John Woolman

  General Notes:

The Marriage Certificate of John Woolman on record in Friends' Book of Marriages in possession of Richard F. Mott, recorder and Clerk of Friends: Whereas there hath been an intention of marriage duly published at two several Monthly Meetings of ye people called Quakers in Burlington upon ye river Delaware in ye Province of West New Jersey in America Between John Woolman of Northampton River, husbandman and Elizabeth Bourton near ye same place also in Province aforesaid, inquiry being made no objection appearing, also ye consent of Parents being had ye Meeting gave their consent unto the same.

Now these may certified ye truth unto all Conserned yet on ye day of ye date hereof in our sight and hearing and in our assembly of ye Lord's People ye said John Woolman did take and declare ye said Elizabeth Borton to be his wife, and ye said Elizabeth Borton did take and declare the said John Woolman to be her husband according to ye example of ye Lord's People recorded in ye Scripture of truth each of them consenting or promising to be loving, faithful and true in ye capacity as husband and wife ye tenure of their natural lives together. In witness thereof ye Parties themselves have first of all subscribed their names and we also as witnesses this eighth day of ye eighth month 1684. John Woolman Elizabeth Woolman

John Bourton
Jos. Hollingshead
Thomas Bourton
Jo. Haines
Mary Hudson
Tho. French
Ann Bourton
Mary Cooke
Tho. Olive
Jane Bourton
Mary Harding
Wm Evans
Esther Bourton
Ben Moore
Robt Dimsdale
Jane Bourton
Henry Ballin(ger)
Daniel Will
s Ann Jennings Jr
. Wm Peachee
Mary Wills
Thos. Harding
Bridget Guy
Freedom Lippincott
Grace Hollingshead

  Research Notes:

John Woolman, and English gentleman and member of the Society of Friends, hearing from reports sent out from Fenwick's Colony, in West New Jersey, of the goodly land and promises of comfort, quiet and peacefulness, as well as the evidence of future records in the direction of increase in value of lands in the new colony decided to join his fortunes with his brethren in America. To this end he took ship in 1681, and on arriving at Burlington selected eight thousand acres of land extending from the Burlington river southward to the north branch of the Rancocas river, a distance of five miles, and including the present site of Mount Holly, where he fixed his home. Having thus secured a foothold and a position of prominence in the Friends Meeting, he looked across the Meeting House and among the comely Quakeresses he found Elizabeth, daughter of John and Ann Borton, a family of Friends who had come from Aynhoe Parish in Northamptonshire, England, and they were soon announcing in Meeting their intention of Marrying, which announcement, once repeated, ended in their marriage on the 10th month, 8th day, 1684. They had children including: Samuel, married Elizabeth, and they had daughter, Patience, born 10th month, 27th day, 1718, and she in turn selected as a husband Joseph Moore, of another prominent family of the meeting.

John married Elizabeth Borton, daughter of John Borton and Anne Kinton, on 16 Aug 1684 in Rancocas, Evesham, Burlington, New Jersey. (Elizabeth Borton was born on 27 Jul 1664 in Aynhoe, Northamptonshire, England, died on 30 Sep 1718 and was buried in Quaker Burial Ground, Rancocas, Burlington, New Jersey.)