Quakers, Cumberwell

Quakers were regularly meeting at Cumberwell as early as 1660, on or near the site of Potticks House. There was also a burial ground there and in 1678 the society at Cumberwell formed part of the Lavington Monthly Meeting. In 1694 the meetings are described as that of Cumberwell and Bradford and then from 1698 simply as the Bradford meeting. An account exists of 1660 describing a meeting at Cumberwell which was interrupted by troopers commanded by Lieutenant John Ayers who arrested Robert Star. He was committed to the prison in Salisbury as a 'dangerous person' and later discharged, his only crime attending an 'unlawful meeting.' There are a number of Quaker marriages recorded at Cumberwell between 1667 and 1746 and over 50 burials between 1702 and 1803.