Benjamin Colman was one of the most prominent ministers of his generation.
He was born in Boston, Mass., the son of William and Elizabeth Colman. As a
young man, he was greatly influenced by Increase Mather, Cotton Mather, and
Ezekiel Cheever, and at Harvard by William Brattle and John Leverett. After
graduating from Harvard in 1692, he preached for six months at Medford before
returning to Harvard for his A.M. degree. In 1695, he sailed for England, but
was captured en route by French pirates and imprisoned in France. Ransomed, he
moved to London and became involved with the American and English Dissenters
there and at Bath. In 1699, friends and family in New England convinced him to
return to Boston and take charge of the new Brattle Street Church, where he was
immediately embroiled in controversy over reforms in the Congregational Church.
He and the other founders of the church issued a Manifesto in 1699 and The Gospel
Order Revived in 1700, which angered the Mathers and other
traditionalist ministers.
Though Colman advocated a distinct separation between Anglicans and
Congregationalists, he maintained a sympathetic and mutually supportive
relationship with the Church of England. He coordinated many missionary
endeavors among the Indians, often in cooperation with Anglican clergymen like
Bishop White Kennett. As a member of the Harvard College Corporation and the
Overseers, Colman was also active in Harvard College affairs and secured many
patrons for Harvard and Yale, including the very influential Thomas Hollis.
Colman was an avid reader of modern English thinkers and continued to
correspond with colleagues in England. In 1731, he was awarded an honorary
doctor of divinity degree from the University of Glasgow. In 1740, during the
first Great Awakening, he invited George Whitefield to preach at various
pulpits in Boston and at Harvard. When Whitefield alienated and angered many
Boston clergy with his criticisms, Colman successfully mediated the disputes
that arose.
Colman married three times: to Jane Clark in 1700; to Sarah Crisp Clark,
widow of John Leverett, in 1732; and to Mary Pepperrell, also a widow, in 1745.
All three of his children were born to his first wife, but none survived him.
His daughter Jane Colman Turell was widely acclaimed as a poet.
Kennedy, Rick. "Benjamin Colman." American
National Biography. Ed. John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes. Vol. 5. New
York: Oxford University Press, 1999. 256-258.
The papers of Benjamin Colman, 1641-1806, reproduced on one reel of
microfilm, consist of two boxes of loose manuscripts and are primarily
concerned with his ministerial career, especially his connection with Boston's
Brattle Street Church, his activities on various church councils, and his work
among Indians on behalf of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New
England and Parts Adjacent and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts. His correspondents include Jonathan Belcher, Elisha Cooke,
Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Hollis, Cotton and Increase Mather, William Shirley,
Samuel Shute, and Sir Robert Walpole.
The collection also contains letters to his daughter Jane Colman Turell, as
well as materials related to George Whitefield, Boston schools, provincial
government, the colonial customs service, and Harvard College.
The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) holds the following collections
related to the Benjamin Colman papers:
Benjamin Colman letters, 1728-1745. Ms. SBd-62.
Colman-Jenks collection, 1651-1809. Ms. N-1497.
The collection is arranged in loose chronological order.
Gift of Peter Thacher, 1793.
| | | | | |
|
| Undated |
| Poem: "A hymn of praise on a recovery from sickness," by [Benjamin
Colman], written in English and translated into Latin by William Welsteed,
undated |
| Draft of message from Benjamin Colman to [William Williams],
undated |
| Poem: "By another hand," Revel. Chap. 10, by [Benjamin Colman],
undated |
| Poem: "To Celia, flying from her mother," by [Benjamin Colman],
undated |
| Poem: "On content," by Benjamin Colman (6 lines),
undated |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Gardner about his verses and
with advice on his future, undated |
| Lines to Cardinal Mazarine, by [Benjamin Colman],
undated |
| "Proposals for promoting...correspondence among Protestant
Dissenters...by the name of the United Brethren," undated |
|
|
| 1641-1718 |
| Speech by William Fiennes, First Viscount Saye and Sele, on an
ecclesiastical matter,
1641
Note: This is the first item in the Colman volume
dated 1697-1734.
|
| Draft of letter in the hand of John Leverett from Harvard College to
Lieutenant Governor Stoughton about the Harvard charter of 1696,
6 Jan. 1697
Also available on microfilm P-207.
|
| List of subscriptions for building the Brattle Street Church and
minutes of the prudential committee,
14 Feb. 1699-8 Oct. 1700 |
| Letter from Simon Bradstreet (Charlestown) to Benjamin Colman urging
him to accept the ministry of the Brattle Street Church,
23 May 1698 |
| Letter from Oliver Noyes (Boston) to Benjamin Colman about accepting
a ministry at Boston,
14 May 1699 |
| Letter from William Brattle (Cambridge) to Benjamin Colman about
accepting the invitation to become minister of the Brattle Street Church,
16 May 1699 |
| Letter from John Nelson (Boston) to Benjamin Colman about the
formation of the Brattle Street Church and his invitation to become its
minister,
20 May 1699 |
| Letter from Ebenezer Pemberton (Cambridge) to Benjamin Colman about
his invitation to return to Boston as minister of the Brattle Street Church,
22 May 1699 |
| Letter from John Leverett (Cambridge) to Benjamin Colman about the
advantages of accepting the call to the Brattle Street Church,
25 May 1699 |
| Letter from Increase Mather and James Allen to Benjamin Colman
criticizing the manifesto of the Brattle Street Church,
28 Dec. 1699
Also available on microfilm P-207.
