Guide to the Jonathan Woodman diary, April 5, 1848- July 13, 1848

Historical Note

Jonathan Woodman, a Freewill Baptist pastor and evangelist, was born March 27, 1798. He was one of nine individuals who established The Morning Star, the denomination's newspaper, in 1825, and he eventually became a proprietor, trustee, and corporator of that printing establishment. In 1828 he gave the opening prayer at the first General Conference. He was the first president of the Anti-Slavery Society, 1843; president of the Home Mission Society, 1840; and president of the Foreign Mission Society, 1848-1850. He sat for two terms on the Vermont Legislature. In addition, he was minister in various Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts parishes. His first wife, Charlotte Jackson, died in 1832. His second wife, Mercy Eaton, died in 1877. He had four children. He died in January 1888.

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Scope and Content Note

In 1847 Rev. Jonathan Woodman and Rev. Eli Noyes were elected by the Freewill Baptist General Conference as delegates to the General Baptists in England. In 1848, Woodman traveled to England. This diary was written by Woodman during his travels through England, beginning with his departure from East Boston on April 5, 1848. Woodman met with Rev. Jabez Burns and Rev. Joseph Goadby, and visited several General Baptist churches in London. He also attended Baptist Missionary meetings and temperance meetings, and he met with members of the British Anti-Slavery Society. Woodman was invited to deliver sermons before several congregations. On July 13th, he received a letter which informed him of his son's struggle with tuberculosis. The journal ends two entries later.

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Organization and Arrangement

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The collection is the physical property of Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library. Bates College holds literary rights only for material created by College personnel working on official behalf of the College, or for material which was given to the College with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission from rights holders for publication or other purposes that exceed fair use.

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Related Material

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Index Terms

These records are indexed under the following headings in the Bates College Library catalog. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog under these index terms.

Corporate Names:

Topical Subjects:

Geographic Subjects:

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Administrative Information

Acquisition and Custody Information

Presented to the Library of Cobb Divinity School by the family, via his daughter-in-law, Mrs. William J. Stanton, of North Danville, Vermont, April, 1891. Accession No.: xx-076.

Alternative Formats Available

A transcript of Woodman's diary is available in the Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library.

Preferred Citation

Jonathan Woodman diary, Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College.

Processing Information

Transcription and initial description by Judy Hansen, 1997.

Final description by Kurt Kuss, Special Collections Librarian, 1999.

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