Benjamin W. Ladd Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: FMS-31

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Benjamin W. Ladd Family Papers consists of correspondence among members of the family of Benjamin Whitehead Ladd (1782-1851), a prominent Orthodox Gurneyite Friend of Smithfield, Ohio. They document Quaker Migration, religious travel, and doctrinal controversies, especially the Hicksite Seperation, as well as events in the lives of Ladd family members.

Dates

1809-1841

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access.

Conditions Governing Use

Some materials may be protected by copyright. Permission to reproduce and to publish for commercial purposes must be requested from the Archivist.

Biographical or Historical Information

Benjamin Whitehead Ladd was born in Charles City County, Virginia, April 21, 1782, the son of James Ladd, a well-known Quaker Minister, and his wife Isabell Denson. Benjamin W. Ladd moved to Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1813, settling on a farm near Smithfield. In 1814 he was married under Plymoth Monthly Meeting in Jefferson County to Elizabeth Wood (1788-1832), a native of Maryland. They were the parents of eight children. After her death he married Hannah Wood under Birmingham Monthly Meeting in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of three children. In 1871 Hannah Ladd moved to Iowa, where she died in 1878. Benjamin W. Ladd was clerk of Ohio Yearly Meeting from 1820 to 1824. An elder, he often traveled as a companion to Quaker ministers. Many of the letters from him to Elizabeth Ladd come from his journeys with Stephen Grellet in 1824 and Elisha Bates in 1826. When the Hicksite Seperation took place in Ohio Yearly Meeting in 1828, the Ladds sided with the Orthodox. Benjamin served as clerk of the Orthodox yearly meeting from 1932 to 1837. He died at Smithfield May 31, 1851. Elizabeth Ladd was also an elder who traveled with ministers, and some of the letters reflect her journeys, such as a trip to Indiana Yearly Meeting in 1827.

Note written by

Extent

1.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

These letters in 1988 fell into the hands of Minneapolis Monthly Meeting, who contacted Earlham and the Quaker Collection at Haverford College as possible repositories.On learning that Haverford already had other Ladd manuscripts, the originals were placed there, with copies given to Earlham.