|
| Letter from Sarah Colman (Boston) to her brother Benjamin Colman
about accepting the call of the Brattle Street Church and returning to Boston,
3 June 1699 |
| Letter from John Higginson and Nicholas Noyes (Salem) to Benjamin
Davis and the organizers of the Brattle Street Church criticizing their
manifesto,
30 Dec. 1699 |
| Minutes by Benjamin Colman (Cambridge) of a discussion of the
Association of Ministers about maintaining the welfare of the churches,
Aug. 1705 |
| Answer of Benjamin Colman to a question on councils,
Aug. 1705 |
| Subscription by Thomas Clarke, Mehetabel Cooper, Robert Palmer, John
Colman, John George, Thomas Banister, William Harris, Samuel Kealing, Oliver
Noice [Noyce], Addington Davenport, and Stephen Minott for printing Benjamin
Colman's discourses on the parable of the Ten Virgins,
[1706] |
| Letter from Joseph Dudley (Roxbury) to Benjamin Colman about
determining the validity of former French prisoner Timothy LeFebre's conversion
to Protestantism,
19 May 1707 |
| Letter from Solomon Stoddard (Northampton) to Benjamin Colman about
the settlement of John Leverett as president of Harvard College,
7 Feb. 1708 |
| Poem: "A hymn to the wise men," by Elizabeth Singer,
30 June 1709 |
| Letter from Elizabeth Singer to Benjamin Colman about her gratitude
to him,
12 July 1709 |
| Letter from Dudley Woodbridge (Barbados) to Benjamin Colman thanking
him for a shipment of books and about his sons Dudley and Benjamin,
10 July 1711 |
| Letter from John Colman (Boston) to Benjamin Colman about a dispute
with Ebenezer Hutchinson over a money matter,
14 Sep. 1711 |
| Poem: "Laetum rus genuit, cultos academia mores," by Benjamin
Colman, with translation,
[1712] |
| Letter from Stephen Mix (Wethersfield) to Benjamin Colman on
theological matters and happenings at Wethersfield,
16 July 1712 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to White Kennett with
comments on his sermon before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts,
Nov. 1712 |
| Letter from Samuel Banister (London) to Benjamin Colman about a
shipment of glass and the political confusion in London,
15 Feb. 1714 |
| Letter from Jeremiah Dummer (London) to Benjamin Colman about the
controversy over Gov. Dudley,
15 Jan. 1715
Printed in Collections of the Massachusetts
Historical Society, 1st series, vol. 5.
|
| Drafts, mainly in Benjamin Colman's hand, of a memorial to King
George I by the ministers of New England churches, approved by Gov. Dudley, and
drafts of letters thanking John Shute, William Amhurst, and others for their
continued favor for New England,
[1717] and
[June 1717] |
| Draft of invitation from Benjamin Colman to delegates to attend the
ordination of William Cooper at the Brattle Street Church,
23 May 1716 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Gov. Samuel Shute
congratulating him on his commission,
[Aug. 1716] |
| Letter from Jonathan Belcher (London) to Benjamin Colman about his
approval of the appointment of Samuel Shute to govern New England,
31 May 1716 |
| Letter from William Cooper to Benjamin Colman about an edition of
his sermons,
20 Nov. 1716 |
| Letter from John Shute, 1st Viscount Barrington (London), to
Benjamin Colman about Gov. Samuel Shute,
9 Feb. 1717 |
| Letter from Hugh Hall, Jr. (Barbados) to Benjamin Colman about his
occupation,
13 Mar. 1717 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Lord Barrington
about his approval of Gov. Shute,
5 June 1717 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to William Ashurst
about a charter for Harvard College,
5 June 1717 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Cotton Mather on
ecclesiastical matters,
[June 1717] |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Samuel Wiswall to become a
missionary to the Indians as commissioned by the General Court,
[June 1717] |
| Letter from Nathaniel Stone (Harwich) to Benjamin Colman refuting
John Wise's position regarding the ministers of New England,
29 Jan. 1718 |
| Letter from Samuel Sewall to Benjamin Colman about baptizing his
servant Scipio,
22 Mar. 1718; on verso, draft of report by Benjamin Colman
for the ministers of Boston on conditions in the grammar schools,
[24 Mar.] 1718 |
| Letter from Timothy Woodbridge (Hartford) to Benjamin Colman about
granting a Harvard degree to a group of students educated at Saybrook and then
at Wethersfield under Elisha Williams,
10 Apr. 1718 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Tiverton) to Ebenezer Pierpont
about the latter's dispute with Nicholas Sever,
8 Sep. 1718 |
| Letter from William Cooper to Benjamin Colman about church matters
at Boston during his absence,
9 Sep. 1718 |
| Letter from Joseph Sewall (Boston), as pastor of Old South Church,
to Benjamin Colman and William Cooper inviting them to the ordination of Thomas
Prince,
15 Sep. 1718 |
| Letter from Daniel Neal (London) to Benjamin Colman about the
ecclesiastical history of New England and Cotton Mather,
19 Sep. 1718 |
| Letter from William Ashurst (London) to Benjamin Colman on church
matters and Samuel Shute,
3 Oct. 1718 |
|
|
| 1719-1725 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to the bishop of Bangor about
his book The Common Rights of Subjects,
6 May 1719 |
| Letter from John Shute, 1st Viscount Barrington (Tofts, Essex), to
Benjamin Colman apologizing for his not having received his letter
acknowledging the dedication of his sermon,
Jan. 1720 |
| Draft of letter, in Benjamin Colman's hand, from the ministers of
Boston to the church at Bristol, R.I., about the controversy over James
MacSparran,
28 Sep. 1719 |
| Letter from John Danforth (Dorchester) to Benjamin Colman about the
controversy over the ordination of James MacSparran at Bristol, R.I.,
28 Sep. 1719 |
| Letter from John Winthrop (New London) to Cotton Mather describing
his gift of Sogelander doves,
29 Dec. 1719 |
| Letter from Robert Wodrow (Eastwood, Scotland) to Benjamin Colman
about the literary material he is sending,
10 Feb. 1720 |
| Letter from Isaac Watts (London) to Cotton Mather on church matters
and Daniel Neal,
11 Feb. 1720 |
| Letter from Hugh Hall, Jr. (Barbados) to [Benjamin Colman] about
charitable gifts for the propagation of the gospel and the reduced interest in
religion in the islands,
30 Mar. 1720 |
| Draft of letter from John Leverett and Benjamin Colman to Thomas
Hollis acknowledging his gift to Harvard College for scholarship aid, with
details of its administration,
July 1720 |
| Letter from Nathaniel Clap (Newport) to Benjamin Colman on church
matters,
4 Nov. 1720 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Lord Barrington about his
continued support for New England,
11 Jan. 1721 |
| Letter from Jeremiah Dummer (London) to Benjamin Colman explaining
his actions on behalf of funds for Yale College,
16 Feb. 1721 |
| Memorial for the fellows of Harvard College to Gov. Samuel Shute and
the General Court petitioning for a salary increase for the Harvard president,
