From Gilbert Cope's "BROWNS OF NOTTINGHAM" 1864, page 2. A paper read at East Nottingham monthly meeting 28th of the 1st month of 1786.
"After the said Richard Brown's convincement his landlord sent him a couple of young hounds to feed and raise for him, being a wild airy man and given to sporting and merriment, but his tenant was not free to give countenance to such vain diversions and there fore did not comply with his desires, at which his landlord was much displeased, and Richard having generally paid his rent at a set time every half year to a steward appointed to receive the rents, he had not been careful to demand receipts, the steward appearing honest and trusty; but the landlord out of humour with him as above hinted, taking advantage of his neglect, came and demanded the rent. Richard told him it was paid at the proper day. The landlord then queried if he had a receipt, to whom he answered "No", as he had not been in the way of asking receipts, expecting there would be no occasion; yet the cruel man said "except you will take your oath that it is paid, you shall pay it to me;" and being of tender conscience on that account because he believed our Saviour had forbidden all swearing this Friend had to pay his rent over again.
After this the landlord was bitter and not fond of seeing him, being probably condemned in himself for such usage, yet turned him off the farm, and Friends at that time being viewed in an unfavourable light by many because of their singuarity and concientious scruples in divers matters which differed from the corrupt ways of the world, it occasioned him considerable difficulty before he found another farm to settle on to his mind. From his industry and upright conduct on the second farm he was in good repute and much in favor with his new landlord. The Lord prospered him in his worldly affairs and otherwise."
COPE, Gilbert, genealogist, born in East Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 17 August, 1840. He was educated at the Friends' select school in West, Chester and at the Friends' boarding-school in Westtown, and for a few years followed farming. He is a member of the Pennsylvania historical society and of the New England historic-genealogical society, and has published" A Record of the Cope Family" (Philadelphia, 1860); "The Browns of Nottingham" (1864)" "Genealogy of the Dutton Family" (West Chester, 1871); and, with J. Smith Futhey, " History of Chester County" (Philadelphia, 1881), and "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family" (1887).
