Quakertown Online

Homespun Lore -- An autobiographical memoir by Muriel Whipple Haddon (1904-2003), published in January 1999, this book contains many anecdotes of life in Quakertown ca.1900, as well as information about the Metropolitan Church Association of Chicago and Waukesha, WI, which maintained a presence in Quakertown during the first third of the 1900s, at one time holdingregular meetings on "the ledge." From time to time, used copies of this book become available through Amazon.com
Chapter one ("The Whipple Family"), giving Mrs. Haddon's perspective on the 1903-04 Quakertown "revival" and its aftermath, is now available on this site, in addition to chapter two ("Quakertown") and chapter three ("Grandparents")

NEW ! Mr. Rogers's Neighborhood: Religious Dissent in New London, 1674-1721 -- A 2006 University of California Los Angeles Ph. D. dissertation by Susan Chongmi Kim examining the link between John Rogers's "actions and thoughts," revealing that "he was more of an intellectual than a demonstrator," someone who "covered a broad range of issues in his extensive writings" and who kept in close contact with fellow sectarians in other colonies and in Europe. A brief abstract is available on this site. The entire dissertation (236pp.) may be ordered online from UMI, Bell & Howell's dissertation service ($43. plus postage and handling for an unbound copy through the mail; $36. for downloading as a .PDF file)

The Limits of Religious Dissent in Seventeenth Century Connecticut: The Rogerene Heresy -- A 1999 University of Connecticut Ph. D. dissertation by Denise Schenk Grosskopf exploring the "political dimensions of [John] Rogers' struggles with the authorities in order to illuminate the connections between religious dissent and the development of colonial institutions and official policies." A brief overview is available on this site. The entire dissertation (227pp.) may be ordered online from UMI, Bell & Howell's dissertation service ($43. plus postage and handling for an unbound copy through the mail; $36. for downloading as a .PDF file)

When Faith Is Enough -- Written by Fern Crouch Willner, and published in 1999, this autobiographical account moves from growing up in Quakertown to serving the Lord in Africa. "A safari of destiny that reveals principles to live by." Excerpts may be read on this site. The entire book is available new from Amazon.com ($14.99)

Where Flows the Ganges -- Juanita Owen's account, published in 1978, of John S. Whipple (1884-1930), who dedicated his life to helping the "light shine in a land of darkness, foregoing the comforts of home in New England for a mud-walled abode near the Ganges in the heart of rural India." Used copies are available through Amazon.com

Nor Silver, Nor Gold: The Burning Bush Movement and the Communitarian Holiness Vision -- A 1996 University of Notre Dame Ph.D. dissertation by William Kostlevy chronicaling the early history of the Chicago-based Metropolitan church Association, which held regular meetings in Quakertown during the 1920s. An abstract is available on this site. The entire dissertation (329pp.) may be ordered online from UMI, Bell & Howell's dissertation service ($43. plus postage and handling for an unbound copy through the mail; $36. for downloading as a .PDF file)

The Obedience of Faith: The Story of Rev. Christine A. Gibson, Founder of Zion Bible Institute -- During the middle years of the twentieth century, while Quakertown Church was led by the Rev. Fred Watrous, Sr., there was extensive contact between Quakertown Church and Zion Bible Institute of East Providence, Rhode Island; Zion students often took part in Quakertown Church services, and a number of Quakertown young people earned degrees from the school. Mary Campbell Wilson, “a close friend of Christine Gibson [1879-1955] for many years,” wrote this 1993 biography of the school’s founder. Copies are available through Amazon.com

Kessinger Publishing's Rare Reprints -- Publisher specializing in affordable paperback reprints of rare, out-of-print books, all of which may be purchased through Amazon.com. Among the titles relevant to the history of Quakertown are: The Rogerenes: Some Hitherto Unpublished Annals Belonging To The Colonial History Of Connecticut ($39.46); Three Successful Girls by Julia Crouch ($26.56);The Master-Key To Popery by Anthony Gavin (a book to which the writers of The Battle-Axe refer their readers) ($37.96). Many of these texts may also be located and read online through Google Book Search

The Antecedents and Descendants of Noah Whipple of the Rogerene Community at Quakertown, Connecticut -- Clara Hammond McGuigan’s genealogy of the families associated with Quakertown; completed during the late 1950s; published by John M. Kingsbury in 1971. “For fifty years Cousin Clara labored on this genealogy… She lived to be 100 years old and her benign presence dominated every human gathering she attended”
Much of the information contained in this book is available online through the WhippleGenWeb Relationship Search. From time to time, used copies of the book become available through Amazon.com

Higginson Book Company, Salem, Massachusetts -- Book publisher specializing in genealogy and local histories... offers a 1990 reprint of THE ROGERENES: Some Hitherto Unpublished Annals Belonging to the Colonial History of Connecticut, by J.R. Bolles & Anna B. Williams (396p., 1904)... $42.50, hardbound, plus postage and handling. This book is the definative history of the Rogerenes and includes a chapter devoted exclusively to Quakertown. "A fascinating history of an important but little-known 17th-cent. sect, this book contains much useful info. on early Conn. hist. as well as genealogical material on early New London." The complete text of this book is available in digital format on this site

"The Rogerenes" -- Ellen Starr Brinton was Curator of the Swarthmore College Peace Collection, 1935-1951. Her account of the Rogerenes appeared in The New England Quarterly, March 1943. "On a wooded hill above Mystic, Connecticut, live the remnants of a little-known religious sect called the Rogerenes... [who] can nevertheless claim a record of having made a definite impression on New England life for some two and a half centuries." The entire article (eighteen pages and one illustration) may be downloaded from JSTOR (Journal Storage--The Scholarly Journal Archive) for a fee ($10.00)

Without Reservation: The Making of America's Most Powerful Indian Tribe and Foxwoods, The World's Largest Casino -- Jeff Benedict's engaging account of the rebirth of the Pequot tribe and rise of Foxwoods Casino, first published in 2000. Without Reservation features several personalities connected with Quakertown. A review containing brief quotations is available on this site. The paperback edition may be ordered from Amazon.com ($10.17)