Thanks to Paul Palmer, I now know why Gilbert Cope said in 1902 of my ancestor, Ann, wife of Richard Buffington: "... She was an outspoken woman of strongly individualistic views. She often did not conform to the conventions of her day and she was ready to stand by her friends in their difficulties, and lend her support as needs be in their non-adherence to the Quaker rules and regulations of the Province ..." Elsewhere, in that same paper Cope says her name appear in records in 1689, 1695 and March 1697/8. The latter when she and several others were indicted for attending an illegal marriage. Paul has provided details of the 1689 inicident. Does anybody what happened in 1695 to get her name in Chester County or Pennsylvania records? -- Karl Seitz >I'd like to invite my 6-greats grandmother Ann BUFFINGTON to see whether I >could get a reasonable explanation of some bizarre behavior that landed her >in jail. The following is from the court records: >*************************** >Chester County, Pennsylvania Court records 1681-1697 (printed ) > >p. 157 >Anne, ye wife of Richard Buffington being by warrant apprehended & convicted >before John Bristow for defiling her marriage bed was by her sureties >Richard Buffington and Francis Little bound over to this court & accordingly >made her appearance and was indicted. Witness, prosecutor James Chivers. >The grand inquest further ye bill whereupon shee is called to ye barr & >pleads not guilty & referrs herself to God & ye county. (petty jury names >given). >The testimony of James Chivers taken in writing before John Bristow remains >on ye file. The said James Chivers being againe attested in open court saith >he did see a man and a woman lying upon ye ground & ye man lying upon top of >ye woman & ye woman looking up he saw it was Anne Buffington. John Eldridge >being attested declareth as abovesaid. James Chivers upon his attest further >saith that Anne Buffington was very earnest to know who this man & woman >was for said she ~~ there is never a woman hereabouts that hath a black hatt >but I and then it must needs be me. June 5th 1689. > >p. 158 Wee ye jury unanimously agree that Anne ye wife of Richard Buffington >is guilty of this indictment whereupon judgement is granted that she receive >10 stripes upon her bear backe well laid on & 12 months imprisonment att >hard labour in ye house of correction & to pay all court charges. >********************************************* >Her 'confession' in the last line of the testimony is just about the wildest >statement I've ever seen in print, and I want to ask my honored ancestress: >WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!! > > Paul > > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >PACHESTE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >the quotes in the subject and the body of the message