Baptist Letters in the National Library of Wales

Besides the letters of Benjamin Flower and Eliza Gould Flower, below are a group of letters that also belong to the collections of the National Library of Wales and are transcribed on this site. Included are notes on several other collections of letters housed in the Library, as well as a lengthy list of Unitarian ministers and their locations taken from NLW 13508C. 

Letters:

Shute Barrington, Bishop of Durham, at Cavendish Square, [London], to John Ryland, Jr., Bristol, 4 March 1805. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

David Brown (1763-1812), Chaplain in Calcutta, Bengal, to John Ryland, Bristol, 3 September 1806. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Claudius Buchanan (1765-1815), Richmond Terrace, near London, to John Ryland, [in London], Friday Evening, 6 January [1809]. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. 

John Evans, London, to Joseph Stennett (I), London, 28 August 1707. NLW MS. 11095E, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

John Foster, Bourton, to John Ryland, Bristol, 20 May 1812.  NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Andrew Fuller, 56 Lothbury, London, to [John Ryland, Jr., Bristol], 16-19 January 1809. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Joseph Hughes, Thornbury, to William Tarn, 10 Earl Street, Blackfriars, London, 30 October 1822. NLW MS. 3294E: Misc. Letters, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Thomas Langdon, Leeds, to Benjamin Thomas, Wellington, Somerset, 5 March 1795. MS. 7164D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. 

Claudius James Rich (1787-1820), Alexandria, Egypt, to John Ryland, Bristol, 22 May 1806. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. 

John Ryland, [Bristol], to Andrew Fuller, [Kettering], 14 March 1815. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

John Ryland, [Bristol], to Andrew Fuller, [location not specified], 15 June 1814. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

John Ryland, [Bristol], to the Emperor of Russia [a copy, undated, without an address page]. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

John Ryland, Jr's, Diploma from Rhode Island College for an honorary D.D. dated 5 September 1792, signed by George Benson, Jonathan Maxcy, David Howell, and Benjamin West. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Joseph Stennett (I), London, to Mrs. Stennett, [Wallingford], 29 July 1707.  NLW MS. 11095E, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Joseph Stennett (1692-1748), Exeter, to Thomas Holder, Leominster, 25 September 1721. NLW MS. 11095E, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Joseph Stennett (II), Fetter Lane, London, to Daniel Booth, Esqr., Devonshire Square, London, 8 February 1748/9. Text: NLW MS. 11095E, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Samuel Stennett, London, to Benjamin Francis, Horsley, 9 August 1768.  NLW MS. 11095E, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Joshua Toulmin, Taunton, to John Sturch,[3] Isle of Wight, 8 May 1775. NLW 13566C, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth,  fol. 1.

Gilbert Wakefield, Hackney to unidentified correspondent (but someone living near Bristol), 12 January 1791. NLW 13566C, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

William Ward, Madeira, to John Ryland, Bristol, 18 June 1821. NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Other Collections Worth Noting:

MS7163-66, Autograph Letters: 364 autograph letters and copies and drafts of letters of the period 1787-1930.  Many  addressed to Daniel Jones, Benjamin Jones, Benjamin Thomas (Baptist minister at Culmstock, Devon, and nephew of Joshua Thomas, Leominster--concerning Baptist issues, including education. Several letters here of Christmas Evans, much of them in Welsh; many of the letters in this collection addressed to Daniel Jones, Baptist minister at Liverpool.  Letter by Andrew Gunton Fuller to Roberts, 20 April 1839 (f. 72); letters also to a Mr.  David Roberts, another minister in Liverpool who runs a bookshop as well at 1 Stanhope Street, Liverpool and pastors the Stanhope church.  Mr. Humphreys and a Mr. Hughes were his deacons (f. 261).

