William Wharton and Deborah Fisher
Quaker Leaders

William Wharton inherited a considerable fortune from his father and hence spent most of his life in work for the Society of Friends and never really had a profession. He and Deborah were actively involved in the formation of Swarthmore College.

December 30, 1863 DELAWARE COUNTY AMERICAN

'SWARTHMORE COLLEGE.'- This appears to be the name determined upon, for the new Friend college to be located at Westdale.The number of votes cast for Westdale on the 1st of December, was 987 votes, to which, prior to the 11th of the month, 471 votes were given, making a total of 1458 votes, cast by 508 individuals. For Wissihickon but 427 votes in all were cast, by 178 persons, making a majority in favor of Westdale of 1031 votes. On the first of December the sum of $73,875 had been subscribed, $22,375 of which had been paid in, the additional subscription since that period no doubt largely increasing the amount on hand. The control of the institution is to be confided to thirty two managers, sixteen of each sex, to be chosen equally, from the yearly meetings of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. The present managers from the Philadelphia, Yearly Meeting are, we understand, Wm. Dorsey, Edward Parrish, Isaac Stevens, David J. Grsicom, Joseph Powell, Edward Hoopes, Deborah F. Wharton , Helen G. Longstreet, Harriet E. Stokley, Rachel S. Jackson, Phebe W. Foulker and Sarah P. Flowers. We again congratulate our citizens upon having such an institution in our midst, and would compliment them upon the energetic measures which they took to secure it.

William was a "recommended minister" and the couple played an active role when the Society was engaged in a major conflict over the course of the faith. The couple lived at Bellevue left to William by his father and a town house in Philadelphia which today is the rectory for Christ Church.

Deborah was born October 24, 1795 and died August 16, 1888 in Newport,  RI. She married William June 04, 1817 at the Old Pine Street Meeting, Philadelphia. Together the two had ten children:

  1. Hannah born March 06, 1818, died July 15, 1893 m. Robert Haydock
  2. Rodman born January 26, 1820, died July 20, 1854 m. Susan Dillwyn Parrish
  3. Sarah born December 10, 1821, died December 29, 1866, m. Abraham Barker
  4. Charles William born December 03, 1823, died 1902 m Mary Lovering
  5. Joseph born March 03, 1826, died January 11, 1908, m. Anne Corbit Lovering
  6. Mary U. born January 17, 1828, died October 27, 1856, m. Joseph D. Thurston
  7. William born May 19, 1830, m. Anna Walter
  8. Samuel Fisher born August 11, 1832, died February 22, 1843
  9. Anna born March 30, 1834, died November 20, 1863 NOTE: Died unmarried - was said to be the most beautiful, died of Tuberculosis
  10. Esther Fisher born January 20, 1836, died 1904, m. Benjamin Raper Smith

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