William Clothier (1705-after 1768)
The Clothier family of Street was active in the Religious
Society of Friends, also known as Quakers since its beginnings in Somerset in
the mid-1650s and in Street, mainly at Middleleigh where the Clothier family farmed.
The Clothier family predate the Clarke family as far as
their residency in the village. The two families are connected by marriage to
many of the Quaker families in Street.
The Clothier family moved to Street in the 1650’s when William’s
great grandfather, Henry Gundry (my 8th great grand uncle) and William’s great grandmother Anne Clothier
Gundry, (my maternal 8th great grand aunt) moved to Street.
In 1655, Williams great grandfather, Henry Clothier joined
the Quaker Religion, also known as Friends. Williams father, James was born
into the Quaker religion, in 1661.
Willam Clothier, my maternal 6th great
grandfather was born in Street, Somerset, England on March 22, 1705, to James
Clothier and Jane Coate and he was also born into the Quaker religion.
On January 25, 1726, in Street, William married Mary Cooper in
the Quaker church and they had four children, Rachell who died at age 4, John,
who died at age one, Jane who died the same year that she was born, and another
daughter named Love who was the only one who lived to adulthood, she died at
age 49.
Mary Cooper died at age 31 on July 1, 1736, was also a
Quaker.
About 1737, William remarried to someone also named Mary,
surname unknown, she died in October 1739 at age 33, no children was born of
this marriage.
William married for a third time shortly after the death of
his second wife, in 1739. The Quaker church became upset with Wiiliam because
William married his third wife, Jane Gluvias my maternal 6th great grandmother,
by a Priest.
In “Mid-Somerset Friends in the 18th Century” it states, “In
1740 John Clark read a testimony in Glaston meeting against William Clothier,
who had been married by the priest and had acted "greatly to the reproach
of Friends". It was his third marriage.
William and Jane had five children, William Jr., John,
Samuel, Elizabeth, and Jane. After daughter Jane was born on October 8, 1752, I
have not found any additional records for William’s wife Jane.
Sometime before April 2, 1759, William emigrated to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his children by his third wife . He left Love,
his daughter by his first marriage in England, who had already been helped by
Friends' charity for the seven years since she was 21 . Sometimes it was her
Uncle James Clothier who gave her money. When she was 37 she was married by a
Priest contrary to the rules of the Society but hoped that her "future
conduct will be such as is agreeable." She received no further help from
Friends' charity and died a Friend in 1771 at age 49.
Some Quaker records:
1760
Philadelphia
“Our Friend
William Clothier who settled sometime past in this City produced to our last
meeting a Certificate for himself and four children dated from the monthly
meeting of friends held at Glastonbury in Somersetshire Great Britain 11. 12 mo. last ? the same time
acquainted us that his son John a youth is settled among you from his first
arrival being an apprentice to Joseph Masters. We therefore think it necessary
to notify you that he is recommended with his father to the tender regard of Friends
as a member of our Religious Society and we desire your Christian Care and
oversight of him as occasion may require. We remain the Salutation of Love,
your Friends of brethren. Signed in and on behalf of our Monthly Meeting held
at Philadelphia 27. 6 mo. 1760 James Pemberton”
“Dear Friends,
We being
informed that William Clothier Junior a member of this Meeting is shortly about
to remove from hence with a Design of settling somewhere in your Country our
Certificate being requested on his behalf. These may certify you that he lived
several years as an apprentice with a Friend (a Baker) within the ? of this our
Meeting business behaved orderly willingly attended Meetings. But his Master
dying before the expiration of the Time of his Apprenticeship & his
Mistress declining to continue the business. By her consent he has some time
been employed as a journeyman Baker in the City of Bristol proper inquiry hath
been made of his said Mistress where he worked as a journeyman & she gives
him the character of a honest Servant & as such we recommend him to
Christian Care with earnest desires for his welfare preservation with the Salutation of Love to
you we remain your Friends & brethren. Signed in on behalf our Monthly
Meeting held at Claverham in the County of Somerset this Second Day of the
fourth month called April & in the year one thousand seven hundred &
fifty-nine by….
William Sr took a trip back to England from Philadelphia where
he met with Friends and "made an acknowledgement of his disorderly conduct
in a manner that seem to demonstrate a sincere repentance with a desire of
being reunited”-he was re-admitted and he returned to Philadelphia.
On 30 Jun 1768, William Sr is found living in Providence, New
Jersey listed on daughter Jane's Quaker Marriage record.
Two of William’s children died as very young adults in
Philadelphia. John who died at age 18 in Philadelphia, and William Jr who died
at age 18 in Philadelphia, The two children who died young, died between 1759
and 1770, during this time in Philadelphia there were several epidemics, yellow
fever, smallpox, measles, as well as other sicknesses.
I have not found any records showing William Sr. date or place
of death,
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