8 children reported of school age but not in school
The situation at Concord Meeting was very similar to that of Chester, as appears by their report of 1779. Following the customary visitation, it was stated that the visit was satisfactory in many places, but in some families were found small children, eight of whom were of school age, but whose parents were unable to school them.[1292] The meeting was asked to give its attention to the matter, but nothing was found in the minutes to indicate what they did further to remedy the matter.
Goshen
The Goshen Meeting seems from its answers to the queries in 1756 to be in a very satisfactory state with regard to slaveholding, “none having been purchased of late years,” though they consider they are not careful enough in educating them in Christian principles.[1293] They were, however, careful to deal individually with those few who were engaged in any manner in holding slaves in bondage.[1294] In 1758 the record stated:
Those few negroes amongst us we believe are provided with a sufficiency of food and clothing, but doubt some are too careless in affording them religious instruction.[1295]
Four years later conditions were somewhat improved, and their report stated:
Endeavors to teach negroes to read, reported
No purchase since our last account that we know of. Those amongst us who keep negro slaves, we believe afford them a sufficiency of food and clothing and endeavors are used with some to learn them to read.[1296]
Negroes sent to school
If we read a little further the records for the same year, we are informed that some were sent to school, supposedly to a “White school” due to the small number of Negroes among Friends.[1297] From the above references, then, taken in connection with one of the second month, 1764, we are led to infer that the education of the Negroes under Friends’ care was carried on in a school and not in the home, under individual instructors, whoever might be able to do it. The reference of 1764 stated “some are sent to school to learn to read.”[1298]