Background
John Pemberton was born on November 27, 1727 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Country, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the ninth of the ten children of Israel and Rachel (Read) Pemberton and younger brother of Israel and James Pemberton.
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John Pemberton
Edit ProfileEducation
John Pemberton attended Friends' schools.
Career
John Pemberton entered business with his father and brothers, but soon gave this up so that he might devote his full time to religious work. In 1750, while traveling abroad for his health, he came into contact with John Churchman, a Quaker minister who was on his way to Great Britain on a religious tour. He persuaded Pemberton to accompany him, and for three years they journeyed through the west counties of England, in Ireland, Scotland, and Holland. During the trip Pemberton was persuaded to preach and on his return to Philadelphia he devoted his time to preaching and to missionary work, visiting in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia. A member of the Friendly Association for Regaining and Preserving Peace with the Indians by Pacific Measures, he attended the Easton conference in 1756.
In 1766 John Pemberton was chosen with John Penn to present the remonstrance against stage plays, prepared by his brother James, to the governor. Further revealing his religious convictions is the provisional lease which Pemberton granted in 1780 for a Coffee House, in which the tenant promised to "preserve decency, " keep the house closed on Sunday, and prohibit swearing and card playing, with a penalty of £100 for the first offense. Opposed to the war against the Delawares in 1756, he was equally hostile to armed resistance to Great Britain in 1777. Early in September 1777 he was notified that orders had been received to take him prisoner. When he refused to leave the house or give up his keys a guard of ten men took him by force. His desk was broken open and the contents seized. With his brothers he was sent to Winchester, Viginia, a journey of nineteen days by wagon. The year before he had begun to keep a journal, commenting upon the arrest of Friends for refusing to bear arms, and deploring the loss of life caused by war and sickness. He kept this journal throughout his exile, giving a clear picture of his arrest and imprisonment. His chief complaint throughout his imprisonment was of the cold and rain.
On April 21, 1778, John Pemberton left Winchester, arriving in Philadelphia nine days later, the day after he received his official pardon from Washington. He continued to keep up his journal after his return, but the majority of the entries refer only to the Meeting and to various Friends. At the Quarterly Meeting, Feb. 5, 1781, Pemberton was given a certificate to visit the Friends in England. Despite the fact that it was now against the law to leave the country without a passport, he notified the council that he intended to dispense with the formality. Permitted to leave, he went to England, Ireland, and Scotland, visiting and preaching for five years.
John Pemberton returned to Philadelphia but set out again on May 30, 1794, for Holland and Germany. He held meetings on shipboard, in Amsterdam, and in several towns in Prussia. Early in September he became ill, but he continued to Pyrmont, Westphalia. Thereafter Pemberton referred constantly in his journal and letters to his illness, though he commented also upon his surroundings, the scenery, and the people. His condition rapidly grew worse and John Pemberton died at Pyrmont on January 31, 1795.
Achievements
Connections
John Pemberton's wife was Hannah, the daughter of Isaac and Sarah Zane, whom he married in Philadelphia on May 8, 1766. They had no children.
References
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Born
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Died
January 31, 1795 (aged 68) -
Nationality
American