Sorry, when writing the information into my book I didn't record all the information - Elias ENGLAND, you find he was the father of a Dorothy ENGLAND of Eastwood, Notts who in 1696 married Thomas BIGGS of Nottingham, recorded in the Quarterly Meeting of Nottingham, ie. the Quakers. Among the witnesses are: John ENGLAND; George ENGLAND; David ENGLAND. It doesn't look as though Elias was a long-term Quaker himself, but there could be more information about him in the Quaker collection at Notts Archives. BMDR index also shows a Quaker marriage in Chesterfield Monthly Meeting for Elizabeth ENGLAND in 1691, she married William DAWS of Graisley, she being of Eastwood, Notts. Among the witnesses were Ellis and Elizab. ENGLAND, John ENGLAND, David ENGLAND. Elias/Ellis and David were both popular Puritan or Quaker names at this time. It's entirely possible that Elias's birth/bap record does not exist if his family were Puritans (ie. Presbyterians, Independents or Congregationalists) in the 1660-1689 period of persecution, as they were often forced to meet in secret and records were seldom kept. It's possible Elias was a 'friend of the Friends' not a full member, though the two girls in the marriages were, presumably, fully in unity. I have a John RENSHAW of Chesterfield and Whitwell in my files who was such a 'friend of the Friends' and probably Puritan himself (I suspect Independent) - an Edward ENGLAND yeoman of Whitwell is one of John's Will witnesses in 1706, another location close to the Notts borders. Hopefully this information will help - Karen

Hi Karen     My opinion below - which others may not agree with ....     George Fox had a huge personal impact in the 1650s. Many people were convinced by him, and maybe later by others, in a way that cut across families. One partner may have been convinced, but not another. One teenage child may have been convinced, but not another. One child may have been young enough to accept the new faith as normal but not another. This meant that, in England, there wasn't quite the concept of 'unity' in the late 17th century as may be recognised later or elsewhere. Families were mixed.   Nor does the concept of persecution and secrecy quite apply. Early Quaker strongholds were rural, where everyone knew what was going on - early meetings in the summer were open air, before meeting houses were built.; and absence from church would have been a major give away. The problem with records in the late seventeenth century is probably not to do with persecution, but with simple logistics. Indeed, many Anglican BMDs of the period (maybe in desperation) record Quaker events. Quite what is there in records depends upon local politics and the attitude of local clergy.   Mixed families helped Quakers to survive. People were needed, for instance, to swear in legal documents.   Puritans and Quakers weren't normally friendly - quite the reverse.   Obviously you've researched some Quaker records for the period, and found (not surprisingly). yeoman connections.  My suggestion is that you check out local probate records - yeoman wills can provide a vast family infrastructure beyond religion.     Chris                     >________________________________ > From: Karen <kaehansen28@gmail.com> >To: QUAKER-ROOTS@rootsweb.com >Sent: Friday, 17 May 2013, 22:46 >Subject: [Q-R] Update - Nottinghamshire, England "ENGLAND" > > >Sorry, when writing the information into my book I didn't record all >the information - > > >Elias ENGLAND, you find he was the father of a >Dorothy ENGLAND of Eastwood, Notts who in 1696 married Thomas BIGGS of >Nottingham, recorded in the Quarterly Meeting of Nottingham, ie. the >Quakers.  Among the witnesses are: John ENGLAND; George ENGLAND; David >ENGLAND. > >It doesn't look as though Elias was a long-term Quaker himself, but there >could be more information about him in the Quaker collection at Notts >Archives. > >BMDR index also shows a Quaker marriage in Chesterfield Monthly Meeting for >Elizabeth ENGLAND in 1691, she married William DAWS of Graisley, she being of >Eastwood, Notts.  Among the witnesses were Ellis and Elizab. ENGLAND, John >ENGLAND, David ENGLAND. > > > >Elias/Ellis and David were both popular Puritan or Quaker names at this >time.  It's entirely possible that Elias's birth/bap record does not exist >if his family were Puritans (ie. Presbyterians, Independents or >Congregationalists) in the 1660-1689 period of persecution, as they were >often forced to meet in secret and records were seldom kept. > >It's possible Elias was a 'friend of the Friends' not a full member, though >the two girls in the marriages were, presumably, fully in unity.  I have a >John RENSHAW of Chesterfield and Whitwell in my files who was such a >'friend of the Friends' and probably Puritan himself (I suspect >Independent) - an Edward ENGLAND yeoman of Whitwell is one of John's Will >witnesses in 1706, another location close to the Notts borders. > >Hopefully this information will help - > >Karen > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to QUAKER-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >