Archibald McLean, Edinburgh, to John Brown, Wigan, 10 June 1795.

Dear B.r

  I just now received yours, and have sent you 2 Copies of the Importe of Baptism. I have published nothing of late.

  M.r Jones wrote me lately from Liverpool, and informed me of some addition to the church at Chester; but said nothing of the sickness which has been among them. I hope they are all now recovered; and I am also glad to hear that you are so far recovered. We have lately been deprived of three of our members by death. One of them was killed by the fall of a wall, while he was assisting in extinguishing a fire which happened last week. He has left a wife and two children. He was a most amiable christian, and is regretted by every body that knew him. These instances of our mortality ought to have a suitable effect upon us, that we may so number our days as to apply our hearts unto wisdom. The rest of us are much in our ordinary way, tho’ never all well at once. I have enjoyed a pretty good state of health since I saw you last. I hope you and the rest at Wigan are well, and continuing in unity and love. Mr Jones writes me that he could wish to have you all settled at Liverpool, if providence should favour it in other respects. This would surely contribute to your comfort & edification.

  Give my love to the brethren with you, and believe that I am Dear Br

                                                               Yours with sincere affection

                                                                             Arch.d McLean

Edin.r   June 10th 1795

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 77-78 (annotated version); also Eng. MS. 370, fol. 79, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Archibald McLean (1733-1812), a leader among the Scotch Baptists. McLean’s A Defence of Believer-Baptism, in Opposition to Infant Sprinkling:  In a Letter to a Friend. Being an Answer to a Pamphlet, entitled, Remarks on Scripture Texts Relating to Infant Baptism, which MeLean published himself in Edinburgh in 1777 and was later republished in 1800 by the Liverpool publisher and bookseller Wiiliam Jones (1762-1846). A number of Browns figure in the early Baptist history of Wigan. This particular Mr. Brown was involved with a group of believers who had been meeting with an Independent congregation in Wigan but had recently, possibly due (as this letter suggests) to the influence of McLean, developed Baptist convictions. In 1796 this group would begin meeting in a room in Brick Kiln Lane and, with the encouragement of John Hirst of Bacup and James Hargreaves of Bolton, organized into a Baptist church later that year. They would not have a pastor until 1803 (William Wrathall of Skipton), at which time a chapel was built in Lord Street. Later the church moved to Scarisbrick Street, where it remains to this day. A John Brown in Wigan who was listed as a bookseller in Mill Gate in Holden’s 1811 Directory may have been a relation of the above corresponent. For more on the Browns of Wigan, see David Brady, ed., New World and Old: Letters written 1821-1832 by Samuel Harris, settler on the Ohio River, to John Brown, bookseller of Wigan, Lancashire, at https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Docs/PDF/Resident/Leisure/Museums-and-archives/archives/Harris-BrownLettersWLCTWALS.pdf. See also Holden’s Triennial Directory (2 vols. London: W. Holden, 1811);