Philadelphia Quaker Burials

Quaker Burial Grounds in Philadelphia

1683-present

Quaker burial grounds in Philadelphia were never entirely "select" -- that is, strictly limited to members of the Society of Friends. Many non-members were interred; conversely, some members chose to be buried elsewhere.

The Disciplines of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting specifically forbade grave markers until the last quarter of the 19^th century as "Marks of Superfluity and excess" and "inconsistent with the plainness of our Principles and Practice."[1] However, it is clear from contemporary descriptions and also from repeated epistles that conformity was not absolute; meetings were instructed to remove these grave stones as they appeared. In general, however, researchers should not expect to find the exact location of interment in a Quaker burial ground until after the mid 19^th century. Plot plans, where they exist, are very rare.

Each Philadelphia Quaker burial ground is described below with a brief chronological outline; the table that follows each entry lists existing records of interments in that ground. Some of these records were kept by the sexton or gravedigger. Other vitals were maintained by the monthly meeting of which the deceased were members, and may exclude members of other meetings or non-Quakers. 19^th century meeting membership registers have not been included in this listing, but researchers may occasionally find burial information therein.

Eastern Ground (also called Arch Street)

Plot plan for Norris Family burials, ca.1750) and Plate D from G.M. Hopkins Atlas of Philadelphia, 1875

The first burial ground for Quakers in Philadelphia was located on the east side of 4^th Street, south of Arch Street. This land was deeded to Friends by William Penn in 1701 "for a burying place." However, it had already been used as a burial ground for several years prior to that date. John F. Watson reported that the first burial there was that of Thomas Lloyd's wife, Mary, in 1683.[2] Over the years there have been varying estimates of the total number of interments, some as high as 20,000. By the time of the great Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 there was very little room left and burials were two or three deep. As the available space was taken up, more and more restrictions were imposed on non-Quaker burials.

The original burial ground on Arch Street -- earlier called Mulberry Street -- was L-shaped, containing about 2-1/3 acres. There were at least 2 small private burial grounds adjoining -- the Say Burial Ground located in the angle of the L, about 40"square and surrounded by a high brick wall.[3], and the Fox[4] or Jones Graveyard, to the east of Say, but not adjacent, about 17 feet square and also walled. Access to both was by an alley from Third Street.[5] The Friends' property at Arch Street was subdivided in 1817,[6] with the back end of the L retained by the Joint Committee of the Philadelphia monthly meetings for a common burial site, and the small area to the east of the meeting house reserved for future joint use.

Map of Property at Arch Street drawn by George Vaux, ca.1895

Many burials from 1834-48 were east of the meeting house (illustration left), and between 1848-1872 in the northeast corner of the southern plot (right); both of the charts were drawn from information supplied by George Vaux

1701 William Penn issued a deed to the property in October of 1701 to trustees "for a burying place." [7]
1727-28 Ground surrounded by an almost 5 foot brick wall
1801-02 Construction of 9 foot walls and leveling of the ground. Before this date, interments were usually in family groups. After this time, burial was generally in rows chronologically by date of death.
1803-1811[8] Arch Street Meeting House built on site: east wing in 1803-05, and the west in 1810-11. The meeting felt that "there is no necessity to remove the Remains of the Dead, for a foundation,"[9] but there were some re-interments on the site when excavations were undertaken in 1803 and 1810.[10]
1813 Brick carriage-house built to house carriage, bier, chairs, and other items "belonging to the Grave-yard," east of the meeting house
?-1833 Burials in the area west of the meeting house
1834-48 Interments mostly cease, but some burials up until 1848 in the plot to the east of the meeting house.
1843-44 Friends Library/Book-store built in the northeast corner of the property; no reference to re-interments[11]
1848 Proposal that a "strip of ground 24 feet in width from east to west, and eighty feet in length from north to south, situate in the North East corner of (the) burial ground [of the area to the rear of the meeting house], be appropriated for the interment of those aged Friends, and other members of the four monthly meetings in the City -- who may particularly desire their remains placed therein."[12]
1880 Minute ends burials in Eastern and Western Burial Grounds.
1896 Mounds over the 1848 plot leveled by accident. Construction of brick toilet facility with octagonal ends behind west wing
1902 & 1908 Construction and enlargement of kitchen facility behind center section
1915 Excavations for the cellar and foundation for the new building at 302 & 304 Arch Street as well as the tunnel dug to carry heating pipes uncovered evidence of burials. At the southwest corner of the new building seven bodies were removed and re-interred at Marshall Road.[13]
1968 Removal of the 1896, 1902, 1908 additions and construction of new wing behind center building

