Were British Quakers and Jews, ever Recusant, and were they affected by the Penal Laws?
‘Recusant’ is a term which specifically refers to Catholics who maintained their faith during the penal era. Quakers would have been referred to as ‘Non-conformist’. I’m not sure about the effects of the penal laws on Non-Conformists and Jews. I think they had an easier time than the Catholics, but I’m not certain about this. If you’re researching the Catholic history of Stonor you ought to read up a bit about St Edmund Campion, who had connections with the house. You may also find it interesting to look at the history of the Eyston family at Hendred House, near Wantage. They were another family which maintained the Catholic faith through the reformation, and I think they had links with the Stonor family.
