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Richard Pike (1627 - 1668)
of Sarsfield Court

Richard Pike and Quakerism

by Caroline Gosnell

Conversion to Quakerism

Religious Society of Friends

Conversion to Quakerism

Most of the early Pikes were Quakers.

William Edmundson (1627 - 1712) was the founder and leader of the first Friends or Quaker meeting in Ireland. The Quakers are a good living friendly people, with high morals and a deep belief in each other. They call each other friends and meet regularly to pray and talk together.

Quakers were unpopular in the seventeenth century and were almost all of English birth, either old soldiers or officers in Cromwell's "New Model Army".

Richard Pike was a trooper in Cromwell's Army. In 1655 Richard Pike married Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of J. Jackson of London. Richard Pike was custodian of Sarsfields Court, Glanmire.

[The survey of 1654 delineated a portion of the north Linerties, as bounded by 'the road from Knocknahorgan, to the new garrison at Sarsfield's Court in the Barony of Barrymore'.]

It is not definite whether Richard Pike was in charge of the Garrisons or whether he temporarily held onto the land awaiting a formal grant.

Edward Burrough (1634–1663) convinced Richard Pike to become a Quaker, and as a result of this he was discharged from the army and his lands at Sarsfields Court were taken from him.

Richard Pike then moved to a farm in Kilcrea. Nine years later he gave up this farm and opened a shop in Cork.

Richard Pike was arrested because he was a Quaker, that is a member of the Society of Friends. He was confined to a crowded cell and during his imprisonment he got Gaol fever and was released from custody, on parole in his own home.

On the fifth day following his release he died. Richard Pike was 41 years old.

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Religious Society

of Friends

The following was given in a letter to 'Joe' Richard Joseph Pike 4th May 1972, from the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland, 6 Eustace Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Dear Mr. Pike,

Richard Pike (1627-1668) came to Ireland from Newbury, Berkshire in 1648 as Corporal of Horse in his troop. At the end of the war he was given Sarsfield Court, 4 miles from Cork, and an allotment of land for arrears of pay.

He was converted to Quakerism (about 1665?) and left the Army and, in consequence, his land was taken from him. He then settled in Kilcreagh, 7 miles west of Cork, and later in the City, where he died in 1668.

He married Elizabeth Jackson of London who, after his death, married a second time in 1674 and died in 1689.

They had six children: Elizabeth (who married Henry Wheddon), Joseph, Richard, Ebenezer, Sarah (who married William Allen) and Benjamin who died young.

We have taken this information from the Pike Pedigree and can supply further information about the descendants if you let us know which branch interests you.

For genealogical searches only we make a charge of 75 pence per hour.

Yours sincerely,

Olive C. Goodbody

Curator, Friends' Historical Library.

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