TITLE	NOTES	ORIG	FILM
A Booke of records of bierthes and burials in Philadelphia in the Province of Penezlvania in Amerrica 1677-1808	Book A Register of births, deaths and burials of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting and continues as Middle District. Contains the following: births, 1677-1808; deaths, 1687-1805; record of burials of non-Friends, 1692-1731. Index laid in. Register commenced in 1689.	RG2/Ph/P46	365
Orders for interments, 1758-1819	Middle and Southern District orders for interment to Eastern Ground, mounted in volumes 1-5: 1758-64, 1764-70, 1770-85, 1785-1804, 1804-19. Microfilms 363 and 359 also include an index to early burials that is not entirely reliable but may be useful to some researchers.		363/ 364
Permits for interments, Ca.1758-1850	Alphabetical transcription made by Anna G. Cope in 1898; includes name, age, and date of permit.		396
Births and Deaths, 11mo 1772-1806	Northern District deaths beginning on p.60, listed chronologically by date of burial. Indexed.		408
Interments, 1773-1806	Typescript alphabetical index to Southern District interments		410
Burials (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1806-1823	2 grave-books kept by sexton John Chapman for recording burials at Arch Street burial ground, 1806-1815 & 1815- 1823. Includes information on name, charge, sex, disease, member or not, district, location (relative coordinates) of grave relative to the south gate and the brew house.	RG2/Ph/P46	365
Burials in Arch St. & Western Burial Grounds, 1806-1827	Copy of grave-books listed above by Ambrose Smith from the original which was in possession of the Hicksite branch in 1877. Writing is clearer than the original. Indexed		377
Record of burials of deceased Friends and others, 1806-1826.	Also contains a record of births, 1783-1827. Book #2 for the “Middle District” only in Eastern. Includes name, date of death, where buried, late residence, notes (member or not); after 1821 lists disease instead of place of burial. Indexed.	RG2/Ph/P46	738/ 365
Record of Interments, 1807-1872	Southern District interments. Includes date, age, disease, member or not, and where buried. Proceeded by index.		424
Births and Deaths, 1806-1885	Northern District volume also includes non-members, name, death date, age, where buried, late residence, and notes.		408
Burials, 1807-1872	Typescript alphabetical index to Southern District burials		424
Births & Deaths, 1814-1887	Western District births & deaths, 1814-1883 and 1883-87, indexed. Also includes burials of members elsewhere.		354/ 434
Burials, 1816-1940	Green Street Monthly Meeting register also contains: births (1816-1936). Includes non -Quaker burials. Accompanied by: 23 pertinent items removed from register and foldered separately (not microfilmed).	RG2/Ph/G7	206
Orders for interments, 1819-1854	Middle and Southern District orders for interment to Eastern and Western grounds, mounted in volumes 6-8: 1819-32, 1832-54, and 1840-54 (Southern District), indexed.		377
Account of Interments in the Burial Ground near Fourth & Mulberry Streets, 1820-1872	Copy made by George Vaux in 1866 and continued. Includes date, name, age, monthly meeting, disease, remarks (member or not). Indexed. The extensive notes by Vaux in 1897 document his research into the placement of graves; also includes correspondence concerning re-interment in 1915.		378
Burials (Philadelphia, Pa.), 1824-1828	Continuation of grave-books belonging to Philadelphia MM Hicksite meeting, 1824 1mo 31-1828 1mo 1. No coordinates, but lists location either NG (Western) or blank (Eastern).	RG2/Ph/P46	365
Deaths, 1827-1903	Register for Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite) also contains births, 1827-1900. Includes index. "This separate Record of Births and Deaths (to the year 1869) has been copied from the Record of the members of Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia and thereafter is to be kept regularly in conjunction with said record book of members as authorized at a monthly meeting held the seventeenth day of second month 1869." Includes disease, late residence, and notes.	RG2/Ph/P46	365
Interments, 1829-1831	Robert Letchworth’s grave-book. Includes name, disease, date, charge, meeting, burial ground, and payment received.		378
Interments in Arch St. & Western Burial Grounds, 1848-1872	Stubs for orders of interment.		377
Orders to Remove, Western & Eastern Burial Ground, 1907-1922			379

