I can't comment on the Shewell family, but I know from my own family that marriage by licence was not impossible for Quakers. Both my great-great grandfather James Pollard and his father Samuel married by licence. In both cases they were marrying non-Members; but in both cases - though local Friends disapproved - they retained their Membership. Both wives subsequently joined the Society. Ben Quoting Edward Sinker <e.sinker@btinternet.com>: > If your Stephen Shewell was the one who married Elizbeth > Fordham in 1750 then again it is unlikely that he was a > Quaker since he applied for a marriage license which, if I > am correct, a Quaker would not have done. ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ----- End forwarded message ----- ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net

Hi Ben Thank you for the message re Quakers and licences. I don't have any paper proof of my Shewell's being Quaker,s so will check all my notes to see where the idea originally appeared. Regards beth in NS