Haworth Association of America
Tree Dedication
Willow Oak Tree and Granite Marker in
Memory of George and Sarah (Scarborough) Haworth
Buckingham Friends Meeting Burial Ground
Bucks County, PA
June 17, 2022
Haworth Association of America
We stand here today in this sacred place. To honor the
memory of our Quaker ancestors, George and Sarah (Scarborough) Haworth.
George arrived in Bucks County from England in 1699.
Sarah was born here in 1694.
They were married, they carved a farm out of the woods, they had children. They
were founding members of Buckingham Friends Meeting in 1720. Sarah is buried
here, and we like to think that George is too.
300 years ago, they built a family, a farm, a Quaker
meeting—a life in a new country. We
honor their courage and vision. Humble people, who, without knowing it or
intending to, made a big difference.
They lived according to Quaker principles of faith, simplicity, equality,
peace, and integrity. In true Quaker fashion and with all humility, they were
buried without headstones as was the practice of the day. This tree might please
them, the stone probably not. But
it would never have occurred to them that, after 300 years, a group of their
descendants, many generations down, would gather to stand here with them. To
remember them. To feel their spiritual presence. To affirm our family and our
history. To be blessed by them once
again.
Families are all about love, work, and wonder.
We have seen the love and work of generations of our ancestors.
Today, this is a moment of wonder.
We lift up our deepest gratitude to all those who have gone before us to
create this place and to grow our family.
And so, we dedicate this Willow Oak Tree in the sacred
resting place of our ancestors in the Buckingham Friends Meeting Old Burial
Grounds. May the tree grow strong
and beautiful and have a long life. We dedicate this granite marker to remember
our ancestors, for ourselves and for generations to come.
May all who come here, whether Haworths or not, be blessed by this spot.
And let the family say, AMEN.