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"The Friends appointed produced the following Report Respecting the Settlemt of Meetings in these parts,wch. the Clk. is directed to send up to the Quarterly Meeting.
We the Commitee appointed by thr Monthly Meetg. of Shrewsbury to make out as Clear & Exact accts. as may be respecting ye Settlement of Meetings, Do report we find the first Meeting was Setled & Meeting House built at a place called Narrawatsconk now Jos. Parkers. About the Year 1672 as by George Foxes Journal page 446. Another Meeting House built about the Year 1693, Forty yards from that now Standing, the present one buiolt 1717- all one Meeting, the Monthly Meeting and Quarterly held there. About the year 1703 a meeting setled at Squan held in private Houses, till about the year 1730 then their Meeting house built, other Meetings were Occasionaly held at Middletown and Freehold in private houses, rather more formally, than at present. the 2d of ye 8th mo. 1773. N.B. All the Above Meetings in ye County of Monmouth.
(Signed:) Richd. Lawrence, Thos. TIlton, Esek. Hartshorne, John Hartshorn
photo circa 1892; note on the little girl in the doorway
There are many varied accounts of the beginnings of Manasquan Meeting. Links to some of these accounts are included among the following pictures and documents. Manasquan Meeting was iniatially afflilliated with Philidelphia Yearly Meeting. In July 1685 Quakers from the Navasink and Middletown areas purchased land from the Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Region of New Jersey. The Quakers who held the "Squan Patents" essentially founded the community of Manasquan and organized its preparatory meeting. The first meetinhouse was built in 1730. The present Meetinghouse is the last of three constructed on this site. In August of 1808 a storm damaged the first meetinghouse and in 1812 a remodeled second bulding was completed. This second building was relatively small as pictured above. The current meetinghouse begun its existance in 1886 because the above building was severely damages by a storm.
Cronology of Historical Deeds for the Manasquan Meeting Site
Old Manasquan Meeting
( transcription of writing of the above old document with conflicting dates)
Ground Plot Records:
Joseph Tilton too Monthly Meeting of friends, Conveyed 5 mo.27, 1807 to it.
Beginning on courseof 29 deg. E. deg 1 chain from the N. corner of the meeting house to a white oak tree being the S.E.corner of a lot sold by Joseph Tilton to George Soper.
Benjamin Pearce to Monthly Meeting of Friends, conveyed lot 1st Month 30, 1845 to it. Beginning at the S.E. corner of the meeting house, thence westerly along the house and yard 169 feet. Second; Northerly along the yard 77 feet to a stone in Hullitts line. Third; westerly to Hulittts line 91 feet to a stone. Fourth; Southerly 81 feet to a stone, Fifth; Easterly 194 feeet to a stone on the east side of Highway. Sixth; Northerly 165 feet to the beginning. Supposed to cu in 50/100ths of an acre.
The meeting House was a two story structure, but in the memorable storm of 1808, it was damaged to suchan extent, the committee caused it to be remodeled as in the photograph. the unused timbers were for framing horse sheds still standing.
Dotted line indicate lot conveyed by Nathan Wooley 50/100 of an acre, to it; First; South 79 deg. West 30 deg. Second; 25 chains. Third; North 79 deg. East 30 deg.-2.25 chains. Fourth; North 3 deg, East 30 deg to 2.23 chains
The old meeting house was replaced by the present building in 1884. Soon afterward the old one was disposed of an taken away on account of the risk of fire.
List of persons buried in Friends Burying Ground 1822 - 1911
List of persons Buried in the Friends Burying Ground 1766 - 1970
Earliest mentions of Manasquan collected by D. Freiday
Historical Sketches of Manasquan by T. Chalkley Matlack 1938
Anonymous Historical Sketch
Compilation of Manasquan History by P. Guthorn
Genealogical History of Marriages at Manasquan
Discription and History from Joan Lane's Archive
300th Anniversary Composition by P. Burke
Phoebe Doolittle Curtis Remembered
National Register of Historical Places
Old Squan Meeting
From the Red Bank Register Newspaper- Nov. 17, 1886
courtesy of Randall Gabrielan,
Monmouth County Historian
William Pearce, the story of the local Quaker who fought in the Revolutionary army and is buried in the Manasquan cemetery.
Meeting House circa 1899
photos by Willis Vail
Meeting House circa 1915
Left to right- Dora Pierre, Elizabeth Pierce. unknown. Fannie Pierce Neuman; baby Willard R. Neuman. Photo R. Heller; circa 1916
Left to right- Elizabeth Pierce, Dora Pierce, baby Willard Neuman, Fanny Pierce Neuman circa 1916- photo R. Heller
circa 1925; Swathmore archive, research K. Heim
circa 1938; Swathmore archive, research K. Heim
photo: Forman Applegate and Ford circa 1937
F. Applegate's Studebaker President Straight 8 with Meeting Horse Shed in background , Circa 1941
Clara Benson-1941
Quaker Youth circa 1943
photos: Joan Lane
Horse Shed circa 1950
photo: Joan Lane
Meeting Entrance circa 1961
photo: Delores Applegate