FRIENDS, OR QUAKERS. 149 



ttrer of the Nantucket Institution for Savings, and 

 himself a Friend — for the following in relation to 

 this sect, which is, alas ! gradually giving way to more 

 advanced (?) ideas. Mr. Barney says : — 



"It appears that during the year 1688 the island 

 was visited by an English Friend. This is the first 

 mention or knowledge we have of the Friends in con- 

 nection with the history of the island. Others came 

 after that ; but little, however, is known of them, ex- 

 cept that they came on religious visits. 



" In 6th month, 1698, Thomas Chalkley, the famous 

 Quaker captain, merchant, and preacher (whom Whit- 

 tier has celebrated in verse), visited the island, and in 

 his journal says he was very kindly received by the 

 people, and that he held several very large and accept- 

 able meetings ; previous to which he was questioned 

 by their minister why he, being such a young man, 

 came here, and upon Chalkley's answering that it was 

 4 purely in the love of the gospel,' l Then preach, in 

 God's name, in my house to-morrow !' said the minis- 

 ter, and preach he did! 



" From that date up to 1704, several Friends, minis- 

 ters and their companions, visited the island. It was 

 at this time (1704) that Nathaniel Starbuck and his 

 wife Mary (see page 13G) were convinced of Friends' 

 principles. Chalkley in his journal gives a very inter- 

 esting sketch of this Mary Starbuck, speaking of her 

 as a woman of great energy of mind, and true and 

 strong Christian character. She and her husband 

 were the first to become ministers from among the 

 Friends on the island, and through their zeal and min- 

 istry a meeting was established, and a meeting-house 



