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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1999-04 > 0924844425


From: linda Merle <>
Subject: James Logan, Irish Quaker
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 22:13:45 -0700


In the Spring, 1999 issue of the New Ulster Karen Ford has written an
article on James Logan. It sheds some light on the migration of Irish
Quakers to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The years of the greatest migration
were 1682 to 1750.

They left for the usual reasons: religious persecutiona nd economic hardship.
She records (p 18) an incident in County Wexford in which Thomas HOLME,
who was later Surveyor General of PA) had due 200 pounds from Captain
THORNHILL.

The Friends were important in the linen industry in Dublin, Munster, Cork
and Limerick. They had strong clan spirit, we are told and many Quaker
families of Ulster married one another for generations to preserve their
identity.

Between 1682-1850 172 adults came from Ulster. Ninety five came from
County Armagh. They were largely yeomen and farmers -- though Quakers
from Munster were nearly all tradesmen from the cities and towns. They
left from Dublin, Belfast, Cork, and Waterford. The primary port of entry was
Philedelphia though others landed at New Castle on the Delaware, while
others were delivered to Maryland and Virginia.

James Logan was born on Oct 20, 1674, a native of Lurgan. His father had
graduated from the University of Edinburgh and took orders as a clergy
man with the Established Church of Scotland. Later he joined the Society
of Friends and moved to Lurgan to teach school. There he became principal
of the Latin School.

His father was born in East Lothian, Scotland. He married Isabell HUME,
daughter of James HUME. James was the younger brother of the House of
St. Leonards of the Shire of Mers. He had managed the estate of the Earl
of Murray. John's grandmother had been Bethia DUNDAS, sister of the
Laird of Dundas of Didiston, eight miles west of Edinburgh. At 14 James was
apprenticed to a Quaker linen draper in Dublin. Only 6 months into the
apprenticeship, William Prince of Orange landed in Ireland and the wars
begain (1688). So Logan rejoined his family in Lurgan and then they
fled to Scotland. There James was got a position as master of a Friends
school in Bristol.

Eventually Logan became the secretary of William Penn. He was later Quaker governor of PA.

His home, called Stenton, was a magnificent colonial mansion, built in
1728. It has been restored and is open to the public.

One of his servants ran away. The paper recorded: "Run away from James
Logan's plantation near German Town the 28th Instant, an Irish servant
lad, named Patrick BOYD, aged about 17 or 18.....He went in the company
with one Miles MacWARD. "

At the age of 40 James Marriged Sarah READ. Four of their children
survived infancy: Sarah, William, Hannah, and James. He died Oct
21, 1751, and was buried in the Friends burial ground at Fourth and
Arch Streets, Philedelphia. He left a large fortune and 18,000 acres
in PA and New Jersey. He bequeathed a library of 3000 volumes to
the city of Philedelphia. His grandson George Logan became a
United States senator and a friend of Thomas Jefferson.

Pp 18-23.

Much of this is from Myers "Immagration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750"

Linda Merle

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