Notes |
- He was a convinced Quaker; this is a record of his conversion. It is taken from Mosesrawlings.com, a neat website which has accumulated a lot of family history data about early Maryland settlers:
"Richard Beard, was in a miraculouse way convinced in ye fore pt of the sumer, by a clap of thunder he being at worke in ye wood, and one neare w/ him in a rainy wether, and at that instant it thundered much as is usuall in ye summertyme in soe much that itt wrought a feare in him, and put him to the risk of his condition, and it did apeare to him to bee, unsafe, hee seeing nothing to trust to, theire being soe many opinions that hee did nott know wch to chuse hee then being in feare not knowing st would become of him in that condition; desired that ye Lord would manifest to him, concerning the way wch was knowne amongst us whether it was the true way of good or not yet it mought be maide knowne to him by thunder, and at that same instant theire came a clap of thunder wch was verry greate, in soe much that it broake a tree very neeare them and strooke him that was with him to ye ground, and himselfe could scarce recover from faleing and a porefull answer came to him at the same Instant, that that which hee had inquired, of was ye true way of god and forthwith he declayred it abroad and was convinced thereby wherein I hope he abides." -- Letter from Tobt Clarksonne to Elizabeth Harris, "From Severon ye 14th of ye 11th month 16(5)7".
"Clarksonne letter documents the first meetings in 1657 as being at Clarksonne's and Richard Beard's. Richard Beard is also referred to in ‘A Testimony Concerning William Coale' (London 1682) Original in Friends Historical Library, London. In 1657 Quaker Meetings, held at Richard Beard's house on South River, were attended by prominent Anne Arundel County people and convincements were made there. William Coale spoke eloquently at some of those Meetings. In 1674, together with Wenlock Christison, another great Quaker, and William Perrie (Berry) and John Homeard (Homewood) he presented to the General Assembly of Maryland a petition praying relief from the requirement of taking oath."
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