signed by Benjamin Wadsworth and Benjamin Colman,
31 May 1721 |
| Letter from Stephen Mix (Wethersfield) to Benjamin Colman enlisting
his help in obtaining financial aid from Elihu Yale,
2 Aug. 1721 |
| Letter from Samuel Sewall (Medford) to Benjamin Colman about hearing
him preach at Lexington and on the current state of religion,
12 Sep. 1721 |
| Letter from John Leverett (Cambridge) to Benjamin Colman about his
correspondence with Thomas Hollis,
7 Nov. 1721 |
| Memorandum by [Benjamin Colman] related to Thomas Hollis's
contribution to Harvard College and the creation of the Hollis Professor of
Divinity,
1722 |
| Draft of letter by [Benjamin Colman] for the ministers of Boston
advising the people of Watertown on the establishment of another church and the
dismissal of Robert Sturgeon,
22 Feb. 1722 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Wadsworth and Benjamin Colman (Boston)
to Henry Gibbs about Watertown church affairs and irregularities in the
settlement of Robert Sturgeon,
22 Feb. 1722 |
| Letter from Gurdon Saltonstall (New London) to Benjamin Colman about
providing information on the history of Connecticut for Jeremiah Dummer's
history of New England,
19 Apr. 1722 |
| Letter from John Chamberlayne (London) to Benjamin Colman
acknowledging his letter,
22 May 1722 |
| Copy of report by Benjamin Lynde for the committee of the
Massachusetts General Court appointed to review the Harvard College charter,
30 May 1722 |
| Poem: "On His Majesty's visit to Hackwood and its thundring just as
he arrived...inscrib'd to His Grace the Duke of Bolton,"
28 Aug. 1722 |
| Letter from Henry Newman (London) to Benjamin Colman about the
legality of small-pox inoculation,
28 Sep. 1722 |
| Letter from Stephen Mix (Wethersfield) to Benjamin Colman about
Elizabeth Fawkener's legacy to the Bulkeley family,
5 Nov. 1722 |
| Letter from John Perkins (Ipswich) to Benjamin Colman introducing a
crippled relative and asking help in his education,
15 Nov. 1722 |
| Letter from John Leverett (Cambridge) to Benjamin Colman about his
prospects of withdrawal as a member of Harvard relative to action of the
Massachusetts General Court,
26 Nov. 1722 |
| Extracts from letters from Thomas Hollis, Isaac Watts, and Samuel
Shute (London) to Benjamin Colman about Gov. Shute's support for New England,
1 Mar.-23 June 1723 |
| Letter from Edward Wigglesworth (Cambridge) to Benjamin Colman about
sending a copy of his oration to Thomas Hollis,
6 Dec. 1722 |
| Letter from Stephen Mix (Wethersfield) to Benjamin Colman about the
Bulkeley family legacy settlement,
20 May 1723 |
| Letter from Robert Wodrow (Eastwood, Scotland) to Benjamin Colman
about his difficulty in communicating with Rabbi Mouis,
12 Aug. 1723 |
| Letter from Samuel Shute (London) to Benjamin Colman assuring him of
his support in retaining the Massachusetts Bay charter,
19 Aug. 1723 |
| Copy of letter from Henry Newman (London) to Benjamin Colman with
his account for the purchase and exchange of books and articles,
10 Sep. 1723 |
| Letter from John Colman (London) to Benjamin Colman about borrowing
money from Thomas Hollis and on political matters,
26 Mar. 1724 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] (Boston) to the members of
the Congregational Church at Charleston, S.C., introducing Nathan Bassett,
15 Apr. 1724 |
| Letter from John Shute, 1st Viscount Barrington (Tofts, Essex) to
Benjamin Colman about province affairs,
20 July 1724 |
| Letter from Moses Godfree and Elisha Mayo (Chatham) to Benjamin
Colman and William Cooper asking for help in restoring their privileges in the
church at Chatham,
27 July 1724 |
| Letter from Robert Wodrow (Eastwood, Scotland) to Benjamin Colman
about Bishop Burnett's book and church and literary matters,
29 July 1724 |
| Act of the Massachusetts General Court related to expanding the
service of the Charlestown Ferry, signed by William Dudley,
3 Dec. 1724 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman to his son-in-law Ebenezer Turell about
medicines to cure his sick child,
[1725] |
| Letter from Zabdiel Boylston (London) to Benjamin Colman about
matters concerning the provincial government,
26 Feb. 1725 |
| Letter from John Colman (London) to Benjamin Colman about Elisha
Cooke's activities at London and Samuel Shute,
20 Mar. 1725 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to [Benjamin] Avery,
in Latin, about the Harvard College library,
8 June 1725 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] (Boston) to Bishop White
Kennett about synods, church matters, and his declining the presidency of
Harvard,
17 Dec. 1725 |
| Letter from Isaac Greenwood (London) to Benjamin Colman about Thomas
Hollis's intention to settle a professorship of mathematics and experimental
philosophy at Harvard,
20 Dec. 1725 |
|
|
| 1726-1730 |
| Incomplete draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to [?] about the
practice of dissenting congregations in New England to send to England for a
minister,
[1726] |
| Letter from John Colman (London) to Benjamin Colman about family
business matters, Elisha Cooke, and speculation on the government of
Massachusetts Bay,
4 Feb. 1726 |
| Letter from Samuel Shute (London) to Benjamin Colman about the
acceptance of the Explanatory Charter,
25 Mar. 1726 |
| Letter from John Colman (London) to Benjamin Colman about publishing
his sermons,
2 Apr. 1726 |
| Letter from Samuel Perker, Shubael Stearns, and John Hawkes (Lynn
End) to Benjamin Colman and William Cooper asking for help in resolving church
differences,
16 Aug. 1726 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman, on behalf of Boston ministers,
to Joseph Leddel, et al., regarding a candidate for a Presbyterian church in
New York,
17 Oct. 1726 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Edmund Calamy about
Judge Nicholas Trott of South Carolina,
19 Oct. 1726 |
| Minutes of a council of churches at Billingsgate [Eastham] about the
controversy with Josiah Oakes, signed by Joseph Green as clerk,
22 Nov. 1726 |
| Letter from Isaac Greenwood (Boston) to Benjamin Colman about his
indebtedness to him,
7 Feb. 1727 |
| Letter from Josiah Oakes, Samuel Brown, Samuel Smith, Jonathan
Young, Eleazure Hamblen, and John Rich, members of the church at Billingsgate
(Eastham), to Benjamin Colman asking for his help in resolving church
differences,
2 Mar. 1727 |
| Letter from Daniel Oliver (London) to Benjamin Colman describing his
visit to England and France,
17 Mar. 1727 |
| Letter from William Williams (Weston) to Benjamin Colman about
difficulties in his attending a conference on the resolution of church
differences at Eastham,
21 Mar. 1727 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Josiah Oakes and
others with advice on resolving the differences in the church at Eastham,
22 Mar. 1727 |
| Letter from [Samuel Sewall] (Boston) to Benjamin Colman about the
funeral of Samuel Hirst and about having his sermon distributed,
