Summary

Creator:

Wesley family

Abstract:

The brothers John Wesley (1703-1791) and Charles Wesley (1707-1788) were Church of England clergymen and two of the founders of Methodism; Sarah Wesley (1726-1822) and Sarah Wesley (1759-1828) were the wife and daughter of Charles Wesley. The Wesley family papers span the years 1726-1889 and mainly comprise the correspondence of John and Charles Wesley, with single items from the wife and daughter of Charles, both named Sarah; there is also an inventory of John Wesley's library taken at the time of his death, 1791, and a photograph album, 1889, of English sites related to the Wesleys and the history of Methodism. Correspondence discusses John Wesley's life as a student at Lincoln College, the administration of Kingswood School, the brothers' mission to Georgia in the 1730s, and Methodism's eventual separation from the Church of England. Correspondents and people mentioned in the letters include the Countess of Huntingdon, George Whitefield, James Oglethorpe, Joseph Benson, and Samuel Bradburn.

Extent:

3 Linear Feet
46 Items

Language:

Material in English

Collection ID:

RL.01367

Background

Scope and Content:

The Wesley family papers, 1726-1889 and undated, comprise correspondence, poems, sermons, affidavits, and other documents of the brothers John Wesley (1703-1791) and Charles Wesley (1707-1788), both Church of England clergymen and two of the founders of Methodism; of Sarah Wesley (1726-1822), wife of Charles; and of Sarah Wesley (1759-1828), daughter of Charles and Sarah.

John Wesley's letters discuss his life as a student at Lincoln College; the administration of Kingswood School, Bath; his conflict with the Countess of Huntingdon; his involvement with the funeral sermon for George Whitefield and Whitefield's estate; and various other topics including the appointment of ministers. Charles Wesley's letters discuss details of the Wesley brothers' experiences on their mission to Georgia, including their relationship with James Oglethorpe, and his regrets over the Methodists' separation from the Church of England. Correspondents and persons mentioned include Samuel Wesley (brother of John and Charles), Eliza Bennis, Joseph Benson, Samuel Bradburn, James Kenton, and Samuel Lloyd.

Other materials include an inventory of John Wesley's library at the time of his death; a signed affidavit concerning a major chapel of British Methodism, opened in Nottingham in 1783; a photograph album of places in England associated with the Wesley family and the history of Methodism; and some infant baptismal clothing (a christening gown) attributed to the Wesley family.

Original correspondence housed in Box 1 available by prior request only. Use copies are in Box 2.

Acquisition Information:

The Wesley family papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as purchases from 1952-1998.

Processing information:

Processed by Michael Shumate, Chloe Rockow, March 2012

Encoded by Michael Shumate, Chloe Rockow, March 2012

Addition 2012-0187 added by Paula Jeannet

Addition 2016-0219 interfiled by Alice Poffinberger

Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 1952 to 1998, 2012-0187, 2016-0219.

Arrangement:

Arranged in three series: Correspondence, Miscellaneous, and Volumes.

Physical Location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Rules or Conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related

Related Material:

The following Rubenstein Library collections hold additional correspondence, writings, and other documents relating to the Wesley Family:

• Frank Baker Collection of Wesleyana and British Methodism, 1536-1996 and undated, Wesley Family Series. Contains the letters of John, Charles, and other Wesley family members, the poetry of Sarah Wesley (1759-1828), and Wesley family portraits.
• Frank Baker Papers, 1641-2002 and undated . The Subject Files, Wesley Family Files contain additional background material on each family member, as well as many transcribed and copied letters from archives around the world.
• Wesley Works Archive, 1676-1996 and undated, bulk 1724-1791, 1960-1996 . Working papers of the Wesley Works Editorial Project (WWEP). The Letters Series contains extensive files related to John Wesley's incoming and outgoing correspondence, including many photocopies.
• Two small sub-collections of the Baker Wesleyana collection hold Wesley autographs. The Sarah Crosby Papers, 1760-1804 contains a John Wesley letter, and the Perronet Family Papers, 1752-1855 hold original letters of John, Charles, and both Sarah Wesleys.
• Other Rubenstein Library collections holding Wesley family letters and manuscripts include the G. (George) Story Papers, 1738-1818 ; the E. R. (Eugene Russell) Hendrix Papers, 1764-1914; and the Presidents of the Wesleyan Conference, 1770-1900.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:

Missions -- Georgia
Private libraries -- England -- Catalogs
Methodist Church -- Clergy
Methodist Church -- History
Methodist Church -- Great Britain -- History
Methodist Church -- Sermons
Methodists -- Biography

Formats:

Photograph albums

Names:

Church of England -- Relations -- Methodist Church
Lincoln College (University of Oxford) -- Students
Kingswood School (Bath, England)
Wesley family
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770 -- Estate
Wesley, Sarah, 1759-1828
Wesley, Sarah, 1726-1822
Wesley, Samuel, 1691-1739
Wesley, John, 1703-1791
Wesley, Charles, 1707-1788
Benson, Joseph, 1749-1821
Oglethorpe, James Edward, 1696-1785
Lloyd, Samuel
Bradburn, Samuel, 1751-1816
Kenton, James
Huntingdon, Selina Hastings, Countess of, 1707-1791

Places:

England -- Church history
Nottingham (England) -- Church history