"Skipton holds an important place in the history of Quakerism, both within Yorkshire and nationally. Following the settlement of a Meeting at neighbouring Scalehouse in the early 1650s, Friends were also convinced in Bradley, Carleton and Skipton. A series of general meetings for Friends in the north were held at Scalehouse from 1657 to 1659, whilst in 1660, a general meeting for the whole country was held in Skipton itself. Cases of sufferings for Skipton are recorded by Besse for as early as 1654, when Miles Halhead was attacked whilst preaching in the market place and William Simpson was beaten for going naked through the streets "as a sign". The Meeting was recorded under the name of Bradley in 1665, within Skipton Monthly Meeting, and again in 1669, within the newly formed Knaresborough Monthly Meeting. At this point, it covered Silsden, Skipton, Carleton, Lothersdale and Cononley, as well as Bradley, and its members included Thomas Sawley, Peter Scarborough, Robert Smith, James Dealtry, Edward Watkinson, Francis Dunn, Thomas Smith, Arthur Roberts, Jonas Booth and John Stott. Local First Publishers of Truth included the Taylor brothers, Christopher and Thomas, both schoolmasters from Carleton. The homes of John Hall and Abigail Stott in Skipton were licensed for Quaker worship in 1689; Abigail Stott's house had been used throughout the 1680s, with meetings frequently broken up. It is likely that the Meeting became known as Skipton during this decade......"
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Thank you to:
Skipton Preparative Meeting of the Society of Friends., Records of Skipton Preparative Meeting of the Society of Friends, 1665-1969. University of Leeds Special Collections. GB 206 MS DEP. 1979/1 (CARLTON HILL ARCHIVE) SKIPTON PM