Quakers in Stotfold

Information taken from A History of Stotfold. 

In an Episcopal Return made in 1669 it is mentioned that John Crook is teaching at Stotfold. Other teachers were Thomas Greene and Christopher Taylor. At this time there were about 50 Quakers "of the ordinary social standing" who met in the parish. 

On 25th December 1667 the Quakers became possessed of a cottage of on acre adjoinging in Stotfold between the ground of Hannah Freeman, widow and John Britten, joiner on the west and Robert Goods on the east and abutting south on the King's Highway, and north on the Crafte ground belonging to William Field [ref: X108/1]. 

In 1710 it was noted in an appointment of new trustees that "a cottage in Stotfold now used for a Quaker Meeting House, and a piece of ground called the Meeting-house Yard, to the intent that the cottage shall for ever hereafter continue a public meeting house for the religious worship of the dissenting Protestants called Quakers residing in and near Stotfold, and that the Yard shall be a place of burial for them" [ref: X108/5].

In 1855 John Saunders purchased from the trustees certain herefitaments at Stotfold formerly used as a meeting house of the Society of Friends and as a yard and burial ground therefo: on condition of the burial ground at the north of the yard not being disturbed except for planting trees [ref: X108/11]. 

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives: 

• X108: Deeds relating to a Quaker Meeting House in Stotfold., 1677-1855