Western Burial Ground (also called Sassafras or Cherry)

The Western Burial Ground comprised the entire block from 16th to 17th Street and Race Street to Cherry Street. Burials were recorded there from 1823 until 1884 when the site was taken over by Friends Select School.

1817 Purchase of Western Ground[14]
1880 Burials ended (by minute) in Eastern and Western Burial Grounds.
1899 Mounds leveled and the site sowed with grass[15]
1915 Construction of the Parkway took a corner of the Yard at 17^th & Cherry; remains were re-interred at Marshall Road
1922 Construction of a new Building at Friends Select necessitated removal of additional bodies; some were moved and some were re-interred elsewhere on the site.

TITLE	NOTES	ORIG	FILM
Orders for interments, 1758-1819	Middle and Southern District orders for interment to Eastern Ground, mounted in volumes 1-5: 1758-64, 1764-70, 1770-85, 1785-1804, 1804-19. Microfilms 363 and 359 also include an index to early burials that is not entirely reliable but may be useful to some researchers.		363/ 364
Permits for interments, Ca.1758-1850	Alphabetical transcription made by Anna G. Cope in 1898; includes name, age, and date of permit.		396
Births and Deaths, 1806-1885	Northern District volume also includes non-members, name, death date, age, where buried, late residence, and notes.		408
Burials in Arch St. & Western Burial Grounds, 1806-1827	Copy of grave-books by Ambrose Smith from the original which was in possession of the Hicksite branch in 1877. Writing is clearer than the original. Indexed		377
Record of Interments, 1807-1872	Southern District interments. Includes date, age, disease, member or not, and where buried. Preceded by index, also on reel.		424
Births & Deaths, 1814-1887.	Western District births & deaths, 1814-1883 and 1883-87, indexed. Also includes burials of members elsewhere.		354
Burials 1816-1940	Green Street Monthly Meeting register also contains: births (1816-1936). Includes non -Quaker burials. Accompanied by: 23 pertinent items removed from register and foldered separately (not microfilmed).	RG2/Ph/G7	206
Orders for interments, 1819-1854	Middle and Southern District orders for interment to Eastern and Western grounds, mounted in volumes 6-8: 1819-32, 1832-54, and 1840-54 (Southern District), indexed.		377
Row-book, 1823-1881	Row book compiled by Ambrose Smith from original records in ca.1880.		378
Accounts of Interments in Burial Ground on Sassafras and Cherry Streets & 16^th and 17^th Streets, 1823-1836	Copy made by George Vaux in 1866 and continued. Includes date, name, age, monthly meeting, disease, remarks (member or not). Indexed.		378
Burials (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1824-1828	Continuation of grave-books belonging to Philadelphia MM Hicksite meeting, 1824 1mo 31-1828 1mo 1. No coordinates, but lists location either NG (Western) or blank (Eastern).	RG2/Ph/P46	365
Deaths, 1827-1903	Register for Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite) also contains births, 1827-1900. Includes index. "This seperate Record of Births and Deaths (to the year 1869) has been copied from the Record of the members of Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia and thereafter is to be kept regularly in conjunction with said record book of members as authorized at a monthly meeting held the seventeenth day of second month 1869." Includes disease, late residence, and notes.	RG2/Ph/P46	365
Interments at Western Burial Ground (16-17^th, Race & Cherry Sts.), 1829-1884	And Children, 1829-78		379
Interments, 1829-1831	Robert Letchworth's grave-book. Includes name, disease, date, charge, meeting, burial ground, and payment received.		378
Grave-book, 1832-1840	Labeled Book F. Bound with Books B, D, E. Prob. Hicksite.		378
Grave-book, 1832-1884	Chronological, cover labeled Book B Offley Hopper's grave-book; includes date, location of grave, use of hearse, payment. Also includes burials of members of Green Street. Indexed. Bound with Books D, E, F.		378
Interments at Western Burial Ground (16-17^th, Race & Cherry Sts.), 1833-1880	Labeled Book C; indexed. Row book, notes use of cases.		378
Births & Burials, 1834-1902	Spruce Street register. Includes name, date of death, age, residence, and remarks/where buried. Alphabetical. A few obituary clippings at end.		595
Grave-book, 1837-1850	Labeled Book E. Bound with Books B, D, F. Note that it appears to have been maintained by the Hicksites.		378
Grave-book, 1846-1866	Labeled Book D. Bound with Books B, E, F.		378
Interments in Arch St. & Western Burial Grounds, 1848-1872	Stubs for orders of interment.		377
Permits & orders to remove, Western Burial Ground, 1863-1884	Orders, 1863-84 & permits, 1862-84		379
Interments at Western Burial Ground (16-17^th, Race & Cherry Sts.), 1864-1884	Labeled Book G; includes Green Street MM Burials. Chronological, includes list of removals to South-western and sketch of Western Burial Ground.		378
Permits & orders to remove, Western Burial Ground, 1885-1907	Orders		379
Orders to Remove, Western & Eastern Burial Ground, 1907-1922, 1907-1922			379