MS. 7164D/f. 125: a letter by Daniel Jones, taken down by S. Hope of Liverpool, a banker, to the Committee of the Baptist Building Fund, dated 5 October 1831, concerning the Carnaevon Chapel in North Wales, of which he was a trustee; the church was in great financial straights and he was seeking assistance from the Fund or else the church would be brought down; then strangely this letter.  Numerous letters of various Evans’s here; also Thomas’s, Williams’s, Rees’s, and Jones’s.

NLW 13595D--History and records of George’s Meeting, Colyton (Unitarian), 1669-1939. Several letters to and from Joshua Toulmin and J. Brettland of Exeter, c. 1790. 

NLW MS. 9370C.  Letters of transfer of membership of John Griffith from Aberduar to Llwyndafydd, signed by Timothy Thomas and others, 6 September 1789.

NLW MS. 10350C.  A brief account of the origin of the Christ Church English Baptist Church at Gadlys, Aberdare, by W. Bugent.

NLW MS. 10787C. Capel-Y-Ffin Baptist Church Register, 1737-1921. 

NLW MS. 9108-9D. The Ilston Book, facsimile copy of the two volume work, containing records of the earliest Baptist church in Wales formed at Ilston, near Swansea, in 1649 by John Miles; also includes accounts of the church in Swansea, MA, which he founded in 1667.

NLW MS. 10440C. Letters addressed to H. Cernyw Williams by Joseph Angus, London, 1892; J. H.  Cooke, editor of The Freeman, 1890-93; James Culross, Briistol, 1887; E. B. Underhill, London, 1892, and more.

NLW MS. 10500D.  Evan Owen Correspondence, 1877-1910, on matters relating to Baptist churches and organizations, including the BMS; correspondents include A. H. Baynes.

NLW MS. 10491B. Notes by Evan Owen on Welsh Baptist ministers in Bristol, with a general account of the Welsh baptist cause in the town.

NLW MS. 10602: William J.  Parry papers--transcript made at Bristol Baptist College.

NLW. MS. 13515C:  Minister’s Biographies.

NLW 13508C: Lists of Ministers: names of ministers and dates of their ministries at various Unitarian meeting houses in Great Britain, in alphabetical order by location. Included among the names and locations are the following:

Ainsworth, Cockney Moor: Thomas Barnes, 1768-1780; Joseph Bealey, 1781-86; John Kings, 1786-1790; Joseph Bealey, 1791-1813; Jacob Brettell, 1814-16.

Atherstone, Song Street: William Buckley, 1760-62; Richard Wright, 1765-94; Thomas Davis, ?-1820.

Barnstaple, Castle Meeting: Benjamin Stanard, 1777-97.

Billingshurst (General Baptist): William Turner, 1754-72; John Jeffery, ?-1815.

Bradwell, Old Chapel: John Boult, 1773-; Daniel Gronow, 1783-; David Evans, 1785-90; Astley Meanly, -1793; William Allard, 1793-98; Richard Nayler.

Bridgnorth: William Maurice (from Leominster), 1767-97; William Evans, 1798-1803; Benjamin Rigby Davis, 1803; David Davies, 1804-07.

Bury, Bank Street: John Hughes, 1771-1803; William Allard, 1803-31.

Bury, St. Edmunds: William Lincolne, 1757-92; Evan Johns, 1792-1800 (left for Worthington, CT); Nathaniel Phillippo, 1801-02; John Grundy, 1804-07; John Rudd, 1807-09; Thomas Madge, 1810-11; William Scargill, 1812-32.

Canterbury, Black Friars: Sampson Kingsford, 1771-1821; John Farrin, 1791-1838.

Chester, Matthew Henry’s Chapel: John Chidlaw, 1751-98; William Thomas, 1798-1808; James Lyons, 1808-13; William Johnston Bakewell, 1815-26; Robert Brook Apsland, 1826-32.

Plymouth, Freville Street: John Reynell, 1762-84; Thomas Watson, 1785-88; Thomas Porter, 1789-94; John Kentish, 1794-95; John Jones, 1795-98; John Tingecombe, 1798-1806; John Jones, 1807-12; Israel Worsley, 1813-31.

