Our History
Camden Meeting was organized in 1795. The Meeting House was built in 1805 and includes an upstairs schoolroom. In 1828 Murderkill Meeting (sometimes known as Motherkill or Mutherkiln) was united with Duck Creek Meeting, and in 1830 both were united to Camden Meeting. Under the name “Camden Monthly Meeting” worship was held alternately at Camden and Little Creek. Regular meetings at Little Creek ceased about 1865. Thus, Camden was the last Meeting to be established and is, at present, the only one active in Kent County.
Many members played active roles in the anti-slavery movement. Some served as conductors on the Underground Railroad, providing “safe houses” and passing fugitive slaves northward.
Delaware Historical Marker:
This house of worship, built in 1805, was first a Preparative Meeting under the care of Motherkiln (Murderkill) Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). In 1830, Camden Monthly Meeting was formed by uniting with Motherkiln and Duck Creek Monthly Meetings. It has since absorbed all other Quaker Meetings in Kent and Sussex Counties. Many members were active in the anti-slavery movement. Local Quakers such as the Hunn, Jenkins, and Cowgill families, were well known for their efforts in support of abolition. Some served as conductors on the Underground Railroad, providing “safe houses” and passing fugitive slaves northward. Of particular note was John Hunn, the Chief Engineer of the Underground Railroad in Delaware. A resident of the Middletown area during much of his life, Hunn was responsible for the operation of the network that transported thousands of escapees through Delaware to Wilmington, and thence to freedom. A man of great modesty, he declined to take credit for his heroic efforts. He was laid to rest in the adjoining burial ground following his death in 1894.
John Hunn
John Hunn had his large land holdings sold at a sheriff’s sale because he refused to give up his connection with this activity. Henry Cowgill and his family were threatened with being “burned out and hung,” a threat that was never carried out. Each member of the family took turns standing guard day and night at their farm near Willow Grove, it being one of the stations.
Warner Mifflin
Quaker Warner Mifflin was a wealthy farmer who was born on the Eastern Shore of Virginia but later established himself near Camden, where he owned large tracts of land as well as acreage in other parts of the county. He not only freed his own slaves but did his utmost to persuade others to follow his example. Due to his efforts, Kent County became the center of the early Delaware abolitionist movement.