The Quakers Disowned Betsey Kinsey Binford

Amanuensis[i] Monday
Howell-Pankey-Binford Line
By Don Taylor

Researching 18^th Century women is often difficult. Learning that 4^th great-grandmother, Betsey “Betty” (Binford) Pankey, was disowned by her religion because she married outside her Faith puts other events into context, such as why she was ignored in several wills of her family.

Document Image

U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Ancestry, Betty Kinsey Binford – Pages 70 & 71 – 7 Oct 1762.

Transcription

[Page 70 – bottom]

Whereas Betty Kinney Binford Daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth Binford of Henrico was educated in the profession of us the people called Quakers and did sometimes frequent our Religious Meetings, but for want of a faithful adherence to the dictates of that Divine Principle which was sufficient to have preserved her in a due observance of the known Rules of our Society hath been prevailed on to suffer self to be joined in marriage by a Priest to a man of a different Persuasion in matter of Faith

[page change to the top of page 71]

Without the consent of her parent & contrary to the advice of Friends.

We do therefore hereby disown the said Betty to be of our Society until she come to witness that Godly sorrow that worketh true repentance which that the Lord may mercifully grant her is our sincere desire.

Signed by order & on behalf of our monthly meeting
held in Henrico County the 7^th of the 0^th mo. 1762      } Robert Pleasants teth

Dolly Jordan                               Elizabeth Elmore
Mary Ellyson                               Jane Ellyson
Judith Ladd                                Mildred Kinsey
Elizabeth Crine                            Urnela Pleasants
Morning Crine

Discussion

Betsey’s brother, Thomas, married Judith Ladd, and her brother, John, married Susanna Ellyson, likely a relative of Mary and Jane Ellyson. Likewise, Betsey’s sister Sarah married Amos Ladd. So, it appears that although Betsey married outside of the Quaker community and was disowned, her siblings married within the Society.

Conclusion

I was surprised to learn that Quakers would disown a person for marrying outside of the Society.

Endnotes

[i] John Newmark started the “Amanuensis Monday” category in 2009 on his Blog,  Transylvanian Dutch  and many bloggers have followed suit using the tag. Google provides the following meaning for amanuensis: “A literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.”