Sands, David, 1745-1818

David Sands was a Quaker minister from southeastern New York. He was born into a Presbyterian family at Cowneck, Long Island, on 11 mo. 4 1745. Around 1759 the family moved to Cornwall in Orange County, N.Y., where the sickly youth spent much of his time in contemplation of religious matters. In 1766 Sands was convinced to join the Society of Friends through the ministry of English Quaker Samuel Nottingham and was accepted into membership in Nine Partners Monthly Meet1ng, N.Y.

Sands was eventually recognized as a minister and traveled widely in that duty, especially in New England. He spent a decade traveling in the ministry in Europe, visiting Britain, Ireland, Holland, and Germany between 1795 and 1805. His lengthy stay abroad may in part owe to avoidance of poor financial circumstances at home. Sands was strongly evangelical and came into conflict with the New Lights in Ireland.

He died June 4, 1818 at New Cornwall, N.Y., aged 73 years.

Adapted from the Dictionary of Quaker Biography, Haverford College Quaker & Special Collection.