Lower Portion of Marriage Certificate of Samuel Woolman and Elizabeth Burr. 6 mo. (August) 21, 1714.

Parents of John Woolman.

Original in Possession of Rachel Haines Hilliard, Rancocas, N. J.

Woolman accompanied Abraham Farrington, 19 an elderly preacher, on a brief tour through northern New Jersey. Woolman at first hesitated, but some elderly Friends whom he consulted advised him to go. During this first and most important preaching tour of John Woolman it is interesting to note that nearly all the meetings were held in places where no Quakers were settled. In the town tavern at Brunswick they had a large and attentive congregation. The same thing happened in the Presbyterian settlements in East Jersey. A large meeting in the Court House at Perth Amboy, where the Provincial Assembly was then in session, was attended by many members of that body. A large proportion of these were Quakers, or of Quaker affiliations, and some of them were life-long friends of the old preacher and his young companion. One of these was the Treasurer of the Province, Samuel Smith. Woolman says his "ancient Companion preached largely in the love of the Gospel" to the statesmen and prominent people present. He himself took but an occasional brief part, "with" as he says, "much care that I might speak only what Truth opened. My mind was often tender, and I learned some profitable lessons. We were out about two weeks." This was in the autumn of 1743 and was Woolman's first visit away from home on such an errand. Abraham Farrington 1o died in London on a religious visit in 1758.

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The Journal at this period tells its own story of the daily life of Woolman, with somewhat more detail than at other times. We learn that in the falling off of his master's business in "mer chandising," Woolman began to look about for more permanen employment, especially as thoughts of the possibility of "settling"-i.e., marrying-arose in his mind. There is no certain clud to the name of this master, but he apparently carried on a large general business such as was for a century or more to be found in country districts throughout the colonies, supplying the farm ing population with every possible need, not furnished by their own farms. He made up into clothing the cloth woven on the hand looms, and for this purpose employed a man who had learned tailoring. With his characteristic thoroughness Woolma determined that this would furnish him with a living, and if s he must become skilful and learn the trade properly. The wa was made easy by his master; terms were agreed upon, an

Lower Portion of Marriage Certificate of Samuel Woolman and Elizabeth Burr. 6 mo. (August) 21, 1714.

Parents of John Woolman.

Original in Possession of Rachel Haines Hilliard, Rancocas, N. J.

Earliest Entry in Small Account Book, as Tailor's Apprentice, 1743.

John Woolman became an apprentice, serving for three years, without severing his connection with the shop, or his bookkeeping.

For this period of his life we may turn to his own Smaller Account Book, in which also he later entered his accounts for the several estates for which he became executor. The little paper book, six by eight inches in size, begins with his Apprenticeship account. The brief tailoring charges contain so many interesting names, and bring before us so vividly the appearance of the worthy people-nearly all Quakers whose clothing was made by the young tailor-that some of the items are here reproduced. Elizabeth Haddon in 1702 became the Elizabeth Estaugh whose name is first on the list. She was the founder of Haddonfield, and probably aided John's sister, Elizabeth, who was her intimate friend, when she set up as a tailoress near by. Her name appears as a witness on Elizabeth Woolman, Jr's 12 will. It will be seen that John Woolman notes in the margin of his account, the end of each six months of his service.

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