In a message dated 11/17/02 5:51:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > I have a Quaker ancestor recorded married there in 1731, who was promptly > Just as a reminder, Friends who married out of meeting (meaning to a nonFriend) or contrary to discipline (that is, either to someone too closely related or to another Friend but not under the care of Friends) were first disciplined. Sometimes disownment came quickly, especially if the Friend decided that he or she was no longer interested in membership in the Society of Friends. In other cases, months, even years, could go by before the matter was settled. If the Friend made acknowledgment, he or she was continue in membership. If acknowledgement was not made, the individual was disowned (not the same thing as being shunned) but always had the right to appeal the decision. Disowned Friends could still attend meeting for worship and be buried in their meeting's burial ground, but they were not entitled to financial or spiritual support from the Monthly Meeting and were not permitted to participate in decision making within the Monthly Meeting. Some disowned Friends made acknowledgement years after the marriage, sometimes after the spouse died. Always check through the records to see if a once-disowned Friend was later reinstated. Karen Greim Mullian [email protected]