Bradford Meeting Minutes – Revolutionary War
FROM RECORDS OF BRADFORD MONTHLY MEETING. (extracted by Gilbert Cope)
Joshua Buffington complained of by Bradford Meeting, 5-17-1776, for entering into military exercise. 6-14-1776, hath declined the practice but offers no satisfaction. Disowned 7-12-1776.
Samuel Clark complained of by Bradford, 5-17-1776, for signing an association agreement for military exercise and acting for some time therein. Acknowledgment accepted 11-15-1776.
Samuel Kinnison complained of by Caln Meeting, 9-13-1776, for enlisting as a soldier; disowned 2-14-1777.
Evan Chalfant complained of by Caln, 9-13-1776, for entering as a soldier into military services. His acknowledgment accepted 1-17-1777.
John. Eastburn complained of by Bradford. 7-15-1777, for learning military exercise and appearing as such in his dress 8-15-1777; hath declined the military exercise. Disowned 6-12-1778.
James Sheward complained of by Bradford. 3-13-1778, for driving a team to collect forage for the army. Disowned 9-18-1778.
Curtis Lewis complained of by Cain, 4-17-1778, for leaving his family and going to the British army for protection and entering into some service amongst them. 8-14-1777, is gone out of the Province with them. Disowned 3-18-1778.
Jacob Buffington, of Bradford, 7-17-1778 “hath Left his Place of abode in a manner unbecoming our profession & gone to the British army.” 8-14-1778, is gone out of the Province with them. Disowned 9-18-1778.
William Whitaker complained of by Cain, 7-17-1775, for complying to enlist as a soldier in the American army to Evade suffering, and for Leaving them & going to the British army for Protection, and hath since taken a test of fidelity to the American State, so called. Disowned 9-18-1778.
John Chalfant complained of by Caln, 11-12-1779, for associating with military men in order to learn the military exercise. Disowned 6-16-1780.
Adam Kirk complained of 2-15-1780, for paying tax to support war. His acknowledgment accepted 5-12-1780.
Ann Hayes complained of 3-17-1780, for sending a Creature to exchange for one the collector had taken for a substitute fine for her husband. Her acknowledgment accepted 1-14-1780. Bradford Meeting.
Richard Buffington, Jr.. complained of by Bradford, 3-17-1780. for compounding with the present collectors of fines & taxes and paying & assuming to pay their demands for himself, his Father & Brother. without their consent. Disowned 8-18-1780.
David Lewis complained of by Bradford, 6-16-1780, for paying part of a substitute fine. Acknowledgment accepted 7-14-1780.
Isaac Taylor complained of by Bradford, 7-14-1780, for paying money to redeem a horse taken & sold for his fines & taxes for warlike uses. The complaint dropped 11-17-1780.
George Speakman complained of by Bradford, 11-17-1780, for paying tines in lieu of personal service and other requisitions for warlike uses. 2-16-1781, he pleads necessity for compliance so far as he hath done in payment of lines. Disowned 5-18-1781.
William Millison complained of by Bradford, 2-16-1781, for consenting to pay another who offered to pay his muster fine and afterward doing so. Acknowledgment accepted 3-16-1781.
David Chalfant complained of by Bradford. 1-15-1782, for military associations. Disowned 5-17-1782.
Richard Baker complained of by Bradford, 3-14-1783, for taking the test. Case dropped 2-13-1784.
John Jones complained of by Cain, 6-13-1783, for paying militia tines and military association. Disowned 9-12-1783.
Richard Buffington complained of by Bradford, 2-14-1783, for having removed some time ago without taking a certificate, 7-18-1783, reported to have gone to Nova Scotia. (While it does not appear that he took up arms, he evidently sympathized with the mother country, He returned from Nova Scotia prior to 2-17-1786, and later took the “test” as shown by the following document):
I do certify that Richard Buffington of West Bradford, Chester County, hath voluntarily taken and subscribed the affirmation of Allegiance and Fidelity, as directed by an Act of General Assembly of Pennsylvania, passed the Fourth day of March, Anno Domini, 1786. Witness my Hand and Seal, the Tenth day of October Anno Domini, 1786. THOS. CHEYNEY (Seal).