Early days of the Quakers

In 1659 William Edmundson and his followers settled in Rosenallis. He had, however, visited Rosenallis for the first time around 1654, where he is recorded as having met two Quakers families. William probably met Thomas and Anna Chanders who were living at Ballyhide and Godfrey and Mary Cantrill, of Tineil (Tinneal). A complete list of all the early Quaker families has not survived. However, it is possible to name some of those who settled with their families in Laois and the neighbouring areas. The following list includes their names, and where known, their dates of birth and death.

• William Edmundson (1627-1712)
• Thomas Stalker
• Thomas Beale
• Robert Wardel
• Rodger Boswel (died, 1666)
• William Archer
• John Savage
• Thomas Stevenson
• Godfrey Cantrel (died, 1686)
• William Walpole (died, 1691)
• William Barcrof (c. 1612-1696)
• John Hug
• John Pim (1641-1718)
• John Goodbody
• John Edmundson
• William Neale
• William Capton (died, 1672)
• Richard Jackson (1643-1697)
• William Parker
• Evan Bevan
• Tobias Pladwell
• John Chandler
• John Thompson (died, 1695)
• John Gee
• Richard Scot (1625-1707)
• William Moon (died, 1659)
• Nicholas Gribbell (c. 1641-1728)