ELIZABETH FRY ATTENDS A QUAKER MARRIAGE PRYOR (Henry, of Holborn Hill, London, Umbrella Manufacturer) and his wife ELIZA (daughter of James Carter, Builder, of Upton, Essex and Alice Carter)

Quaker marriage certificate, recording, "after due inquiry and deliberate consideration by the Meeting of Ratcliffe & Barking", that the couple took each other as husband and wife, promising "through Divine assistance ... to be Faithful and affectionate", signed by the couple and witnessed by his mother and her parents, and by 48 other witnesses, including Sarah, Catherine, Elizabeth and John Gurney (the children of Samuel Gurney of Ham House) and by Mrs Elizabeth Fry, 1780-1845, the great prison reformer, also by her husband's sister Miss Elizabeth Fry and by Sarah and Louise Fry, engraved with MS additions, vellum roll, 19½" x 13½", Plaistow, Essex, 28th 7th Month (July)

In 1828 Joseph Fry's bank failed and he and Elizabeth had to leave Plashet to live above the office in St. Mildred's Court, Poultry. However, his tea business was still solvent, and by 1829, having paid off all private debts, they moved to The Cedars, Upton Lane, West Ham, close to Elizabeth's brother Samuel Gurney at Ham House. Miss Elizabeth Fry had been able to keep Plashet Cottage in East Ham. About this time Mrs Fry's diary shows her nervousness about her ministry but Miss Elizabeth was a minister too and was her staunch companion and support when they went to Meeting.
Other witnesses' surnames: Allcard, Backhouse (James), Baradaile, Barrit, Bedford, Carter (3), Catton, Coleby, Curratt, Dimsdale, Harris, Hoare (Anne), Kitching, Knight, Lemare, Lullman, Marsden, Morland, Pryor (7), Seale, Stevens, Taylor, Theobald (4), Wastie, Waterfall, Whiting, Wilson.
Pencilled on the back are the births of four children to the couple.

Item Date:  1831

Stock No:  52454      £475

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