Portsmouth, High Street: Thomas Wren, 1757-87; Russell Scott, 1788-1833; Henry Hawkes, 1833-72.

Preston: Richard Bolton, 1775-81; William Tattersall, 1782-88; David Evans, 1790-94?; Thomas Rees, 1794?-1800; William Manning Walker, 1803-07; John Rudd, 1809-12; thomas Crompton Holland, 1814-17; Rober Cree, 1817-27; James Wallace, 1827-30.

Rawtenstall, Bank Street: Richard Whittaker, 1760-80; John Ingham, 1780-1833.

Rochdale: William Hassall, 1773-76; John Cooke, 1776-78; Thomas Threlkeld, 1778-1806; William Marshall, 1806-10; richard Astley, 1810-12; Peter Wright, 1813-14; Gilbert William Elliott, 1814-26.

Sheffield, Upper Chapel: Benjamin Naylor, 1780-1805; Nathaniel Philippo, 1805-37.

Shrewsbury, High Street: Joseph Fownes, 1748-89; John Rowe, 1787-98; Arthur Aikin, 1793-95; George Augustus Case, 1798-31.

Sidmouth, Upper High Street: John Hogg, 1759-71; William Chapman, 1772-78; Isaac Smith, 1778-84; William Hughes, 1784-97; Edmund Butcher, 1798-1820; Nicholas Samuel Heinekeen, 1825-30.

Stockport, St. Peter’s Gate: Joseph Clegg, -1750; John Milne, 1750-60; Joseph Booth, 1761-81; James Wilson, 1785-92; William Allard, 1793; Benjamin Davis, 1794; Edward Gibson, 1794-99; Edward Higginson, 1801-10; Samuel Parker, 1811-34.

Stourbridge, High Street: Benjamin Carpenter, 1778-1795; Herbert Jenkins, 1796-1806; James Scott, 1807-27.

Taunton, Mary Street: Joseph Jeffries, 1717-46; Richard Harrison, 1746-64; Joshua Toulmin, 1764-1803; Job David, 1803-08; Henry Davies, 1810-27.

Warminster: Nathanael Andrews, 1782-94; Thomas Tremlett, 1795-180; Theophilus Browne, 1800-07.

Warrrington, Cairo Street: John Seddon, 1747-70; William Enfield, 1770-85; Joseph Bealey, 1786-91; William Broadbent, 1792-1822.

Worcester: Thomas Urwick, 1764-78; Thomas Belsham, 1778-81; Joseph Gummer, 1781-91; George Osborne, 1784-1812.

Warwick, High Street: Benjamin Kingsbury, 1786-89; William Field, 1790-1843.

Wem: John Houghton, 1782-88; William Hazlitt, 1788-1813; James Whitehead, 1814-17; Thomas Toller, 1817-20.

Whitechurch: Thomas Jenkins, 1783-1815.

Wolverhampton, Snow Hill: Samuel Griffiths, 1782-1804.

Yarmouth, Old Meeting: Michael Maurice, 1787-92; Thomas Martin, 1792-97.

Yeovil, Vicarage Street Chapel: James Marshall, 1778-81; John Howel, 1783-93; Sameul Fawcett, 1801-16.

York, Saviourgate: Newcom Cappe, 1756-1800; Charles Wellbeloved, 1791-1858.

Hinckley, Great Meeting: John Jennings, 1722-23; Robert Dawson, 1725-51; Nathaniel Whitte, 1755-63; Thomas Porter, 1765-72; John Phillipo, 1772-78; homas Burkitt, 1779-83; William Severn, 1783-95; John Lane, 1796-1807; Herbert Jenkins, 1808-11; Joseph Bull Bristowe, 1811-17; Christmas Newson Saint, 1817-20; Evan Jones, 1820-24; Samuel Allard, 1824-30; George S Key, 1831-32; Charles Case Nutter, 1833-42.

