QUAKER-ROOTS-L Archives

From: "Joyce E. Bowman" <>
Subject: Benjamin Jefferson Davis
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 1999 23:07:05 -0400

You asked if "Rev. H. A. Cottingham" who conducted the funeral of your
gg-grandfather, Benjamin Jefferson Davis in Hamilton Co. was a Quaker.
The way his name is given says to me that he was not a Quaker. Even though
some Quakers do have paid ministers, it has never been the custom that they
go by the title "Reverend". I'm sure someone can find an exception to
this--and sometimes others in the community, such as reporters, may tack on
the title without asking.
That (1887) also was on the early side of the time when Meetings began to
have a paid preachers.

I checked the Hinkle Creek minutes (as I'm sure you have, too) and of the
names you mentioned, the only one that appears in the records is Jonathan
Haworth. As you indicate, Mendenhall & Coffin are well-known Quaker names,
as is Haworth--and I've known more than a few Thornburgs, too. Davis
appears in the records, too, but is less easily identifiable to a
particular group. The name Cottingham is almost non-existent in the entire
set of Indiana Quaker records. The name appears at only one Meeting--New
Salem in Howard Co, IN--and the names given do not match the initials "H.
A." that you gave for him.

It is not required that you be a Quaker to be buried in a Quaker cemetery.
Maybe it happened to be the most convenient one in the area.

Joyce Overman Bowman

This thread:

• Benjamin Jefferson Davis by "Joyce E. Bowman" <>