Friends Meetinghouse (Uxbridge, Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
The Friends Meetinghouse is an historic Friends Meeting House
of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
located at the junction of Routes 146A (Quaker Highway) and 98
(Aldrich Street) in Uxbridge, Massachusetts
. On January 24, 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
. It was built on the farm of Moses Farnum
, circa 1769, from bricks made from a brickyard across the street. The structure is two stories and has a balcony. In the Quaker tradition there were separate entrances and meeting places for men and women. The "Quaker City" settlement is one of the earliest resettlements of Quakers into the Massachusetts Colony following their expulsion by the Puritans in the 17th century.
The NPS, National Park Service Website describes this site as the following:
“Uxbridge vicinity. FRIENDS MEETINGHOUSE, S of Uxbridge on MA 146, 1770-1776. Brick, 2 stories, rectangular gabled roof, 2 interior chimneys; 2-story gabled entrance vestibule, early-19th C.; simple interior, 2nd-floor gallery; interior alterations, early- 19th C. Two reconstructed outbuildings, cemetery. Typical of Quaker meetinghouse in New England. Private”
Quakers from Rhode Island
maintain this building, and hold monthly services there. This historic church was the church home for fiery Abolitionist, Abby Kelley Foster. She was an ulta-abolitionist who led Susan B. Anthony
and Lucy Stone
into the abolition movement. She was later disowned by the Uxbridge Meeting for radical abolition speeches.
The earliest Quakers who settled here from Smithfield and Providence, RI, were among the first in America who personally renounced slavery and freed slaves. The early Quakers here were related to the religious group of Moses Brown
, who helped found Brown University
. There are a number of Quaker homes built in this area, which was known as Quaker City, Aldrich Village, and the village of Ironstone, Massachusetts
. The cemetery at this location is also a source of history. This church, listed in the Vital Records of Uxbridge as C.R. 4, church records 4, records the death of various members of the Arnold family of Uxbridge. "Sarah Arnold", widow of Benedict, died at the age of 83 on February 14, 1836 according to the Uxbridge vital records. It was believed that Peggy Shippen
, the second wife of General Benedict Arnold
, the Revolutionary War general and infamous traitor, returned from England to Uxbridge, incognito. She may have returned to her roots in the Quaker tradition at this Friend's Meetinghouse, following her upbringing as a Quaker in Philadelphia.
An almshouse cemetery nearby was relocated with the Route 146 construction between 1981–1984 and resulted in historic archeology findings published by Boston University
researchers.
Friends meeting house
A Friends meeting house is a meeting house of the Religious Society of Friends , where meeting for worship may be held.-History:Quakers do not believe that meeting for worship should take place in any special place. They believe that "where two or three meet together in my name, I am there among...
of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
located at the junction of Routes 146A (Quaker Highway) and 98
Massachusetts Route 98
Route 98 is a southwest-northeast numbered highway in central Massachusetts. The highway is a continuation of Rhode Island Route 98 in Uxbridge.-Route description:...
(Aldrich Street) in Uxbridge, Massachusetts
Uxbridge, Massachusetts
Uxbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It was first settled in 1662, incorporated in 1727 at Suffolk County, and named for the Earl of Uxbridge. Uxbridge is south-southeast of Worcester, north-northwest of Providence, and southwest of Boston. It is part of...
. On January 24, 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The Friends Meeting House is one of the last crude brick church structures remaining in America. This building is on the National Registry of Historic Buildings. The Friends Meeting House was built in Uxbridge, Massachusetts in 1770, by Quakers from the Quaker Community in Smithfield, Rhode IslandSmithfield, Rhode Island
Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville...
. It was built on the farm of Moses Farnum
Moses Farnum House
The Moses Farnum House is an historic house located on Route 146A. in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. On October 7, 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.-National Register listing:...
, circa 1769, from bricks made from a brickyard across the street. The structure is two stories and has a balcony. In the Quaker tradition there were separate entrances and meeting places for men and women. The "Quaker City" settlement is one of the earliest resettlements of Quakers into the Massachusetts Colony following their expulsion by the Puritans in the 17th century.
The NPS, National Park Service Website describes this site as the following:
“Uxbridge vicinity. FRIENDS MEETINGHOUSE, S of Uxbridge on MA 146, 1770-1776. Brick, 2 stories, rectangular gabled roof, 2 interior chimneys; 2-story gabled entrance vestibule, early-19th C.; simple interior, 2nd-floor gallery; interior alterations, early- 19th C. Two reconstructed outbuildings, cemetery. Typical of Quaker meetinghouse in New England. Private”
Rhode Island Quakers, Abby Kelley Foster
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
maintain this building, and hold monthly services there. This historic church was the church home for fiery Abolitionist, Abby Kelley Foster. She was an ulta-abolitionist who led Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony
Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
and Lucy Stone
Lucy Stone
Lucy Stone was a prominent American abolitionist and suffragist, and a vocal advocate and organizer promoting rights for women. In 1847, Stone was the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree. She spoke out for women's rights and against slavery at a time when women were discouraged...
into the abolition movement. She was later disowned by the Uxbridge Meeting for radical abolition speeches.
The earliest Quakers who settled here from Smithfield and Providence, RI, were among the first in America who personally renounced slavery and freed slaves. The early Quakers here were related to the religious group of Moses Brown
Moses Brown
Moses Brown was a co-founder of Brown University and a New England abolitionist and industrialist, who funded the design and construction of some of the first factory houses for spinning machines during the American industrial revolution, including Slater Mill.-Early life:Brown was the son of...
, who helped found Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
. There are a number of Quaker homes built in this area, which was known as Quaker City, Aldrich Village, and the village of Ironstone, Massachusetts
Ironstone, Massachusetts
Ironstone is an historic village in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. It derived its name from plentiful bog iron found here which helped Uxbridge to become a center for three iron forges in the town's earliest settlement. Ironstone today is known as South Uxbridge...
. The cemetery at this location is also a source of history. This church, listed in the Vital Records of Uxbridge as C.R. 4, church records 4, records the death of various members of the Arnold family of Uxbridge. "Sarah Arnold", widow of Benedict, died at the age of 83 on February 14, 1836 according to the Uxbridge vital records. It was believed that Peggy Shippen
Peggy Shippen
Peggy Shippen, or Margaret Shippen , was the second wife of General Benedict Arnold...
, the second wife of General Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
, the Revolutionary War general and infamous traitor, returned from England to Uxbridge, incognito. She may have returned to her roots in the Quaker tradition at this Friend's Meetinghouse, following her upbringing as a Quaker in Philadelphia.
An almshouse cemetery nearby was relocated with the Route 146 construction between 1981–1984 and resulted in historic archeology findings published by Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
researchers.