Rev. Peter Thorburn - Wells, sent this note about John Whiting, Quaker of Wrington and his speaking engagements, culled from:

WILLIAM PENN and Bishop RICHARD KIDDER in WELLS

W~G.Willis Watson "A Chronological History of Somerset" 1925:

entry for the year 1695

"William Penn preached from one of the windows of the Swan Hotel,Wells."

L.S.Colchester, Pitkin Guidebook to the City of Wells 1971.p8.

"From the upper window of the Royal Oak, later acquired by the Crown, William Penn addressed the populace below. That was in 1695. When he preached from the Royal Oak the Mayor had him arrested and imprisoned, thinking this was an act of defiance, but later released him on learning that the Bishop had in fact given him a licence. "

John Whiting was a Quaker from Wrington who was imprisoned in Ilchester Gaol for preaching in the 1680s. He wrote a book entitled "Persecution Expos'd" (published in 1715 describing this experience.

In September 1695 he was arranging speaking engagements for the great William Penn. He went to Bishop Kidder first... He(Bishop Kidder) agreed to sign a certificate if necessary.. .the Landlord of the Crown Inn agreed to let Penn preach from the balcony overlooking the Market Place.

With a room full of Friends and a crowd of 2-3000 below, Penn began to speak, only to be interrupted by a constable and other officers with a warrant from the Mayor to arrest him for unlawful assembly. It took weeks for the matter to be settled, but once the right was secured, Penn returned and Whiting reports that "they had many brave meetings there afterwards."

He also returned to debate with the Bishop Whiting does not appear to have convinced Kidder with his arguments, but Kidder remained gentle and open to further discussions

quoted in "The Book of Wells" by Marion Meek 1980 pp84/5

With Willis Watson 1925, L.S.Colchester (former Cathedral Archivist, well known for his checking of facts,) and the near contemporary account of John Whiting, I believe that the date on the plaque (on the Crown Hotel) namely 1685, the year of the Monmouth Rebellion, when Thomas Ken was Bishop) is incorrect.

(signed) Graeme Osborn, Hon.Librarian, Wells Museum 18/01/01.

Note: Marion Meek's "Book of Wells" has been recorded with the permission of the author by Peter Thorburn on cassette tape for the benefit of the visually impaired.