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Letters, writings, and minor legal and financial documents of Thomas Coke (1747-1814), the minister JW named as the first "Superintendent" of the Methodist Church in America (1784). In time the much-traveled Coke became known as "Father of the Methodist Missions" and was later twice President of the Conference (1797 and 1805). Materials consist of autograph manuscripts, transcriptions, and printed materials, and are evenly spread across some thirty-five years of Coke's life, from a couple of years after he joined Methodism to a few months prior to his death. Although most of the documents originate from Coke's time in England, there are frequent allusions to his interest in and travels to such countries as Africa, Ceylon, Germany, India, Nova Scotia, and the United States.

Letter to, circuit plans for, and copied memoir of Robert Costerdine (1726-1812), Methodist local preacher, entered itinerancy 1764. The three circuit plans are schedules of preaching appointments for Costerdine, a few years after he retired from active ministry. The copy of the memoir is written in a bound school exercise book, apparently by "Master Robert Harrison, Davyhulme Wesleyan School;" the memoir was composed ca. 1810 and includes an addition by Costerdine's son-in-law, Mr. William Crompton, 1812 May 12, which recounts Costerdine's last days and death. The two oversize items, Edward Slater's 1775 map of the Derby Circuit and the Flixton broadsheet, 1802, may have belonged to Costerdine at one time according the provenance information provided.