14 Apr. 1727 |
| Address by Cotton Mather and Benjamin Colman (Boston) for the annual
convention of ministers of Massachusetts Bay to King George II,
31 May 1727 |
| Address from Harvard College to George II, in Benjamin Colman's
hand, signed by Benjamin Wadsworth,
4 Sep. 1727 |
| Acknowledgment from Timothy Cutler to Benjamin Colman of receipt of
notification of Harvard Overseers meeting,
[1728] |
| Letter from Benjamin Wadsworth (Cambridge) to Benjamin Colman about
the use of revenue from donated lands to help promote the ministry,
6 Apr. 1728 |
| Letter from David Parsons (Leicester) to Benjamin Colman about the
calling of a Leicester church council,
22 Apr. 1728 |
| Letter from John Williams (Deerfield) to Benjamin Colman about
divisions in the churches,
2 July 1728 |
| Memorial of the death of John Clark with inscription on his
tombstone,
Dec. 1728 |
| Letter from Thomas Hollis (London) to Benjamin Colman with news of
London,
12 Feb. 1729 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to his daughter Jane Colman
Turell about her homesickness,
6 Mar. 1729 |
| Letter from Jedidiah Andrews (Philadelphia) to Benjamin Colman about
church matters,
7 Apr. 1729 |
| Letter from Daniel Neal (London) to Thomas Foxcroft about Samuel
Shute, English resentment toward New England, and the necessity to comply with
the king,
29 Apr. 1729 |
| Application by Richard Southgate, Thomas Newhall, and James Willson,
members of the church at Leicester, to the Brattle Street Church asking for
help in resolving their differences,
1 May 1729 |
| Letter from Jedidiah Andrews (Philadelphia) to Benjamin Colman about
his advice on the legality of marriage with a wife's brother's widow,
14 May 1729 |
| Minutes of a church council meeting at Watertown regarding the
church at Leicester, with memo of the votes from Benjamin Colman to David
Parsons,
9-10 July 1729 |
| Letter from David Parsons (Leicester) to Benjamin Colman about his
response to the calling of a church council to resolve the differences of the
church at Leicester,
13 Aug. 1729 |
| Reports and minutes by [Benjamin Colman] of a church council at
Watertown to resolve the dispute in the church at Leicester, with copy of David
Parson's reply,
[Sep.] 1729 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] (Boston) to Nathaniel Stone
about resolving the dispute with Samuel Osborn of the Eastham church,
8 Sep. 1729 |
| Letter from David Parsons (Leicester) to Benjamin Colman about the
response of the Leicester congregation to the decision of the council of
churches regarding their differences,
1 Nov. 1729 |
| Letter from Samuel Osborn (Eastham) to Benjamin Colman refuting the
charges of Nathaniel Stone and Rev. Lord,
17 Nov. 1729 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman to his daughter Jane Colman Turell with
parental advice on her health,
16 Jan. 1730 |
| Letter from Jonathan Belcher (London) to Benjamin Colman describing
the circumstances of his appointment as governor and about his son's affairs,
7 Feb. 1730 |
| Letter from Richard Billings, Matthew Short, John Greenwood, David
Turner, Peleg Heath, Josiah Cotton, and Habijah Weld (Rehoboth), ministers of
Bristol County, to Benjamin Colman about establishing a church at Freetown and
Freetown affairs,
21 Apr. 1730 |
| Letter from William Harris (London) to Benjamin Colman about Gov.
Jonathan Belcher, the illness of Thomas Hollis, and literary matters,
29 Apr. 1730 |
| Letter from John Doane (Eastham) to Benjamin Colman about Eastham
church affairs and Isaiah Lewis,
14 May 1730 |
| Letter from Jeremiah Hunt [London] to [Benjamin Colman] introducing
two visitors to New England from Yarmouth,
22 July 1730 |
| Letter from Thomas Hollis (London) to Benjamin Colman about his
correspondence, news of London, and the Mason bequest to dissenting
individuals,
8 Oct. 1730 |
| Letter from Josiah Smith (Cainhay) to Benjamin Colman about the
publication of his sermons and criticism of his views,
12 Oct. 1730 |
| Letter from Elisha Williams (New Haven) to Benjamin Colman about
Yale College library matters and a professor of divinity,
16 Oct. 1730 |
| Letter from Thomas Hollis (London) to Benjamin Colman about Harvard
College matters and Samuel Holden's gift of books,
22 Oct. 1730 |
| Statement by George Du Bois (New York) to the Reformed Protestant
Church at Boston certifying the membership of Abraham and Catharina Wendell in
the Reformed Dutch Church at New York,
3 Nov. 1730 |
|
|
| 1731-1734 |
| Notes for an address from the ministers to the Massachusetts General
Court,
[1731] |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Henry Maule, Bishop
of Cloyne, about a legacy left to Grace Kempston Peirson by her grandmother,
8 Feb. 1731 |
| Letter from Joseph Standen (Speen) to Benjamin Colman with sympathy
on the death of his wife,
26 Apr. 1731 |
| Letter from Matthew Clerk (Londonderry) to Benjamin Colman applying
for a position at Harvard as a teacher of philosophy,
27 Apr. 1731 |
| Subscription list for the support of Josiah Cotton (H.C. 1722) in
his ministry at Providence, R.I., with record of disbursement and subsequent
gifts,
27 May-31 Aug. 1731 Subscribers include Joshua Gee, Joseph Emerson, John Hancock, James Cushing,
Samuel Dexter, Thomas Foxcroft, Ebenezer Parkman, Stephen Williams, Ames
Cheever, Samuel Checkley, Oliver Peabody, Joseph Parsons, Phillips Payson,
Charles Chauncy, William Cooper, Daniel Greenleaf, Nathan Buckman, Jonathan
Edwards, Samuel Fiske, Joseph Baxter, Peter Reynolds, Joseph Sewall, James
Stone, Seth Storer, Jonathan Townsend, John Webb, Nathaniel Rogers, John
Barnard, Jonathan Bowman, Ebenezer Turell, William Welsteed, John White,
Jeremiah Wise, William Johnson, John Rogers, Samuel Phillips, William Balch,
John Tufts, Moses Hale, and Henry Messinger.
|
| Letter from Samuel Holden (London) to Benjamin Colman with
additional gifts of books,
13 Sep. 1731 |
| Letter from Timothy White (Nantucket) to Benjamin Colman about
serving as schoolmaster and missionary to the Indians in Nantucket,
3 Nov. 1731 |
| Letter from Edward Wigglesworth (Cambridge) to Benjamin Colman about
a Harvard College matter,
14 Nov. 1731 |
| Letter from William Williams (Hatfield) to Benjamin Colman thanking
him for the gift of a set of Baxter's works contributed by Samuel Holden,
20 Jan. 1732 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] (Boston) to Nathaniel Stone
about terminating the dispute related to the church at Eastham,
25 Jan. 1732 |
| Letter from Thomas Hollis (London) to Benjamin Colman about his
uncle Thomas Hollis's bequests,
3 Feb. 1732 |
| Letter from Stephen Mix (Wethersfield) to Benjamin Colman about the
organization of Boston churches and a suitable epitaph for Solomon Stoddard,
1 Mar. 1732 |
| Letter from Eldad Tupper (Sandwich) to Benjamin Colman about his
missionary work with the Indians,
27 May 1732 |
| Drafts of letters from Benjamin Colman to Thomas Acton and Mr.
