DOWNINGTOWN MEETING. At Uwchlan Monthly Meeting,5,6,1784:"Some Friends in the Valley proposing the holding an afternoon Meeting at the School-house near Milltown,it is referred for further Consideration at next Meeting." 6,10,1784 "The Proposal of holding an Afternoon Meeting in the Schoolhouse at Milltown coming under Consideration,after being weightily attended to,it is allowed of,to be held on the First First day of the week in every Month during the summer season (except the present Month to be on the Second First day);to begin at the 4th Hour Afternoon;and Joshua Baldwin,Isaac Jacobs,Evan Jones,William Lightfoot,William Cooper,Isaiah Kirk,Robert Hatton,Reuben John,George Thomas and John Butler (Rachel John,Hannah Milhous,Mary Lightfoot,Ann Milhous,Susanna Jones,Martha Whelen,Mary Baldwin,Rebeckah Hilles and Grace Lewis) are appointed to attend as often as they conveniently can,and report their sense of the service of said Meeting at the Close of the Season." In the years 1785-89,a meeting was allowed twice a month in the afternoon,during the summer.In 1795 and 1798 similar meetings were held,and in 1800 an earnest effort was made to establish a permanent meeting at Downings Town,but this met with opposition.A renewed effort in 1801 was also unsuccessful,and in 1802 the matter was referred to the Quarterly Meeting, which,by a committee,recommended the compromise of an indulged meeting instead of a permanent one,to be held both winter and summer.This was continued under care of committees until 1,9,1806:"Jehu Roberts,on behalf of friends composing the meeting at Downing Town informs that they,on conferring together,agreed to request the establishment of that meeting;which on being attended to,& a general concurrence therewith expressed,is directed to the ensuing quarterly Meeting." A minute of the Quarterly Meeting was produced,7,10,1806,approving of the establishment of the meeting, "to be held on the first and fourth days of the! week,to begin at eleven." 12,8,1808:"This meeting being informed by friends composing Downing Town meeting that upon a conference being had amongst themselves they had agreed to propose Jesse Kersey,Joseph R.Downing,John R.Thomas & Richard Thomas Ju.as Trustees to hold the Lot of ground & premises upon which their meeting House is built,for the use of the friends composing said meeting; which being considered is approved,& the above named friends are directed to receive a Deed for the said Lot of ground with the appurtenances,& hold the same for the uses afforesaid;and in order that the trust shall be clearly defined it will be expected that the said friends,after receiving the Deed afforesaid,will execute an instrument of Writing,declaring the uses for which the Estate is held:the said Deed and declaration of Trust to be lodged amongst this monthly meeting's papers. A preparative meeting was established here in the 4th month,1811,and for several years Uwchlan Mo.Mtg.has been mostly held at this house,which stands by the Lancaster Pike,at the eastern end of the town,just outside of the borough limits.Joseph R. Downing (No. 97,) sat at the head of the meeting for several years,and it may be claimed that the majority of the influential members have been descendants of the Smedleys. In the days prior to the adoption of the public school system,Friends' schools,in their localities,supplied the principal part of the education for the neighborhood.In this connection the following advertisement from a newspaper possesses a quaint flavor A TEACHER WANTED. At Downingtown School house.A man qualified,who can come well recommended,will meet with encouragement.N.B. none others need apply-inquiry may be made of either of the subscribers. SAMUEL BALDWIN,Wm.W.DOWNING,CHAS.DOWNING,THOS.A.PARKE,THOS.EDGE,G.A.FAIRLAMB, March 13th, 1822. Committee. visit"The George Smedley Homepage" http://smedley.lewis.home.att.net additional photos at http://smedley.george.home.att.net