Ralph Morden - Quaker???
In his article "The Treason of Ralph Morden and Robert Land", Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 79 (1955), pp. 440-441, John M. Coleman stated: "In 1765, Ralph Morden married a New Jersey girl named Ann Durham.Although tradition refers to Ann as Irish, her family probably was one of the many English Quaker families which had sought sanctuary in Ireland, and had later removed to New Jersey.In any case, Ann was definitely a Quaker, and Ralph Morden very possibly became a Quaker through her.Of all the Mordens in his generaton, he was the only known representative of that Society."
The above contains several errors.First, Ann Durham was not a New Jersey girl, but was a Pennsylvanian.Her father, John, receved a warrant for 200 acres of land 10 Feb 1737 on Haycock Run, a steam in what is now Haycock Township in northern Bucks Co.Ann was christened by Father Schneider 29 May 1743 in Haycock [Goshenhoppen Registers] and has not been found in Quaker records.Two of her siblings were also christened by Father Schneider and in the record for her sister, Margaret, John has a (P.) for Protestant by his name.This would make Ann's mother, Catherine, the Roman Catholic in the family.On 30 Nov 1751 John Durham received 100 acres in Mount Bethel in Northampton Co., PA and appears on the Mount Bethel tax rolls for 1761-73.He received another grant adjoining his other land in Mount Bethel on 12 Mar 1774.
Ralph Morden has never been found in a Quaker record.As to his possible pacifist leanings the reader should note that Ralph served in the militia from 8 June to 20 July 1757 and five additional times until 20 July 1758.[Muster Rolls of Forces on the Frontiers of NJ 1757-1758.]The tour of duty lasted 30 days and usually recruited woodsmen over the age of 21, however, the article says regular militia began at 16.
It has been suggested that our John Durham might be one of the orphaned sons of William and Mary Durham who was christened 27 Feb 1714 in Noke, Oxford because Noke was known to be a locality where both Papist and Quaker sympathizers were allowed to coexist with the Church of England.In one instance, John Harper, a Quaker from Noke is known to have settled in Pennsylvania in the late 17th century.[Noke, Rome and Pennsylvania - Religious Dissent in Noke 1558-1745 by C. J. Cheetham]Like Ralph Morden, John Durham does not apppear in colonial Quaker records.
More Replies:
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Re: Ralph Morden - Quaker???
Roderick MacDonald 1/02/08
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Ann Durham Morden in 1809 Quaker Record
Charles Field 1/02/08
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Ann Durham Morden - Quaker???
Charles Field 1/06/08
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Ann Durham Morden in 1809 Quaker Record
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Re: Ralph Morden - Quaker???
R S Barrons 7/08/07
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Re: Ralph Morden - Quaker???
Charles Field 7/08/07
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Re: Ralph Morden - Quaker???