 1863. Only a few members
joined the minority group which affiliated with Ohio
General Meeting and met at Beriah Michener's house.
By 1874, the Wilburite meeting was being held at Jesse
Roberts' house.

The Wilburite meeting did not suffer a Gurneyite split in
1854. Its record books are extant until it was laid down
once again in 1865 and attached to Stillwater MM. The PM
struggled on until 1881.

The Primitive Friends were still meeting at the Micheners'
house when Ohio General Meeting last met in 1877. I have not
investigated the details of this meeting. It was a part of
Harrisville MM (Primitive), whose minute book has not survived.

Seth
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