Paul Dakin (1761 in Pawling NY - 1829 in Hudson NY) was the son of Timothy Dakin and Lydia Fish. Timothy had moved as a child from Concord MA to the Quaker community in Oblong NY and Lydia had likewise moved from Dartmouth MA to Oblong. Timothy and Lydia raised their twelve children as part of Oblong Monthly Meeting.
In searching the list of Quaker records online in the James Hazard index for the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College, I found two references to Paul Dakin, his birth and his disownment. So I sent for the records. The xerox of the microfilm of the disownment was not completely readable, so I ordered a scan of the original documents. I can not reproduce the scan here since it is for personal use only. But, I will provide the transcription. I couldn't read a couple of words, and a wonderful person at the library, Patricia Chapin O'Donnell translated them for me.
Oblong Monthly Meeting Men’s Minutes 1757 -1781, Box NY - 105 Page 519 Paul Dakin Acknowledgement, 18th day 10th month 1780
The acknowledgements of Paul Dakin Ferris Doly Daniel Akin & James Akin Condeming their going to frollicks and Places of Diversion Is Left for the Consideration of Next Mo Meeting
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Oblong Monthly Meeting Men’s Minutes 1781 - 1788 Box NY - 105 pages 50, 51, Paul Dakin Disowned, 15th day 11th month 1780
One of the Friends appointed on Paul Dakins account Report that he has answered his appointment and as there to Nothing appears to alter Conclusion of Last Meeting Concerning him there after Due Consideration this Meeting Doth Testifie against his Mis Conduct and Disownes him from Being any Longer a Member of our Society untill he by his Conduct Manifest Sincere Repentance and amendment of Life and Make Satisfaction to this Meeting which that he may to own Desire and Testification being prepared against him was Read approved and Signed and the following Friends are appointed to give him a copy of his Denial if he Desires it and acquaint him of his Rite to an appeal and if he Shews No Intention of appealing Read it at the Close of a first Day Meeting at at Oblong and Report at Next Meeting That is Wing Killey & Benjamin Ferris Jr ------------
As you can tell by reading the documents, he had the option of "reforming his ways" and returning to Meeting. I have no evidence that Paul ever did that. I find him ten years later in the 1790 Census, living in Hudson NY. By 1794 I find him in newspapers articles in Hudson. By now he is listed as one of the newly elected town Assistants in Hudson NY (15 May 1794, Albany Gazette). In New England at that time, running for public office would get you disowned from Meeting, so I suspect he was no longer a Quaker.
