Our ancient Friend Joseph Mead having by letter communicated to this meeting his mind, signifying his willingness to do something that might be conducive towards a public good, and in order thereto offers to give £50 toward a stock to be kept in this meeting for the putting of poor Friends’ children to trades or for relieving of poor or indigent Friends which this meeting very kindly accepts of at the hand of said Friend.[684]... and this meeting being informed that our Friend Joseph Mead continues steadfast in his mind respecting his donation towards pious uses, and desires he may know to whom he may deliver the said gift. After some consideration thereon this meeting do nominate ... Jacob Howell and John Davis to be receivers and are by this meeting empowered to receive the above and all such bequests ..., in behalf of and for the use of this meeting, and to put out upon interest as soon as they conveniently can all such money into good and responsible hands and to render to this meeting when required thereto or to whom the said meeting shall appoint a true and just account of what may be delivered hereafter by any person or persons into their hands for the uses aforesaid.[685]
In 1739 the interest arising from this gift was withdrawn at his request and paid to the Springfield Friends to help them build their meeting house.[686]
In response to the yearly meeting’s urgent request of 1746 and 1750,[687] we have their action recorded in this minute of the year 1754.
Report required on state of legacies
According to a minute of the advice of the Last Yearly Meeting concerning the settling of schools in the country, it is agreed for the encouragement thereof that the several and respective clerks of the monthly meetings belonging to this quarterly meeting do inquire and bring in a true report of all legacies, donations or estates which have been heretofore given to their respective meetings and of the uses to which the moneys arising therefrom are applied, and bring the account thereof to our next meeting.[688]
Darby
Land deeded for meeting
The meetings at Darby were at first usually held at the home of John Blunston, who in 1687 deeded one acre of ground in Darby aforesaid for the use of building a meeting house,[689] on which the meeting house was begun in the following year,[690] and finished in 1689.[691] Happily, in the case of Darby Meeting we can point out a definite statement concerning a school established by the meeting, and which, quite probably, was the first school at that place. In 1692 the minutes note that,
B. Clift’s school