V. (182). Maria Jane Cook, daughter of Samuel and Jane Warner Cook, was born in Baltimore, Md., 11mo. 24, 1803, and educated at Friends' Select School, Lombard Street. When sixteen years old the family removed to Warrington, York County, Pa. On 4th mo. 29,1824, she was married in the Warrington Meeting House to *Joseph Kent, son of Daniel and Esther Hawley Kent, of West Bradford, Chester County, Pa. Her husband was a woolen manufacturer, and the first year of their married life was spent at Andrew's Bridge, Lancaster County, Pa., where he had rented a woolen mill, and was likewise postmaster. The following certificate was forwarded: To Fallowfield Monthly Meeting, Chester County, Pa.: Dear Friends : Maria Jane Kent requests our certificate in order to be joined to your meeting; she being removed with her husband and settled within the limits thereof. On inquiry, no obstructions appearing, we recommend her a member to your friendly notice, and are your friends. Signed in and on behalf of Warrington Monthly Meeting, held the 23d of 6th mo., 1824.

(*Joseph Kent learned his trade at tbe factory of Elisha Cook: of Deer Creek, and was at this time a member of Deer Creek Meeting.)

Having bought a farm (Maple Grove), on the Little Elk, in Upper Oxford Township, Chester County, Pa., they removed here. The farm was mostly woodland, with but little cleared land, and with only a small log dwelling, but it contained a good water power. Busy years followed, a factory was first built and supplied with water power by dam and race, and then other buildings followed in rapid succession. A frame part was added to the log dwelling, and a stone addition to that; finally a roomy brick colonial dwelling was built, with barns, outbuildings, mills and tenement houses. And here Joseph and Maria Jane Kent spent the remainder of their lives. Eleven children came to them, and nine lived to mature years and married. Their home was noted for its generous hospitality, and travelling Friends were always welcomed there and made at home by the gracious, queenly, loving mistress of the house.

In 5 mo., 1846, Maria Jane Kent was recorded a minister of London Grove Quarterly Meeting (Western Quarter) of Friends. Her especial gift seemed to be the power to reach the human heart and, discovering any dormant germs of good that might lie hidden there, to awaken them unto life and growth. This was more especially true of the young, who at once felt the influence of her presence, and the impulse toward higher living.

Her life was one long sermon of loving thought for others, to whom she was ever ready to give a helping hand. Maria Jane Kent died at Maple Grove, 4th mo. 25, 1881, and was buried in the Friends' burying ground at Penn's Grove, at which place for so many years she " sat head of the meeting."

-- Early Maltby with Some Roades History and that of the Maulsby Family in America, page 248-249, Ella K. Barnard, Baltimore, 1909

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