Wynne, keeper of the Cathedral of St. Patrick's, about the legacy left to Grace
Kempston Peirson by her grandmother,
12 Aug. 1732 |
| Letter from Thomas Cotton (Holborn) to Benjamin Colman about a
financial matter,
26 Sep. 1732 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to the president of
the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge about the mission at Fort
Dummer and Joseph Seccombe's work at St. George's River,
14 Nov. 1732 |
| Letter from John Bickford (Salem) to Benjamin Colman for the
churches at Boston about the state of religion at Salem,
26 Feb. 1733 |
| Letter from John Lowell (Newbury) to Benjamin Colman about Leonard
Cotton,
20 Mar. 1733 |
| Letter from William Williams (Hatfield) to Benjamin Colman on church
matters,
9 Apr. 1733 |
| Letter from Stephen Parker (Richmond) to Benjamin Colman about his
Indian mission at Richmond, Mass.,
23 Apr. 1733 |
| Letter from Timothy White (Nantucket) to Benjamin Colman about the
possibility of higher education for the Indians at his school and Thomas
Mayhew's function on the island,
15 May 1733 |
| Letter from Thomas Clap (Taunton) to Benjamin Colman about Thomas
Danforth's church membership,
6 June 1733 |
| Letter from Joseph Seccombe (George's River) to Benjamin Colman
about his observation of the natural history in the area of his Indian mission,
17 July 1733 |
| Treatise: "Some thoughts on the third way of communion," by
[Benjamin Colman],
23 July 1733 |
| Letter from Jonathan Barber (Mohegan) to Benjamin Colman about his
mission to the Indians,
2 Oct. 1733 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to William Grant
describing the ordination of missionaries for the Society for Propagating
Christian Knowledge,
25 Dec. 1733 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman on church matters,
[1734] |
| Letter from Robert Wodrow, Jr. to [Benjamin Colman] about his
father's financial position,
[1734] |
| Letter from Thomas Hollis (London) to Benjamin Colman about the
appeal in the settlement of lands related to the ministry at Kingston, R.I.,
14 Feb. 1734 |
| Letter from Jonathan Parsons (Lyme) to Benjamin Colman acknowledging
the gift of Baxter's works for the church at Lyme,
14 Feb. 1734 |
| Letter from Jonathan Parsons (Lyme) to Benjamin Colman about
teaching the Indians at Lyme and settling the question of their land
boundaries,
26 Feb. 1734 |
| Letter from John Owen (Groton, Conn.) to Benjamin Colman about
Samuel Holden's gift of Baxter's works,
28 Feb. 1734 |
| Letter from Robert Wodrow, Jr. (Eastwood, Scotland) to Benjamin
Colman about his father's death,
1 Apr. 1734 |
| Letter from William Williams (Hatfield) to Benjamin Colman about
missionary work with the Indians,
11 Apr. 1734 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman with
autobiographical information and about sending books to ministers to the
Indians,
30 Apr. 1734
Printed in Proceedings of the Massachusetts
Historical Society, vol. 56, pp. 19-24.
|
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston), on behalf of the
ministers convening at Boston, to Samuel Holden asking him to forward their
address to the king,
30 May 1734 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Jonathan Belcher, Jr. about
delivering the address of the ministers' convention to the king,
30 May 1734 |
| Copy of votes of the Boston ministers' convention about support of
the ministry at South Kingston, R.I., under Joseph Torrey and about Samuel
Holden's help, written in Thomas Prince's hand,
31 May 1734 |
| Letter from Nathaniel Stone (Harwich) to Benjamin Colman critical of
the Boston ministers for their lack of attention to matters related to other
churches,
14 June 1734 |
| Letter from Joseph Seccombe (George's River) to Benjamin Colman
about a matter related to his ministry to the Indians,
27 June 1734, enclosed with letter from Stephen Lauverjat
to Joseph Seccombe, in Latin,
13 Apr. 1734 |
| Report of a decision by a Taunton church council about the church
membership of Thomas Danforth, sent to Benjamin Colman, signed by Joseph
Baxter, John Swift, David Turner, Nathan Bucknam, Joseph Buckminster, Thomas
Randell, Nathaniel Southworth, John Willmarth, Samuel Wood, David Morse, Samuel
Hill, Abiah Carpenter, and Samuel Morse,
14 Aug. 1734 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] (Boston) to the bishop of
London about the dearth of missionaries in New England and about the Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts,
13 Sep. 1734 |
| Letter from Simon Ray, Jr. (Block Island) to Benjamin Colman about
the state of religion on Block Island,
22 Sep. 1734 |
| Letter from Leonard Cotton (Manchester) to Benjamin Colman about his
help in finding a teaching position in Boston,
24 Oct. 1734 |
| Letter from Joseph Torrey (South Kingston, R.I.) to Benjamin Colman
about his mission to the Indians,
3 Dec. 1734 |
|
|
| 1735 |
| Draft of "Reasons why the Brethren...of Leicester are to be
blamed...for their late deposition of their pastor, the Rev. Mr. David
Parsons," by [Benjamin Colman],
[1735] |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman to Jonathan Belcher about complying with
his request for copies of correspondence, with Belcher's reply,
[1735] |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] (Boston) to Samuel Holden
about the settlement of land ownership at South Kingston, R.I., and current
rates of exchange,
6 Jan. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to Jacob Mitchell and Joseph
Chandler of the church at North Yarmouth offering advice about the dismissal of
Ammi R. Cutler because of his irregular marriage and the birth of his child,
[1735] |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] about a treatise refuting
Jonathan Edwards's book,
[1735] |
| Letter from John Callender (Newport) to Benjamin Colman on literary
matters,
24 Jan. 1735 |
| Letter from Samuel Niles (Braintree) to Benjamin Colman describing a
trip to Rhode Island with Experience Mayhew,
27 Jan. 1735 |
| Letter from Samuel Smith (Aldgate, London) to Benjamin Colman about
providing books for missionaries to the Indians,
29 Jan. 1735 |
| Letter from Nathan Bassett (Charleston, S.C.) to Benjamin Colman
about political matters and news of Charleston,
13 Feb. 1735 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman about the earl
of Egmont's support of the missionaries to the Indians,
13 Feb. 1735 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman to Ebenezer Turell about distributing
funeral gloves,
[27 Mar. 1735] |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman to Ebenezer Turell about preparations
for his daughter's funeral,
[27 Mar. 1735] |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Ebenezer Turell about the
expenses of his daughter's funeral, with a gift for his grandson Samuel,
14 Apr. 1735 |
| Letter from Joseph Seccombe (Fort George) to Benjamin Colman about
his gratitude for a gift of books from England,
22 Apr. 1735 |
| Letter from William Williams (Hatfield) to Benjamin Colman about