Saffron Walden church founded in 1711; new chapel at Hill Street opened in August 1792: John Clark, 1756-?; Thomas Barron, 1772-92; Stephen Philpot, 1791-1821; John Cundill, 1822-24; John Omer Squier, 1825-32; John Marten, 1835-64.

Rotherham: Samuel Moult, 1744-76; Josiah Townsend, 1777-87; William Allard, 1787-93; Thomas Oliver, 1795-1816; Jacob Brettell?, 1816-59.

Honiton: John Ball, 1705-45; John Rutter, 1747-69; George Heatth, 1770-?

Hull, Park Street: John Beverley, 1757-1812; William Oke Manning, 1800-05; William Severn, 1806-13; George Kenwick, 1815-20; Goerge See, 1820-21.

Kendal, Market Place Chapel: Caleb Rotheram, 1716-52; Richard Simpson, 1751-56; Caleb Rotheram, jun, 1756-96; John Harrison, 1796-1833. [Harrison was at Lancaster, St. Nicholas Street Chapel from 1781-96.]

Kenilworth, Rosemary Hill: Samuel Philipo, 1735-39; Josiah Corrie, 1755-1800; Thomas Burkitt, 1804-16; John Ludd Fenner, 1816-18?; Samuel Wood, 1819-26; William Field, 1826-48.

Kidderminster, New Meeting: Robert Gentleman, 1784-95; William Severn, 1798-1806; John Sane, 1806-09; John B Smith, 1811-12; Richard Fry, 1813-35.

King’s Lynn: Thomas Finch, 1811-17; Benjamin Treleaven, 1818-21; Richard Smith, 1821-22; William Selby, 1824-35; John Wright, 1836-42.

Leeds, Mill Hill: Joseph Cappe, 1730-48; Thomas Walker, 1748-63; Nathaniel White, 1763-66; Joseph Priestley, 1767-73; William Wood, 1773-1808; Thomas Jervis, 1808-18; Joseph Hutton, 1818-35.

Leicester, Great Meeting: James Watson, 1729-41; Hugh Worthington, 1741-97; Robert Jacomb, 1793-1803; Charles Berry, 1803-59.

Exeter, James’s Meeting: Walter Furze, 1719-24; James Green, 1724-49; Stephen Towgood, 1743-60; Micaijah Towgood, 1750-60.

Exeter, Bow Meeting: Abraham Tozer, 1755-94.

Exeter, Mint Meeting: William West, 1744-61; David Williams, 1761-70; Joseph Bretland, 1770-72; John Hogg, 1772-89; Joseph Bretland, 1789-93; Theophilus Edwards, 1794-1810.

Exeter, George’s Meeting: Stephen Towgood, 1760-67; Micaijah Towgood, 1760-82; James Manning, 1776-1831; Timothy Kenrick, 1784-1804; Lant Carpenter, 1805-1817; William Hincks, 1817-22; Henry Acton, 1822-43.

Trowbridge, Conigre Chapel: William Waldron, 1743-94; Thomas Twining, 1794-99; Daniel Jones, 1800-10; William Jones, 1811-12; John Gisbourne, 1813-22; Richard Wright, 1822-27.

Bridgwater, Christ Church Chapel: Matthew Towgood, 1747-55; Thomas Watson, 1755-93; John Howell, 1793-1803; Henry Howson?, 1805-15; John Tingcombe, 1815-26.

Manchester, Cross Street Chapel: Joseph Mothershead, 1717-71; Joshua Jones, 1725-40; John Seddon, 1741-69; Robert Gore, 1770-79; Ralph Harrison, 1771-1810; Thomas Barnes, 1780-1810; John Grundy, 1811-24; John Robberds, 1811-54; John Hugh Worthingon, 1825-27; William Gaskell, 1828-54. 

Manchester, Mosely Street (opened 1789): William Hawkes, 17889-1820; John James Taylor, 1820-36.

