Person:Martha Smith (91)

10 mo-12-1765 (Warrington M.M.) Martha Falkner was complained of and disowned 11-8-1765 because she "drinks to excess." 10-12-1776 Martha Falkner acknowledges her error and requested and received a certificate to Hopewell.

The following is from the original, microfilmed, Minutes of Warrington Monthly Meeting:

9th of 11th mo 1765: The Women's meeting informed this that Martha Falknor practises drinking spiritous liquors to excess. John Blackburn and John Leas are appointed to join with them in treating with her, in order to bring her to a sense of her Evil and reproachful conduct and report to next meeting.

14th of 12th mo 1765: The Friends appointed to treat with Martha Falknor reports they have, that she don't deny the charge but shows a tenderness. William Nevitt, John Leas and Joseph Updegraff are appointed to join in further labor with her and report to next meeting.

11th of 1st mo 1766: The friends appointed to treat with Martha Falknor reports they have and that she did not appear in a capacity to condemn her misconduct but desires to be waited with longer. William Willis and Harman Updegraff are appointed to treat with her again and report to next meeting.

8th of 2nd mo 1766: The friends appointed to treat with Martha Falknor not having performed that service are continued and Joseph Garretson added to the committee.

8th of 3rd mo 1766: The friends appointed to treat with Martha Falknor report they have and that she did not appear in a capacity to condemn her faults but desires friends would wait with her for a time. Joseph Updegraff and Joseph Garretson are appointed to treat with her again and let her know that either she or friends must bear a testimony against her misconduct and report to next meeting.

12th of 4th mo 1766: The friends appointed to treat with Martha Falknor report they have and that she requests to be waited with a while longer. Peter Cleaver and William Underwood are appointed to treat with her again in order to convince her of her misconduct and report to next meeting.

5th of 10th mo 1766: The friends appointed to treat with Martha Falknor report that they have and that there appeared a willingness in her to condemn her misconduct and that she desired to be waited with until next meeting. William Mtthews and Joseph Garretson are appointed to inform her she is waited with until then and report to next meeting.

14th of 6th mo 1766: The friends appointed to treat with Martha Falknor report they have and that she desired to be waited with longer. William Garretson, John Garretson, John Blackburn & William Maatthews are appointed to labour further with her in order for her recovery and report to next meeting.

12th of 7th mo 1766: The friends appointed to treat with Martha Falkner report they have and she appeared at this meeting and offered a paper to condmn her misconduct but not to satisfaction she is waited with for a month or two for a tryal and Nathan Hussey and Joseph Updegraff are appointed to inform her thereof and take notice of her conduct and report when necessary.

13th of 9th mo 1766: Martha Falkners misconduct coming under the consideration of this meeting [Menallen Meeting] Joseph Garretson, Joseph Updegraff, Isaac Everetts and William Nevitt are appointed to visit her again and let her know if she does not refrain and condemn her misconduct the meeting must proceed against her and report to next meeting.

11th of 10th mo 1766: The friends appointed to treat with Martha Falkner reports they have and that she did not appear in a capacity to condemn her misconduct in a suitable manner but to the contrary therefore Jsoeph Garretson & Joseph Updegraff are appointed to prepare a testimony against her and produce it to next meeting.

8th of 11th mo 1766: The friends appointed to prepare a testimony against Martha Falkner produced one which is as follows viz: Whereas Martha Falkner had a birth right amongst friends and lived in the profession with us for some years but for want of keeping to the guidance of truth in her own heart give way to a libertine spirit so far as to take Spiritous liquor at divers times to excess for which unbecoming disorder and practice we disown her from being a member of our Christian Society until she forsake this her evil practice which that she may is our sincere desire for her; which was approved and signed on behalf of this meeting by the clerk and Joseph Updegraff and Joseph Garretson are appointed to show it to her give her a copy of it if desired with notice of her privilege of an appeal which if she decline then William Willis to read it in a public meeting at York and return it to next meeting.

13th of 12th mo 1766: The friends appointed to read the testimony against Martha Falkner is continued for that service.