church matters and with sympathy on the death of his daughter,
28 Apr. 1735 |
| Letter from Simon Ray, Jr. (Block Island) to Benjamin Colman about
his gratitude for the support of his missionary work at Block Island,
29 Apr. 1735 |
| Letter from Nathaniel Clap to Benjamin Colman with sympathy on his
daughter's death and about his length of service,
18 Apr. 1735 |
| Letter from Nathaniel Stone (Harwich) to Benjamin Colman about his
views on church government,
21 June 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Samuel Holden
congratulating him on his appointment as governor,
30 June 1735; on verso, draft of letter from Benjamin
Colman to Francis Wilks about Samuel Holden's appointment as governor,
[30 June 1735] |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman on matters
related to Joseph Seccombe's mission to the Indians,
26 July 1735 |
| Letter from Samuel Smith to Benjamin Colman about the duty of the
missionaries of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge,
29 July 1735 |
| Memorandum from [Benjamin Colman] to William Cooper and other Boston
ministers about arguments against their attending the church council on the
ordination of Robert Breck at Springfield,
[Aug. 1735] |
| Letter from Robert Wodrow, Jr. (Eastwood, Scotland) to Benjamin
Colman with sympathy on the death of his daughter and on church matters,
8 Aug. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Stephen Williams about
church matters and Robert Breck,
19 Aug. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to William Cooper about the
proposal of the Springfield church to ordain Robert Breck,
19 Aug. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to William Williams about
Robert Breck,
11 Sep. 1735 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (Liverpool) to Benjamin Colman about
furnishing additional funding for Joseph Seccombe's mission to the Indians at
St. George's River,
23 Sep. 1735 |
| Letter from Francis Wilks (London) to Benjamin Colman about Samuel
Holden declining the government appointment as governor and about matters
related to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel,
26 Sep. 1735 |
| Letter from Josiah Smith (Charleston, S.C.) to Benjamin Colman about
the death of Job Parker,
7 Nov. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Samuel Holden
asking for his support in matters coming before the council and about the
currency exchange rates and intestate estates,
12 Nov. 1735 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Gov. John Wanton about
contributing to the relief of those on Block Island,
[20 Nov. 1735] |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Gov. Jonathan Belcher about
retaining Timothy White as minister at Nantucket,
22 Nov. 1735 |
| Letter from William Cooper (Boston) to Benjamin Colman about
deliberations and intrigue at the council of churches regarding the ordination
of Robert Breck,
25 Nov. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to William Cooper about the
reports of ministers' views at the church council regarding the ordination of
Robert Breck,
26 Nov. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Mrs. Gerrish about
Samuel Holden's philanthropy,
28 Nov. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Samuel Holden about
contributing part of his fund to Mrs. Gerrish,
11 Dec. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to William Williams
and Mr. Hopkins about Robert Breck's ordination,
29 Dec. 1735 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to William Cooper about Robert
Breck and ending the controversy of the Hampshire churches,
30 Dec. 1735 |
|
|
| 1736-1738 |
| Memorandum by Benjamin Colman to the Brattle Street Church about
deferring the admittance of Mrs. Holden to communion with the church,
[1736] |
| Letter from Samuel Sewall (Boston) to Benjamin Colman asking him to
write his mother Margaret Mitchell Sewall's obituary, with draft of the
obituary by Colman,
21 Jan. 1736 |
| Letter from Thomas Frink (Rutland) to Benjamin Colman and the
ministers of Boston asking them to solve church differences at Rutland and
Worcester,
21 Jan. 1736 |
| Letter from William Roffey (London) to Benjamin Colman about his
concern for the state of religious indifference in the churches,
3 Mar. 1736 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to [?] about the
dissatisfaction caused by visiting Irish ministers and his faith in the system
of provincial church councils,
17 Mar. 1736 |
| Letter from Daniel Neal (London) to Benjamin Colman on literary
matters,
25 Mar. 1736 |
| Letter from Samuel Niles (Braintree) to Benjamin Colman about
progress with the mission to the Indians at Block Island,
30 Mar. 1736 |
| Letter from Eldad Tupper (Sandwich) to Benjamin Colman and Joseph
Sewall about his son Elisha's work with the Indians and his desire for an
appointment as minister,
24 Apr. 1736 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman acknowledging
his letter and about his government activities,
17 May 1736 |
| Letter from Francis Wilks (London) to Benjamin Colman about matters
related to the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge,
15 June 1736 |
| Letter from William Dummer (Newbury Falls) to Benjamin Colman
thanking him for the gift of books and about the prevalence of sickness at
Newbury Falls,
17 July 1736 |
| Letter from William Cooper to Benjamin Colman about the future of
one of the island ministers,
3 Aug. 1736 |
| Letter from Elisha Tupper (Sandwich) to Benjamin Colman and Joseph
Sewall about his reasons for declining the appointment as missionary to the
Indians by the commissioners for the Society for Propagating Christian
Knowledge,
4 Aug. 1736 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman about matters
related to Indian missions,
8 Oct. 1736 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Isaac Hollis about
his contribution for church purposes and the rate of exchange at Boston,
20 Nov. 1736 |
| Letter from William Williams (Weston) to Benjamin Colman about
collaborating on a manuscript for publication,
25 Nov. 1736 |
| Letter from Joseph Talcott (Hartford) to Benjamin Colman about the
activities of the Indians in Connecticut,
30 Nov. 1736 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman to Mrs. Rowe about his new set of books
on The History of Joseph,
20 Jan. 1737 |
| Letter from [Benjamin Colman] to Samuel Holden about a controversy
between Jeremiah Allen and the collector of North Carolina; on verso, unsigned
deposition related to the matter,
20 Jan. 1737 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] (Boston) to Samuel Holden
about contributions for John Sergeant's work with the Indians and about
Jeremiah Allen's controversy with the North Carolina collector of the port,
25 Jan. 1737 |
| Letter from Mrs. Robert Wodrow [Eastwood, Scotland] to Benjamin
Colman about herself and family matters,
11 Feb. 1737 |
| Letter from Timothy White (Nantucket) to Benjamin Colman about Dr.