Bolton, Bank Street: Thomas Dixon, 1752-54; Philip Holland, 1755-89; William Hawkes, 1785-89; John Holland, 1789-1820; Noah Jones, 1821-23; Franklin Barker, 1823-64.

Birmingham, New Meeting (est.  1732): Samuel Blyth, 1747-91; William Hawkes, 1754-80; Joseph Priestley, 1780-91; John Edwards, 1791-1802; David Jones, 1792-95; John Kentish, 1803-53; Joshua Toulmin, 1804-15; James Yates, 1817-26; John Reynell Wreford, 1826-31; Samuel Bache, 1832-62.

Birmingham, Old Meeting (1686): William Howell, 1746-70; Samuel Clark, 1756-69; Radcliffe Scholefield, 1772-99; Nathaniel Nickols, 1779-84; John Coaes, 1785-1801; Robert Kell, 1801-21; John Corrie, 1817-19; Stephen Weaver Browne, 1819-21; Hugh Hutton, 1822-51.

Bideford: Samuel Lavington, 1752-?

Bewdley, High Street: John Reynolds, 1745-49; John Adams, 1750-73; John Jones (b. 1744), 1768-1824; Evan Jones, 1824-58.

Bath, Frog Lane Meeting: John Frank, 1753-80; Edward Armstrong, 1780-89; David Jardine, 1789-95.

Bath, Trim Street Chapel: David Jardine, 1795-97; Thomas Broadhurst, 1797-1809; Joseph Hunter, 1809-33; Jerome Murch, 1833-46; Robert Wallace, 1846-50.

Alcester, Old Protestant Meeting House: George Broadhurst, 1773?; Benjamin Evans, 1774-85; Benjamin Maurice, 1785-1814; Christmas Newton Saint, 1816-17; Thomas Warren, 1834-64. 

Newcastle-on-Tyne: Samuel Lowthion, 1760-80; Samuel Hood, 1780-82; William Turner, 1782-1841. 

Portsmouth, St. Thomas Street: John Sturch, 1742; Donald Custen, 1761; John Mills, 1771-1812; John Kingsford, assistant, 1800-01; Joseph Brent, 1814-33.

Bristol, Lewin’s Mead: William Richards, 1730-68; Thomas Wright, 1751-97; John Prior Estlin, 1770-1817; John Rowe, 1797-1832; Lant Carpenter, 1817-40; Robert Brook Aspland, 1832-36.

Bradford, Chapel Lane: John Smith, 1753-68; John Dean, 1768-1813; Henry Turner, 1813-16; Nicholas Thomas Hieneken, 1817-40.

Newport, Isle of Wight, High Street: John Sturch, 1751-94; Gavriel Watts, 1794-1800; Robert Aspland, 1801-05; John Tingcombe, 1806-15; Benjamin Goodier, 1816-17; William Hughes, 1817-18; William Stevens, 1818-23; Edmund Kell, 1823-53.

Norwich, Octagon Chapel: John Hoyle, 1757-75; Robert Alderson, 1776-86; George Morgan, 1776-85; William Enfield, 1785-97; Pendlebury Houghton, 1787-1808; Theophilus Browne, 1809-11; Pendlebury Houghton, 1811-12; Thomas Madge, 1811-25; Edward Tagart, 1825-27; William Johnstone Bakewell, 1828-38.

Nottingham, High Pavement: John Milne, 1759-72; Thomas Bruckshaw, 1769?-72; John Simpson, 1772-77; George Walker, 1774-98; Nathaniel Philipo, 1778-85; Nicholas Clayton, 1785-95; William Walkers, 1794-1806; robert Kell, 1799-1801; James Tayler, 1802-31; John Grundy, 1806-11; William Scargill, 1811; richard Fry, 1812-12; Joseph Hutton, 1813-16; Henry Turner, 1817-22; Benjamin Carpenter, 1822-60.

Liverpool, Ancient Chapel of Toxteth: William Harding, 1737-76; Hugh Anderson, 1777-1827; John Porter, 1827-29; Charles Wicksfeed, 1831-35; Henry Giles, 1835-40; John Robberds, 1840-66.

