Whitall, Joseph, 1770-1847

pp. 22-32.
A Testimony of Woodbury Monthly Meeting of Friends concerning Joseph Whitall, deceased....
He was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Whitall, of Woodbury, New Jersey, and was born the 17th of Third month, 1770....
About the fourteenth year of his age, he was sent by his parents some distance from home, in order to obtain a more liberal education than his own neighbourhood afforded....
About this time he yielded to a proposal of his father, to enter as a student of law, and in his nineteenth year left his parents' house for that purpose. Possessing a strong and cultivated mind, he entered into the study with an energy and perseverance, which were evidences not only of his delight in the profession, but of determination to secure some of the applause which the world often bestows on those who are successful therein....
Notwithstanding at this eventful period of his life, he was beset with the temptations peculiarly incident to the prosecution of his studies at the capital of the State, yet he was a sincere seeker after truth, and in the habit of attending the public worship of different religious denominations, hoping to discover a light for his path, yet from his own acknowledgment, with very little success. Hearing there was to be a stranger at Friends' meeting, he thought he would also go there, though not expecting much; but on taking his seat, his mind was gradually introduced into such a feeling of solemnity, as he had scarcely before witnessed, and finding what was said corresponded with the evidence of Truth in his own mind, he was almost persuaded that among this people might be found that which his soul sought after. Procuring George Fox's Journal, with similar works, he soon became so much interested in their perusal, and in the Holy Scriptures, that his preceptor wrote to his father, advising him of the change in his son, commending his industry and good conduct, but suggesting the improbability, with his present seriousness, that he could make a successful lawyer.
It was while on a visit to his native place, about this time, that on going to bed at night, his mind was plunged into great distress, under a belief that it was required of him to give up the study of the law. So sore was the conflict, that he has been heard to say,... “When I entered my chamber I so loved my profession, that, for the best farm in the county, I would not have resigned it; when I left it next morning, it was abandoned forever.”
After this act of resignation he again became a member of his father's family, engaging willingly in employments, which a false estimate of things had recently made him consider as mean. While useful in disposing of the produce of the farm, he was keenly alive to the danger of having “his spirit leavened somewhat to that of the multitude” with which he had to mix, and after returning home one evening, he says, “I walked alone in the woods and was favoured to feel that mighty power, which is alone able to quicken and make alive, and to raise out of death and darkness..., and I entered into solemn covenant to be more attentive in future to the reproofs of instruction, which are the way of life.”
He was a diligent attender of the meetings for worship of our religious Society, to which he was shortly after united as a member, and in the twenty-third year of his age was married to Hannah, daughter of John and Elizabeth Mickle.... Settling in the neighbourhood of his birth place, he became a useful member of religious society, punctual at meetings, and as a parent manifesting a pious care in the education of his children, he was warranted in advising others of their duty in these respects.
Having passed through the needful baptisms about the twenty-fifth year of his age, he appeared as a minister of the gospel; ... being sound in doctrine, showing forth the excellency and sufficiency of that divine principle of light and grace which qualified him for this service, and kept him remarkably careful not to minister without the heavenly life and power which made his ministry acceptable and edifying.
He has frequently been heard to allude to the awful state of feeling produced in the years 1797 and 1798, by the prevalence of the yellow fever; a number of his connexions, beside his father and a younger brother, to whom he was tenderly attached, being taken away [by death] in a very short time. He thought it his duty to wait upon the sick, notwithstanding the supposed contagious character of the disease....
Feeling a religious obligation to engage in the important service of superintendent of West Town Boarding School, he, with his wife, removed thither in the year 1811, where they laboured usefully and acceptably for several years, and were greatly endeared to both the teachers and pupils, to some of whom he was as a nursing father in their spiritual progress.
As a minister, he travelled but little, compared with many, though he was several times from home in the exercise of his gift, sometimes as a companion to others. A few years before his close, he was engaged in holding meetings for those of other societies, in different places in his own county, with satisfaction to himself and to those who were the objects of his concern.
The decline of his health was very gradual; and for some years he was prevented from much active exertion. Yet his love for the cause, and the life and authority usually attending his ministry, did not abate....
Being sensible of his approaching end, he was preserved in much quietness and resignation to the divine will.... He was confined to his bed but a few days...
On the evening of the 12th of Second month, 1847, he peacefully passed away from the trials attending this life, we humbly believe, to a glorious mansion of everlasting rest, having been a minister about fifty-one years.

p. 19. Whereas Joseph Whitall of the Township of Deptford, County of Gloucester, and State of New Jersey, son of Benjamin Whitall of the same place, and Hannah Mickle, daughter of John Mickle, deceased, of the Town and County of Gloucester, and state aforesaid, having declared their intentions of marriage with each other before several monthly meetings of the people called Quakers at Woodbury in the county aforesaid, ... for the full accomplishing of their said intentions this 12th day of the 10th month in the year of our lord 1792, they the said Joseph Whitall and Hannah Mickle appeared in a public meeting of the said people at Woodbury aforesaid.