Hay's work on the island,
28 Feb. 1737 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman about his views
on the education of women and about Joseph Seccombe's background,
2 Mar. 1737 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman sending books
for Josiah Cotton and Joseph Seccombe, with extracts of letters, written in
Colman's hand, from [Thomas Coram] to Josiah Cotton and Joseph Seccombe about
their gifts of books,
30 Apr. 1737 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Samuel Holden about a
controversy over Rhode Island lands, James MacSparran, and the education of
women,
8 May 1737 |
| Letter from Jonathan Edwards (Northampton) to Benjamin Colman about
the Great Awakening and the decline of religion and political contention at
Northampton,
19 May 1737 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to the Harvard College Board
of Overseers blocking his own and William Cooper's nomination as president and
describing Edward Holyoke's qualifications,
26 May 1737 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman about women's
education, agriculture in Massachusetts, and his theories on New England
inflation,
9 July 1737 |
| Letter from Joseph Torrey (South Kingston) to Benjamin Colman about
the reopening of a lawsuit over ministerial lands and about James MacSparran,
19 Aug. 1737 |
| Letter from John White (Gloucester) to Benjamin Colman about his
finances and asking scholarship aid for his sons,
2 Sep. 1737 |
| Letter from Daniel Corbett, Ebenezer Clark, and Joshua Andrews, on
behalf of the Bellingham church membership, to the New North Church in Boston
about settling matters related to the service,
8 Sep. 1737 |
| Drafts of letters from [Benjamin Colman], on behalf of the ministers
of Boston, to Samuel Holden, William Harris, Isaac Watts, Daniel Neal, John
Guise, and Sir Robert Walpole denying the report in England of their pleasure
at the appointment of Jonathan Belcher as governor, with notation by William
Cooper about further correspondence on the subject,
Nov. 1737 |
| Letter from Albert Dennie to Benjamin Colman about the deceitful
treatment of a woman,
[1738] |
| Letter from Albert Dennie (Boston) to Benjamin Colman about setting
up housekeeping,
16 May 1738 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman about back
wages due to the family of Samuel Tucket of Connecticut after Tucket's death
and the Mason family's role in redressing land injustices to the Connecticut
Indians,
21 Sep. 1738 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman about his
attempts to establish a foundling hospital at London,
22 Sep. 1738, enclosed with circular letter soliciting
contributions for the hospital, signed by Thomas Coram,
22 Sep. 1738, and copy of letter, in Coram's hand, from
Vere Beauclerk (Drayton) to Thomas Coram about contributions,
17 June 1738 |
|
|
| 1739-1740 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to John Angier about
Johnson's suspension from the Bridgewater church,
18 Jan. 1739 |
| Letter from William Hooper to Benjamin Colman about the unfitness of
Mrs. Holden for admission to the communion of the church at Bridgewater,
2 Mar. 1739 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to William Hooper about
admitting Mrs. Holden to communion in his church,
3 Mar. 1739 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to William Hooper asking him to
attend a meeting regarding the admission of Mrs. Holden to church communion,
[4 Mar. 1739] |
| Letter from John Callender, Jr. (Newport) to [?] about the reception
of Thomas Prince's chronology,
4 Apr. 1739 |
| Letter from Robert Pearsall (Warminster) to Benjamin Colman about
literary matters and George Whitefield's sermons and following,
25 Apr. 1739 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Joseph Torrey about
raising a fund for the defense of the ministerial lands lawsuit,
14 July 1739; on verso, draft of letter from Benjamin
Colman to Thomas Prince about a subscription fund for the defense of the Rhode
Island ministerial lands lawsuit,
14 July 1739 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Joseph Talcott about his
willingness to introduce Jeremiah Allen to his London friends,
16 July 1739 |
| Copy of poem: "On viewing the design for rebuilding Hampstead
House...," Latin verses written on viewing the designs for the restoration of
Lord Craven's estate near Newbury, Berkshire, written by [Shirley], sent by
[Joseph Standen],
Aug. 1739 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Isaac Watts
praising his writings, about church news at Boston, and about the illnesses of
Elisha Williams and Samuel Mather,
13 Aug. 1739 |
| Letter from Hannah Adams (Annapolis Royal) to Benjamin Colman asking
for help for her son from the ministers of Boston,
16 Aug. 1739 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman about his
foundling hospital and the Mason family's ingratitude for English help for the
Connecticut Indians,
24 Aug. 1739 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman proposing
financial help for New Englanders stranded in England,
3 Sep. 1739 |
| Letter from Jonathan Belcher to Benjamin Colman about having Thomas
Prince's sermon bound for his family archives,
27 Sep. 1739, with draft of letter and poem from Colman to
Belcher,
28 Sep. 1739 |
| Letter from Jonathan Belcher to Benjamin Colman containing a
testament on his recovered health,
[30 Sep. 1739] |
| Letter from Abigail Colman Dennie (Boston) to her father Benjamin
Colman asking him to accept her husband,
19 Oct. 1739 |
| Letter from William Tompson (Scarborough) to Benjamin Colman on
ecclesiastical matters,
30 Oct.-3 Nov. 1739 |
| Letter from [Benjamin Colman] (Boston) to Francis Wilks on economic
matters related to the province,
19 Nov. 1739 |
| Letter from Nathaniel Stone (Harwich) to Benjamin Colman on
ecclesiastical matters,
30 Nov. 1739 |
| Letter from Thomas Smith (Falmouth) to Benjamin Colman about church
matters related to the Irish ministers,
4 Dec. 1739, enclosed with letter from William Tompson
(Scarborough) to Thomas Smith about circulating Colman's statement,
21 Nov. 1739 |
| Memorandum by Benjamin Colman of the fund administered for Joseph
Torrey's defense of ownership of the ministerial lands at Rhode Island, giving
the balance to Thomas Prince,
14 Dec. 1739 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman and Joseph Sewall to Hugh Adams
about publication of a hymn,
[1740] |
| Drafts of letters from Benjamin Colman to Isaac Chauncy about his
writing and theological matters,
[1740] |
| Copy of letter from George Whitefield (Savannah) on theological
matters, in Benjamin Colman's hand,
24 Jan. 1740 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Charles Chauncey
about meeting with him and other ministers regarding church matters,
12 Feb. 1740 |
| Letter from William Hooper (Boston) to Benjamin Colman about his
controversial sermon,
13 Feb. 1740 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to William Hooper on
theological matters,
13 Feb. 1740 |
| Poem: "The transport, to Mr. Pope, on looking again into his Essay
on Man," by Benjamin Colman,
14 Feb. 1740 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to William Hooper on
theological matters,
15 Feb. 1740 |