Liverpool, Key Street Chapel: Philip Taylor, 1767-77; John Yates, 1777-91.

Liverpool, Paradise Street Chapel: John Yates, 1791-1823; Pendlebury Houghton, 1812-23; John Grundy, 1824-35; James Martineau, 1832-48; Joseph Henry Hutton, 1848-49.

Liverpool, Hope Street Chapel: James Martineau, 1849-57; William Henry Channing, 1857-61.

Liverpool, Octagon Chapel, Temple Court (1762-76): Nicholas Clayton, 1763-76; Hezekiah Kirkpatrick, 1763-76.

London, Essex Street, Notting Hill Gate: Theophilus Lindsey, 1778-93; John Disney, 1793-1805; Thomas Belsham, 1805-29; Thomas Madge, 1825-59; James Ham, 1859-83.

London, New Gravel Pit: Richard Price, 1770-91; Joseph Priestley, 1791-94; Thomas Belsham, 1794-1805; Robert Aspland, 1805-45; Thomas Sadler, 1843-46; John Boucher, 1847-52; Thomas Marshall, 1853-57; Robert Brook Aspland, 1858-69.

London, Islington, Unity Church: Edward Pickard, 1758-78; Thomas Taylor, 1778-1811; Joseph Barrett, 1811-23; John Hoppus, 1826-32; Jomes Yates, 1832-35; Joseph Hutton, 1835-52; Joseph Hutton, 1835-52.

London, Little Portland Street: Edward Tagart, 1833-58; John James Tayler, 1859-60; James Martineau, 1859-73.

London, Stamford Street, Blackfriars: Edmund Calamy, 1703-32; Smauel Say, 1734-43; Obadiah Hughes, 1743-51; Andrew Kippis, 1753-95; Thomas Jarvis, 1796-1808; Pendelbury Houghton, 1809-11; William Goode, 1812-14.

London, St. Thomas’s, Southwark: Henry Read, 1726-74; Abraham Rees, 1774-84; Thomas Jervis, 1785-96; James Tayler, 1796-1801; John Kentish, c. 1802; John Coates, 1803-13; Thomas Rees, 1813-23.

London, Stoke Newington Green: Hugh Worthington, 1738-42; Richard Price, 1756-1770; Thomas Amory, 1770-74; Joseph Towers ?; John Kentish, 1800; James Lindsay, 1787-1805; Rochemont Barbauld, 1802-?; Thomas Rees, 1808-13; James Gilchrist, 1813-28; James Phillipo, 1828-?; John Howard Ryland, 1829-32.

Notes

[1] Most likely John Morton, who later served at Curriers’ Hall.

[2] John Evans (1680-1730) was an Independent minister at Wrexham (1702-04) and at Hand Alley Meeting House in Westminster, 1704-1716.

[3] John Sturch was the minister at the General Baptist meeting in High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, from 1751 to his death in 1794. His father and grandfather were both General Baptist ministers in London and Crediton, and his son, William Sturch (1753-1838), was an ironmonger in London and never a minister, but nevertheless published many religious tracts, including Apeleutherus; or an Effort to attain Intellectual Freedom (1799).

[4] John Edwards (1768-1808) was the minister at the Gateacre Unitarian chapel frm 1787 to 1791. He had previously studied at Daventry Academy in the 1780s. He succeeded Joseph Priestley at the New Meeting in Birmingham in 1791 and published a number of controversial pamphlets. The work mentioned above is most likely Edwards’s Letters to the British Nation (1791) concerning the riots in Birmingham aimed at Priestley and the Dissenters.

[5] Probably A Seasonable and Salutary Word, humbly offered to the wise in heart, through the re-publication of a late tract (London: M. Lewis, 1774), by the Moravian minister and writer, Francis Okely (1719-94).

[6] Barrington often signed his letters in this manner.