I get more questions related to people seeking information about their ancestors than on any other subject. There are enormous numbers of people who have Quaker ancestors. Quakers made significant inroads in the population of Britain in the early days, and were among the largest religious groups in several British colonies in North America at one time. However, I'm not knowledgeable about genealogical issues so I don't answer the questions directly but refer people to The Quaker Corner which has a lot of resources for people doing genealogical research.
How come you use a computer? Don't Quakers stay away from modern technology?
Quakers get confused with the Amish a lot. They don't use much of modern technology. They arise out of a totally different history. There are some common elements between Quakers and Amish, but this definitely is not one of them. Quakers don't have particular problems with using modern technology. In fact, Quakers have been involved in the development of some new technologies.
Do all Quakers wear gray?
Quakers from the beginning have been concerned about not wasting resources on superfluous things, avoiding showy appearances to get attention or make yourself seem better than others, and keeping focus on the things of God. So they tended to wear relatively simply clothing. As Quakerism became more institutionalized, this became more standardized with modest, unadorned clothing that was usually grey, black or at least some color that didn't draw a lot of attention. Quakers were "plain" people as a number of groups, including the Amish, still are today. While a few Quakers today do wear "plain dress," most Quakers now do not wear clothing which particular sets them apart from other people.
Do Quakers prohibit investing in the stock market?
Quakers oppose gambling and warn against speculative ventures. Stock trading can certainly be speculative, so Quakers tend to be cautious about it. However, it is not prohibited and many Quaker organizations include stocks in their investments. In addition to concerns about speculation, Quakers are concerned about the social implications of the products, services and practices of companies in which they invest.
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