Manuscript Location

Swarthmore College, McCabe Library, Special Collections, Friends Historical Library

Place of Origin

England

Date of Composition

ca. 1712-ca. 1843

Description

This recipe book is signed by four of the seven children of John Fothergill Sr. (1676-1745) and Margaret Hough Fothergill (1677-1719), a family of Quakers who lived in northern England. Thomas, John, and Samuel signed the book between 1723 and 1729, when they were between the ages of 12 and 15. Ann signed it in 1738, when she was about 20. The book is in at least two hands. Whether any of the Fothergill children wrote any of the recipes is unclear. But since all of the Fothergill children had died by 1802 and the book continues to at least 1843, a person or persons other than the children must have written in the book as well.

In addition to recipes, the book contains notations on the births of John and Samuel, in 1712 and 1715 respectively, suggesting that the book may also have been used by the signers' parents. It also includes some accounts.

The volume is located in Box 1 of the library's collection of the Fothergill family papers.