OF THE LIFE, TRAVELS, RELIGIOUS EXERCISES, AND LABOURS IN THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, OF JOSHUA EVANS, LATE OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. Byberry: PUBLISHED BY JOHN & ISAAC COMLY. J. Richards, Printer, Philadelphia. 1837. Introduction, page 1—George Churchman's testimony concerning him, 2-Haddonfield do. 4-Birth and parentage, 5-Placed out apprentice, 7-Sickness in 1752, 9—His marriage and settlement, 12-Exercises and trials, 13-Removal to Mount Holly, 14—to Had- donfield, 16-Settlement on his farm at Newton, 17-Labours on the subject of slavery, and scruples about using West India goods, 18— Scruples about war and military demands, 20-Considerations on the use of dyed garments, 22-Obtained a white hat, 24-Scruples about the use of East India tea, 25-Do. about partaking of animal food, 28-Reflections on the use of spirituous liquors, 33-His absti- nence and testimony thereon, 34-Thoughts on the custom of sha- ving, and conclusion to wear his beard, 36-Trials in consequence, 38-Scruples about purchasing and using foreign goods, on which duties are paid, 40-Reflections on superfluities, pride, &c. 42-Visit to the families of Woodbury meeting, 44-Journey to Long Island, 45-to Rhode Island, 47-Travels in New England, 56-Reflections on the injustice done to the Indians in obtaining lands, 58—Letter from A. Folsom, 61-Return home, 64-Visit to New York State, 69-Vermont, 73-Indian settlement near St. Lawrence, 78-Mon- treal, 80-Voyage to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 83-Maine, 89-Visit to the Shakers, 94-Connecticut, New York, and home, 103-Visit to families of Newton meeting, 112-Exercises on the use of super- fluities, silks, &c. 116-Journey to New York state, 117-Yearly Meeting, 119-Exercises there on divers subjects, 120—Visit to the Indian settlements, remarks, &c. 125-Return through Muncy, Bucks county, &c. 133—Exercises, 137—Journey to Carolina, 139— Remarks on the treatment of slaves, 142-Visit to the legislature of Carolina, 144-to South Carolina, 153—Georgia, 155-Tennessee, 158 Nicholites, 166, 173—Virginia, 167—Remarks on schools, 178—Op- JOSHUA EVANS'S JOURNAL. INTRODUCTION. In the year 1804, George Churchman transcribed and abridged the notes, memorandums and diary, kept by Joshua Evans; from which transcript the following account is taken. He called the work, An abstracted Journal of the life, early baptisms and religious exercises of Joshua Evans, late of Gloucester county, West Jersey, dec'd;-together with a brief account of his extensive travels and labours in the service of gospel ministry, through the American continent; or, from Canada and Nova Scotia, southwestward as far as Tennessee and Georgia. George Churchman, in a brief preface which he wrote, speaks of the satisfaction he had in perusing the original minutes and diary or journal of Joshua Evans; and adds, "On looking over and going thro' his said minutes and diary, and from the personal knowledge and acquaintance I had with him, being nearly his co-equal in age, it did appear from time to time, amongst whatsoever kind of people his lot was cast, whether of high or low degree in the world's account, that he exhibited a commendable and very uncommon degree of mortification, patience and self-denial; which were manifest to all, not only in the remarkable simplicity of his dress and demeanour, but in the sparing and simple diet he partook of to sustain nature." 1 |