South-Western Burial Ground

In 1860, a joint committee made up of members of the four Orthodox Philadelphia monthly meetings could not agree on the purchase of a new burial ground. At that time, Western District Monthly Meeting went ahead and purchased a tract of land from Charles H. Wilbank and wife in Delaware County, Pennsylvania for its own use. This purchase, at 236 Powell Lane, Upper Darby, was bounded by Marshall Road, Sellers Avenue, and Spruce Street, close to the border of the City of Philadelphia.

Western District's tract was called Friends South-Western Burial Ground. It was laid out with both single graves in rows and family plots. In 1880, the other two Philadelphia Monthly Meetings jointly purchased the Marshall Road Burial Ground on an adjacent site.

1861 Burial ground opened

TITLE	NOTES	ORIG	FILM
Births and Deaths, 1806-1885	Northern District volume also includes non-members, name, death date, age, where buried, late residence, and notes.		408
Births & Deaths, 1814-1887.	Western District births & deaths, 1814-1883 and 1883-87, indexed. Also includes burials of members elsewhere.		354/ 434
Deed Book, No.1 1862-1915	List by lot number and deed number, #1-217, dated 1862-1884, with tipped-in map and ms. form of transfer. Also includes memorandum re: Jane Preston's bequest (1863), and alphabetical index to the early deeds, and cancelled/transferred deeds. Volume marked RS 633A, 1416.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 4
Duplicate Deed Book, No.1 1862-1884	Deeds #1-218, dated 1862-1884. Volume marked RS 63A, 1417.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 4
Interments, Southwestern Burial Ground, Upper Darby, 1862-1898	Loose orders, includes re-interments from elsewhere.		379
Orders of Board of Health, etc., 1862-1867	Interment permits issued by the Health Department include name and age of decedent, date and cause of death, occupation, place of birth, residence, and place of interment. Most of the documents are to Friends South-Western Burial Ground.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 2
Register, Lots, Friends S.W. Burial Ground, 1862-1883	Book #1418. Annotated by George Vaux. Duplicates some names in Register of Interments, 1863, but has more info on death dates.	RG2/Ph/C406
Register, Rows, Friends S.W. Burial Ground, 1863-1878	Book #1419.	RG2/Ph/C406
Orders for interment, Book A, 1884-1898	Certificates #1-300 (indexed). Books A-C used concurrently by Charles Roberts, George Vaux, and Samuel Rudolph respectively. This volume marked RS325.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 3
Orders for interment, Book B, 1884-1936	Certificates #301-498 (499-594 blank). Books A-C used concurrently by Charles Roberts, George Vaux, and Samuel Rudolph respectively. Filed in book were also the following: Correspondence and extracts re: Agnes Deaves Fund, 1885-1911, (2) annotated maps of the burial ground, (1) list of rules, and correspondence about sales, 1910-1935. This volume marked 325A.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 4
Orders for interment in Friends' South-Western Burial Ground, 1884-1912	Bound stubs (C) of certificates #601-889 (643-46 & 890-900 blank); photocopies in Box 2 and at Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. Completed stubs list name of decedent, dates of birth and death, names or parents and/or spouse, place of membership, residence, and lot number. Books A-C used concurrently by Charles Roberts, George Vaux, and Samuel Rudolph respectively.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 3
Friend's South-Western Burial Ground, Record of Interments, Book B, 1884 1884-1955	Book #1420. Duplicates some information in Register of Interments, 1863, and Register of Interments, 1895. Has some additional information on those listed: last known address, names of family members. With tipped-in map.	RG2/Ph/C406
