Rathangan historian creates quaker trail

Rathangan historian, Laurence Fullam has delved into the story of Rathangan’s Quaker community to produce an informative leaflet with a map detailing various locations in the town which have links with the quakers.

Now available in Rathangan library and the old schoolhouse, people can pick up a copy and follow the trail for themselves.

Laurence explains the Religious Society of Friends, more commonly known as Quakers, originated in England and William Edmundson, a former soldier in Cromwell’s army, is credited with introducing Quakerism to Ireland.

Quakers believed there was no need for priests or clergy to assist them in their relationship with God and they refused to recognise the authority of the Church of Ireland or to pay tithes, and were often jailed or had their goods seized by tithe-mongers.

“They focused on trade, farming, banking and commercial opportunities,” he says.

Laurence points out that there are many old farmhouses in Rathangan and its surrounds which have links to the Quakers.

He explains how the triangle of Quaker influence in Rathangan, Timahoe and Edenderry was very significant and was the largest outside Dublin at one point in time.

He details how records show that John Gavin, born in 1679 to parents James and Eleanor Gavin, was the first Quaker born in Rathangan.

“But 1728 is the date given for the formal establishment of the Quaker Community in Rathangan as it’s the year the Meeting moved here,” he says.

“In 1728 when it became known that the Earl of Kildare had 3,000 acres of land in Rathangan for rent, he was approached by a group of Quakers including Jacob Fuller, Benjamin Wilson, William Fayle, William Wyly, Samuel Sheldon, John Wily, Thomas Wilson, Samuel Woodcock, Thomas Watson, Joseph Chamberlin and John Stephenson.”

Laurence explains how the majority of these Quakers were farmers who settled on farms around Rathangan, but Joseph Chamberlin took a lease for the town and lands of Rathangan, while John Stephenson took a lease for ‘two grist mills’ and ‘fuller mill’.”

Quaker records identify 172 burials in Rathangan, and the first burial was that of Alice Wyly in 1752.

“As with all of those who died before 1865 she had no headstone or grave marker. But a series of plaques mounted on the walls list the names of all Quakers buried here. The majority of those named are infants or children,” says Laurence.

The leaflet, which clearly denotes the walking trail and the various significant locations was researched and produced by Laurence and facilitated by Rathangan Tidy Towns, with financial support from the Heritage section of Kildare County Council.

Photos are courtesy of Charles Lamb and the Friends’ Historical Library Dublin.