Foulke, Elizabeth, approximately 1758-1820

Deceased 1820-10-19 at the age of 63.

Collection of Bringhurst family letters in two groups. The first group was collected, transcribed, and indexed by C. Marshall Taylor and contains correspondence, 1780-1806, of Philadelphia Quaker businessman, James Bringhurst. These include letters received by James Bringhurst from John Murray of New York City which reveal the correspondents' concern for education, preventing poverty, prison reform, and improving the condition of Indians. Other correspondents include John Dickinson, Job Scott, Nathan Hunt, James Pemberton, Jesse Kersey, Lindley Murray and Moses Brown. Of particular interest are the descriptions of life in Philadelphia and conditions of free blacks, as well as Quaker religious and social concerns and visits from traveling ministers. The second group contains primarily affectionate letters from Joseph Bringhurst, brother of James, to his niece, Elizabeth Foulke, while she was traveling in the ministry. The letters deal with family concerns and Philadelphia life and customs. Mention is made of prominent Quakers, outbreaks of yellow fever, and concern for the stresses of his niece' life in the ministry.