Interment Permits and Applications for Interment in Friends' South-Western Burial Ground 1884-1912	Separated permits #601-889 (643-46 & 890-900 blank) of above volume. Completed applications and permits list name of decedent, dates of birth and death, names or parents and/or spouse, place of membership, residence, and lot number, with location of grave within family plot noted on back of permit. Applications occasionally contain additional information on decedent.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 2
Plans of Family Lots, 1885-1956	Indexed; tipped-in map of burial ground, Sections B, C, D, & I. Note signed by George Vaux in 1885 indicates that he reconstructed burial locations from 1862-1885, and then entered the information concurrently with the event. Volume includes diagrams of placement of burials within each family lot. Marked Book 1601.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 5
Register of Interments from 1895, 1895-2004	Bound photocopies of the original volume which is still in use.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 1
Orders for Interment, 1899-1928	Loose certificates that were microfilmed together, some of which are represented above, 1884-1912.		380
Orders for Interment and Related Correspondence, 1900-1909	Loose orders and related correspondence, 1900-1909, chronologically arranged; mixed permit numbers. Box marked RS327, 1704.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 6
Original Orders for Interment Commencing -- 11.17.1909, 1909-ca.1923	Originally filed in a letter file box with the same title, RS 640, 134. Filed alphabetically: A-B, C-E, F-H, I-L, M-P, & R-Y. Box also included a small folder of correspondence related to the removal of remains from Eastern (Arch Street) and Western Burial Grounds to South-Western, 1914-1916.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 7
Friends' South Western Burial Ground Schedule of Lot Owner's 1911-1932	Duplicate volumes.	RG2/Ph/C406
Orders for Interment Stubb Book, 1912-1942	Stubbs of Orders for Interment, #1501-1800. Marked Book B (book F).	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 6
Interment Permits and Applications for Interment in Friends' South-Western Burial Ground, 1918-1925	Separated permits 1923-1925: (#468-484 - 478 missing); 1918-1925 (#1260, 1299-1332 - 1310 missing); 1920-1925 (#1600, 1615-1635 - 1625 missing). Completed applications list name of decedent, dates of birth and death, names or parents and/or spouse, place of membership, and residence; lot number, with location of grave within family plot noted on back of permit. Photocopies at Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting and in second folder in Box 2.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 2
Certificates for Family Lots, Book C, 1926-1981	Volume containing completed stubs and also blank forms for receipt of payment for the right of interment, #601-853 (854-900 blank), with some loose agreements.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 1
Orders for interment in Friends' South-Western Burial Ground, 1938-1956	Bound stubs of certificates #1201-1549 (1550-1560 blank). Completed stubs list name of decedent, dates of birth and death, names or parents and/or spouse, place of membership, residence, and lot number. Photocopies in folder in Box 2.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 3
Interment Permits and Related Correspondence 1945-1955	Loose permits and related correspondence, removed from box marked "Interment Records, 1945-1956." Arranged by permit number: #1298-1399, 1400-1499, 1500-1528, and 1820-1823 (Benjamin Cadbury's records).	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 6
Plans of Family Lots, 1950-1956	Continuation of previous volume, Plans of Family Lots. Includes Section I (Lots 119, 202-210), only pages 363-368 completed, Indexed; tipped-in map. Marked Book 1602.	RG2/Ph/C406/Box 5

Marshall Road Burial Ground

Friends Marshall Road Burial Ground was originally part of the property purchased by Philadelphia Monthly Meeting for the Western District called Friends South-Western Burial Ground. In 1880, the other Philadelphia Orthodox meetings purchased this western section to use as a substitute for Western Ground at Sixteenth and Cherry.

In 1915, remains were removed from Arch Street due to construction of the "new administration building" and related heating tunnel; a few individual burials were identified and there were also a large number of unidentified remains -- these were re-interred in Friends' Marshall Road in Row D Section X (4 rows in from Sellers Avenue, between Penn and Central). That same year a small number of burials were removed from the southwestern corner of Western Burial Ground, due to the building of the Parkway, and they were also re-interred in Row D Section X.[16]

1880 First burials at Marshall Road

TITLE	NOTES	ORIG	FILM
Friend's Marshall-Road Burial Ground, Duplicate, Register of Interments 1880-1922	Book # 1720. Includes records from first book, and re-interments from Arch St. and Western Burial Grounds.	RG2/Ph/C406
Register of Interments, Friend's Marshall-Road Burial Ground 1880-1885	Book # 1719. First record of Marshall-Road Burial Ground. A new system for numbering rows was adopted c. 1887, and all these entries were incorporated into new books. Includes deed of a family plot to Amy Y. Tatum, 1875, conveyed to Charles Hartshorne, 1878, and to his heirs, 1924.	RG2/Ph/C406

Fair Hill Burial Ground

In 1681, William Penn granted 1250 acres of land in Pennsylvania to George Fox. In 1686 Fox's memorandum specified six acres for a meeting house and burial ground.[17] The property at Fair Hill was deeded in 1705, but the title was not fully confirmed to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting until 1767. Part of the land was set aside as a burial ground as early 1707, but there were few interments. In 1818 the Fair Hill property was confirmed to Green Street Monthly Meeting.

In 1830, it was proposed that a burial ground be established for three Hicksite Philadelphia Monthly meetings: Philadelphia, Spruce Street, and Green Street. Title was to be held by Green Street, with the cemetery initially under the care of a joint committee from the three meetings. It comprised the entire block bounded by Germantown, 9^th, Cambria, and Indiana. A Joint Committee on Interments was appointed in 1843 to prepare rules and regulations for the management of funerals and to oversee the burial ground at Fair Hill. The committee included representatives of the three Hicksite monthly meetings in Philadelphia, viz. Cherry Street, Green Street, and Spruce Street. The sub-committee which had the direct oversight of the Fair Hill Burial Ground was called the Committee of Nine

In 1985, the property was sold to Ephesians Baptist Church. In March, 1993, Fair Hill Burial Ground was incorporated, and in the same year, the property was purchased by the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, which now owns and maintains the burial ground.

1707 Early burials at Fair Hill
1795 Burials ceased when the property leased to a tenant farmer
1843 John Hare was the first person to be interred in the new ground, 5mo 10.

Burials 1816-1940	Green Street Monthly Meeting register also contains: births (1816-1936). Includes non -Quaker burials. Accompanied by: 23 pertinent items removed from register and foldered separately (not microfilmed).	RG2/Ph/G7	206
Deaths, 1827-1903	Register for Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite) also contains births, 1827-1900. Includes index. "This seperate Record of Births and Deaths (to the year 1869) has been copied from the Record of the members of Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia and thereafter is to be kept regularly in conjunction with said record book of members as authorized at a monthly meeting held the seventeenth day of second month 1869." Includes disease, late residence, and notes.	RG2/Ph/P46	365
Births & Burials, 1834-1902	Spruce Street register. Includes name, date of death, age, residence, and remarks/where buried. Alphabetical. A few obituary clippings at end.		595
Index of Interments, 1843-1917	Handwritten	RG4/069/Box 7 (oversize)
Register of Burials, 5/1843-12/1850		RG4/069/Box 2
Register of Interments, Vol. 1, 5/1843-11/1917	Alphabetical, includes burial location.	RG4/069/Box 3	216
Register of Interments, Vol. 2, 12/1917-9/1981		RG4/069/Box 3
Index of registers, Vol. 1 and 2 (typescript)	Filmed to 1969.	RG4/069/Box 2	217

Other Burial Places

Friends claimed equitable title to an early burial ground at Blockley -- on the west side of the Schuylkill near High Street. From the beginning the Blockley site was difficult to control and had become a "nuisance" by the 18^th century: there were many undocumented burials and some of the graves were disturbed. The Joint Committee relinquished this tract to the Board of Health in 1819. In 1850, the plot was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

