Gwynedd Friends Meeting Historical Notes

From his grandson Joseph:

"I have frequently heard my father relate a tradition concerning Edward and Ellin Fouke before their emigration to Pennsylvania being in substance as follows: Edward Foulke, with other subjects of the Prince of Wales, attended fealty as he was required by law to do, and learn certain military tacticks; that while one of his relations was engaged in fencing and defending himself from a club in the hand of his antagonist, he had the cap of his knee struck off - while this relation was suffering exquisite agony from his wound his antagonist was glorying in the victory, and their seconds parleying about the merits and demerits of the contest, Edward Foulke's heart was affected with grief at their unfeeling indifference about his suffering relation.

This occurence led him to believe that it was not the will or design of the Just, Wise and Merciful Creator for one man (the Prince of Wales) to exercise such dominion towards his fellow men as to require them to meet and perform such acts of cruelty towards each other, and while he was calmly considering the matter, it occurred clearly to his understanding at the time that the devine will was that he should remove his family to Pennsylvania. This was very unexpected and the Idea of parting with his friends and relations in Wales and settle in the wild wilderness of America among Indians and wild beasts was a great cross to his inclination, and the more he pondered on the matter the more a serious sadness seemed to be brought over him. But the subject continued steadily before him and at length he opened it to his wife in a serious and weighty manner for he had entertained a hope that it might pass away and that he might remain with his family in his native land.

But his wife very unexpectedly to himself regarded it as an intimation or revelation of the Divine will to him for their good, and said to him that 'He that revealeth this to thee can bless a very little in America to us, and can blast a great deal in our own native land' and further cuationed him against reasoning it away."

Edward Foulke's own words, translated from Welsh:

"I was born on the 13th of Fifth month [July], 1651, and when arrived at mature age, I married Eleanor, the daughter of Hugh ap Cadwallader, ap Rhys, of the Parish of Spytu, in Denbighshire. I had by my said wife nine children, whose names are as follows: Thomas, Hugh, Cadwallader and Evan; Grace, Gwen, Jane, Catherine and Margaret. We lived at a place called Coed-y-foel, a farm belonging to Roger Price, Esquire, of Rhiwlas, Merionethshire, aforesaid. But in process of time, I had an inclination to remove with my family to the Province of Pennsylvania; and in order thereto, we set out on the 3d day of the Second month [April], A.D., 1698, and came in two days to Liverpool, where, with divers others who intended to go the voyage, we took shipping, the 17th of the same month on board the 'Robert and Elizabeth', and the next day we set sail for Ireland, where we arrived and staid until the 1st of the Third Month (May), and then sailed again for Pennsylvania, and were about eleven weeks at sea. And the sore distemper of the bloody flux [dysentery] broke out in the vessel, of which died five and forty persons in our passage. The distemper was so mortal that two or three corpses were cast overboard every day while it lasted. But through the favor and mercy of Divine Providence, I, with my wife and nine children, escaped the sore mortality, and arrived safe at Philadelphia the 17th of the Fifth month (July), where we were kindly received and hospitably entertained by our friends and old acquaintances.

I soon purchased a tract of land of about seven hundred acres, sixteen miles from Philadelphia, on a part of which I settled, and divers others of our company who came over the sea with us settled near me at the same time. This was the beginning of November, 1698, aforsaid, and the township was called Gwynedd, or North Wales. This account was written the 14th of the eleventh month (January), A.D. 1702."

Edward Foulke's Exhortation to his Children (from a Letter Written Near the End of His Life in 1741)

Source: "Fair Land Gwynedd" by Phil Johnson Ruth (1991)

"My dear children: There has been for considerable time, something on my mind to say to you by way of advice, before I return to dust, and resign my soul to Him who gave it: though I find some difficulty in delivering my thoughts in writing.

My first admonition to you is , that you fear the Lord, and depart from evil all the days of your life.

Secondly, as you are brothers and sisters, I beseech you to loave one another, and your neighbors too. If any of your neighbors injures you, in words or deed, bear it with patience and humility. It is more pleasing in the sight of God and good men, to forgive injuries, than it is to revenge them. Rather pray for them, than wish them any evil: Lest that ext in scripture, which requires an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, come into your minds when you leave this world, and you be found wanting. For without doubt, he that is thoughtless and negligent all his days about the welfare of his soul, will some day or another, in the midst of his extremity, call on the rocks and mountains to secure him from the vengeance of an offended God.

My dear children, accustom not yourselves to loose, vain talking, which the scriptures declare against. It was hurtful to me in my youth and stopped my virtue. The temptations of this world are very powerful, as Job said by experience. Be watchful over your evening conversation. Let pious thoughts possess your souls the moment before you close your eyes for sleep. If you do that, you will be more likely to find yourselves in the morning in a meek, humble posture before God, who preserved you from evil...

I feel sorrow now in my old age, for want of being mroe careful and circumspect in my youth. Althought I did nothing that brought shame on myself, or grief on my parent; yet there was amongst the loose, inconsistent youth, too many things which they called innocent, without considering they were building on the sand; and I was often drawn to vain mirth with them...

Let me entreat you, my dear children, assume not the appearance of religion, without a real possession of it in your hearts...

One thing more comes into my mind, by searching myself; which is, that it had been better for me, if I had been more careful, in sitting with my family at meals, with a sober countenance; because children and servants have their eyes and observations on those who have the command and government of them...

So my dear children, perhaps you may get some advantage by this. If you consider with attention this innocent simplicity of life and manners I have been speaking of, you need not fear but that God will preserve you in safety from the snares of the devil, and the storms of this inconstant world...

Now I think I can with peace of mind conclude, with hopes that your prayers will be with us in the most needful time, especially on a dying pillow, when our time in this world comes to an end, that we may have a gentle passage to eternal rest."

Baptism (LDS): August 07, 1956

Endowment (LDS): January 24, 1958

Burial: Gwynedd, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) Co., Pennsylvania