| Letter from William Tompson (Scarborough) to Samuel Kneeland about
printing Benjamin Colman's letter to Mr. Rutherford,
15 Mar. 1740 |
| Letter from Samuel Moody (York) to Benjamin Colman thanking him for
a charitable gift for his son,
19 Mar. 1740 |
| Letter from Nathaniel Stone (Harwich) to Benjamin Colman about
church matters,
27 May 1740 |
| Letter from William Williams (Hatfield) to Benjamin Colman about the
effect of George Whitefield's teaching, Methodists, and other church matters,
1 July 1740 |
| Memorandum by Benjamin Colman on George Whitefield,
Sep. 1740 |
| Copy of order by the Massachusetts General Court in regard to the
sermon by Benjamin Colman on Samuel Holden, attested by Simon Frost,
4 Sep. 1740 |
| Letter from Thomas Coram (London) to Benjamin Colman about funds for
his foundling hospital at London and about his wife's death,
13 Sep. 1740 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to William Harris, Isaac Watts,
Daniel Neal, and John Guise describing George Whitefield's first visit to
Boston and the reception to his preaching there,
3 Oct. 1740 |
| Testimonial of Boston ministers certifying Robert Abercromby's
accreditation to preach,
22 Oct. 1740 |
| Letter from Joseph Lord (Chatham) to Benjamin Colman about his
recommendation to Col. Pinkney and the effect of the Whitefield revival,
31 Oct. 1740 |
| Letter from Henry Newman (London) to Benjamin Colman about securing
Sir Richard Ellis's library for Harvard,
20 Nov. 1740 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Sir Richard Ellis asking him
to give his library to Harvard College,
1 Dec. 1740 |
|
|
| 1741-1806 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to Gov. Belcher about
jurisdiction over monies appropriated for military fortification,
26 Jan. 1741 |
| Letter from Jonathan Edwards (Northampton) to Benjamin Colman about
the Great Awakening and the revival of religious spirit,
9 Mar. 1741 |
| Letter from Jonathan Parsons (Lyme) to Benjamin Colman about the
Great Awakening and the revival of religious interest,
27 Apr. 1741 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Dr. Avery about Gov.
Belcher's and Gov. Shirley's support of church positions,
9 June 1741 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to Gov. William Shirley about
Samuel Holden's legacy to New England,
24 May 1741 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to the members of the North
Church, Boston, about the decision of the church council on the dispute between
Joshua Gee and Samuel Mather,
17 July 1741 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman], on behalf of the ministers
of Boston, to Joshua Gee and Samuel Mather about the church council's advice on
the controversy at the Second Church of Christ, Boston,
19 June 1741 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman], on behalf of the ministers
of Boston, to Gov. William Shirley pledging their support,
17 Aug. 1741 |
| Letter from Henry Newman (London) to Benjamin Colman about Jonathan
Belcher's activities,
16 Sep. 1741 |
| Letter from Albert Dennie to Benjamin Colman asking permission to
live with him,
17 Oct. 1741 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Edward Holyoke
about building a chapel at Harvard College as a gift of the Holden family,
9 Dec. 1741 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to George Whitefield about his
writing, his work in the church, and his popularity and influence,
[1742] |
| Draft of report by [Benjamin Colman] of the convention of ministers
of Boston and Charlestown admonishing James Davenport of Southold, Long Island,
30 June 1742 |
| Letter from Jonathan Parsons (Lyme) to Benjamin Colman about his
reception at Boston and theological matters,
29 Dec. 1742 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to the publishers of the
Boston Gazette about libels, with extract from
the Life of the Bishop of Peterborough for
publication,
[1743] |
| Will of Benjamin Colman, witnessed by Ebenezer Hartshorn, Thomas
Johnston, Jr., and Jeremiah Osborne,
15 Jan. 1743 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to Gov. William Shirley about
scheduling prayer days in the Boston churches,
17 Jan. 1743 |
| Letter from Thomas Skinner to Benjamin Colman about the Great
Awakening and the separatist movement disrupting the churches,
14 Feb. 1743 |
| Letter from John Sergeant (Stockbridge) to Benjamin Colman about his
scheme for Indian education,
1 Aug. 1743 |
| Letter from Abigail Colman Dennie to her friend Lucinda about a
speech to the ladies of Boston and about her husband Albert Dennie,
25 Aug. 1743 |
| Letter from Joseph Parsons (Bradford) to Ebenezer Turell about his
positions taken at a church council at Concord,
20 Sep. 1743 |
| Incomplete memorandum by [Benjamin Colman] about Newbury church
matters related to separatists,
[Oct. 1743] |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to Benjamin Tappan about the
activities of separatists from his church in Newbury and about the revival
movement,
29 Oct. 1743 |
| Notes by [Benjamin Colman] on William Cooper's last illness and
death,
11-13 Dec. 1743 |
| Title page of sermon preached by Benjamin Colman on William Cooper's
illness,
12 Dec. 1743 |
| Letter of condolence from Margaret Alford (Charlestown) to Benjamin
Colman on the death of William Cooper,
19 Dec. 1743 |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to George Whitefield about
church dissension and the Great Awakening,
14 Jan. 1745 |
| Letter from Jeremiah Condy (Boston) to Benjamin Colman about lending
him The History of the English Baptists,
8 Nov. 1744 |
| Letter from Joseph Standen (Speen) to Benjamin Colman about civil
and church unrest,
6 Apr. 1745 |
| Letter from Eliza Foye (Boston) to Benjamin Colman asking prayers
for her son,
25 May 1745 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman to Rev. Williams about his health,
14 Dec. 1745 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Dr. Sewall and others about
Jeremiah Allen's proposal on dissenting churches,
26 May 1746 |
| Letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to Samuel Johnson about his
system of ethics,
2 June 1746 |
| Poem: Lines by [Benjamin Colman] on the occasion of Jonathan Belcher
being made captain general of the Jersies,
[1747] |
| Draft of letter from [Benjamin Colman] to the editor of the
Gazette about countering criticism of New
England institutions and sending an address made by him to King George II in
1727 for publication,
17 Jan. 1747 |
| Letter from William Shirley (Boston) to Benjamin Colman swapping
publications of sermons and discourses,
17 Feb. 1746 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman (Boston) to the members of the
West Church about the ordination of Jonathan Mayhew,
June 1747 |
| Draft of letter from Benjamin Colman to John Webb asking him to
allow George Whitefield to preach in his church,
25 July 1747 |
| Minutes of lawsuit over illegally cutting trees in Raynham,
Oct. 1763 |
| Index of Colman papers made by T. A., Jr., with extract from the
records concerning their gift to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1793
by Peter Thacher,
Nov. 1806 |
Benjamin Colman papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.
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