The Quakers and Their Influence on Nantucket History

Herman Melville called the Nantucket whalers “Quakers with a vengeance.” But far beyond making Nantucket the whaling capital of the world, the Quakers on Nantucket were a quiet but early driving force behind abolition, suffrage, rights for women, and educational reform, not to mention their astute business acumen and influence on Nantucket’s iconic architecture.
Presenter: Karen MacNab , Nantucket Historical Association

[@clairewhite3846]

This was great! Wonderful presentation, Karen! Thanks NHA!

[@cllnplmr]

ENCORE! ENCORE!! What an absolute delight to learn more about the faith of my forebears. I'm afraid the Swain branch I am from was under much 'dealing' from the Quaker minutes I researched from Lost Creek, TN.
Thank you SOoo much for this presentation. I look forward to many more.
Colleen Swain-Palmer

[@wendypenrose2566]

Thank you my husband is a descendant of Tristram Coffin and others you talked about in this presentation. Thank you for the information, I have shared it with his sister and daughter so very interesting.

[@777sun1]

The Shakers were an offshoot of English Quakerism.

[@ComesTheLight]

I would like to see the NHA hire an expert on the slave trade. This person should be able to do deep, complex research on the slave trade as it relates to Nantucket, Massachusetts ports such as Boston or Edgartown; and ports in other states such as New Jersey, New Hampshire, and New York during the 1700's. An expert should research, understand write and publish, and produce videos about the triangle trade that Nantucketers -- or their descendants, who migrated to other states) -- engaged in. Current Nantucket historians are not knowledgeable enough to speak to the Nantucket slave trade that took place during the 1700's. Whalers weren't just whaling. They were bringing other goods to places such as England, Brazil, Barbados, Cuba, the Carribean, and Africa. They were transporting and delivering slaves while engaging in the triangle trade. Their wealth didn't just come from "whale oil", folks. And some of them were Quakers. In this video, the presenter starts talking about slavery in 1820, completely skipping what went on and what Nantucketers were responsible for during the 1700's. There is so much more to know and learn. So I would love to see a second video that focuses completely on Quakers, Nantucket, and the triangle trade during the 1700's. Tell the whole story, not just a slice of it.