As it became clear that the Arch Street site was not going to be sufficient, a number of alternate properties in Philadelphia were purchased for use as burial grounds, but there is little evidence that they were ever used for that purpose. The Joint Committee purchased a 3 acre lot at the northeast corner of 8^th & Spruce, for instance; it was opened for use in 1788, but the water table was too high and only one documented burial was attempted. Southern District Friends purchased property in Southwark (4^th & Carpenter Streets) for their own use; the Joint Committee authorized its sale in 1843 as "inconvenient." Another plot at 5^th, Jefferson, and Camac Streets, "above the Mill Pond," was also intended for burial purposes; it was purchased in 1816 and authorized to be sold in 1843 as well.

Records of Burial of Philadelphia Quakers in Other Places

TITLE	NOTES	ORIG	FILM
Deaths 1781-1874	Record of Green Street Monthly Meeting; burials at places other than Fair Hill. Includes early burials at Frankford, Germantown, and Cedar Hill. Register also contains: births (1775-1869) and deaths.	RG2/Ph/G7	206
Burial permits 1843-1844	49 loose burial permits from Green Street	RG2/Ph/G7	No film
Notes of deceased Friends : who have been members of Philad Monthly Meeting of Friends [1827-1843]	Hicksite. Earliest recorded death is that of Samuel Richards, 9mo 23, 1827; latest recorded death is that of Mary Gibbs, 11mo 24, 1843. Title from label on cover. "Intended to be enlarged & to complete the record of that meeting." Undated. Dates of earliest and latest deaths taken from register of births and deaths, 1827-1903. Compiled ca. 1850.	RG2/Ph/P46	No film

[1] Rules of Discipline and Christian Advices. Philadelphia: Samuel Sansom, Jun., 1797. p. 59.

[2] John F. Watson. Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in the Olden Time. Philadelphia: Leary, Stuart Co., 1927. Vol.1, p.449.

[3]According to George Vaux: The Friends' Meeting-House Fourth and Arch Streets Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Pa.: John C. Winston Company, p.25.

[4] This is probably the same lot bequeathed to Joseph Fox by James Portues in 1737, as cited in Vol.1 of John W Jordan's Colonial Families of Philadelphia. New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1911, p.320.

[6] Until the early 19^th century, all property in Philadelphia owned by the Society of Friends -- including the meeting houses -- was held as joint property by Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (1683- ), Philadelphia Southern District (1772-1872), and Philadelphia Northern District (1772-1914) -- then with Philadelphia Western District (1814-1956) and Green Street Monthly Meetings (1816-). In 1817, due to the increasing difficulty of administering the property of five meetings in common, most of the holdings and funds were divided; the burial ground, however, was continued as a joint responsibility.

[7] The eastern end of the L was bounded by a strip of land 30' wide and fronting on 3^rd street, originally granted to Richard Orme in 1684.

[8] The Yearly Meeting considered building a meeting house on the site as early as 1738,[8] but the decision was not finally made until after 1794-95

[10] An architectural study conducted in 1968[10] concludes that only a crawl space -- rather than a full cellar -- was excavated, apparently to avoid disturbing earlier burials.

[11] Friends Bookstore was at 302 Arch and Friends Library at 304 Arch Street. In 1886; the Library was moved to its own place at 142 N.16^th. Street

[13] When it became necessary to dig deeper foundations, what was surmised to have been pits dug at the time of the Yellow Fever epidemic (1793) were discovered -- this conclusion was reached because the skeletons were laid in a variety of directions. In fact, this area is probably the same as is sketched in an original plan of the Norris-Lloyd family plot. Three additional large boxes of unidentified remains were re-interred at Marshall Road.

[14] Members of Southern District were concerned about the distance of Western Ground from their neighborhood, and purchased a lot in Southwark for their own use.

[15] In 6mo 1899, all of the mounds remaining over graves except for a few specially reserved were leveled and the site sowed with grass seed. George Vaux recorded information on this site before the work was done.

[16] RG2/Ph/C406 Register of Interments, 1880-1922.