Church records and registers
Church finance
St. George's Methodist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Methodists
Methodist Church
"A Book... For the Collections & etc. to Defray the Expences of the Methodist Meeting House." Entries are listed by date, starting on August 21, 1769 and ending on July 14, 1774. Date ranges span two pages, with amounts collected on the verso and amounts spent, along with the items or services paid for, on the recto. Listed expenses include: travel, such as hiring horses and paying for room and board; supplies such as candles, nails, wood, paper, clothing, and wine; and services such as laundry, housekeeping, printing, mail, and the drawing up of legal documents.
Church fund raising
Record of "various accounts" for St. George's Methodist Church from April 1787 to April 1795, including "cash on account of poor" as well as bonds, incidental charges, interests, collections, and payments to individuals.
Account of a camp meeting, David Dailey, 1819
Camp meetings
Account of a camp meeting held on Tangier Island, in the Chesapeake Bay, in August 1819. Dailey notes the preachers and elders present, their circuits, and what they preached on. The meeting was plagued with heavy rainstorms, but there was still much singing and praying, as described by Dailey.
Dailey, David
Class book, Daniel Meredith, leader, circa 1797-1826
African Americans
Itinerancy (Church polity)
Daniel Meredith served as class leader for the Methodists in the "Valey" of Chester County, Pennsylvania for many years. He recorded the preachers assigned to the Chester circuit each year, and kept records of members' attendance at the Valey class. The first several pages of the book are faded to the point that some text is illegible; more readable entries begin around 1805 and end with the 1826 class. Often the black classes are listed separately; see "coloured people" on page 56 or "coloured friends" on page 62.
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1813-1814
United States--Delmarva Peninsula
Circuit riders
David Dailey's diary from his time preaching on the Dorchester circuit, from April 5th 1813 to April 5th 1814. Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, including separate "black classes," and his physical and emotional state throughout. Entries paint a picture of a difficult life, as Dailey was lonely, suffered from hoarseness, and often traveled through bad weather to find only small gatherings and "hardened sinners." He often prays for greater faith in order to persevere.
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1814-1815
David Dailey's diary from his time preaching on the Smyrna and Cambridge circuits, from April 5, 1814 to April 16, 1815. As with his first diary, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, including separate black classes, and his physical and emotional state throughout. Entries continue to paint a picture of a difficult life, including loneliness, hoarseness, bad weather and poor attendance, although he experiences some good days as he preaches, performs baptisms, and visits the sick and dying.
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1815-1816
Church discipline
David Dailey's diary from his time preaching on the Snow Hill circuit, from April 20, 1815 to April 16, 1816. During this time he notes his 24th birthday. As with his first two diaries, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, and his physical and emotional state throughout. During his third year as a traveling preacher, he seemed to find more joy in his preaching, particularly in "meeting with the blacks." He survives a bout of the measles and another unnamed "tedious illness," and is vaccinated for small pox. He also presides over two trials regarding member misconduct.
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1816-1817
David Dailey's diary from his second year preaching on the Snow Hill circuit, from April 17, 1816 to March 16, 1817. As with his first few diaries, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he met, including separate black classes, and his physical and emotional state throughout. He still experiences bouts of depression, but also describes happiness and contentment in preaching, visiting the sick, and performing baptisms, marriages and funerals. He is particularly pleased by camp meetings that are successful in gaining converts. Several entries refer to a woman named Sally, who often attends meetings with Dailey and who would eventually become his wife. Copies of several letters between the two are included at the end of the volume.
Methodist Episcopal Church. Philadelphia Conference
David Dailey's diary from March 17 to November 19, 1817. On March 17 Dailey left the circuit and took his wife Sally to meet his family. He then attended the Philadelphia Conference, where he was appointed to the Accomack circuit. As with his first few diaries, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, including separate black classes, and his physical and emotional state throughout. He still experiences bouts of sickness and depression, but also finds happiness in preaching, visiting the sick, performing baptisms, and attending camp meetings. During this time, Sally gives birth to a son. Also during this time, Dailey describes several trials, including those involving black members, and is involved in matters of church discipline such as expelling a member for "selling a human being in the Southern States."
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1819-1820
Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Baltimore Conference
David Dailey's diary from his time on the Cambridge Circuit, from April 7, 1819 to March 7, 1820. As with his first several diaries, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, including separate black classes, and his physical and emotional state throughout. This diary begins with a brief account of the Philadelphia meeting, which Dailey describes as disagreeable, and his assignment to the Cambridge circuit, which he explains is the same as the Dorchester circuit to which he was previously assigned. Dailey travels through much bad weather on horse and by canoe to preach, visit with the sick, perform baptisms, marriages, and funerals, and attend tent meetings. He also attends the Baltimore conference and records the names of the preachers he met there. Also during this time, Dailey's younger brother dies of typus, and Dailey's wife bears a second son.
Sermons
Notes of sermons made by Reverend John Price when he was a member of the Philadelphia conference, from 1814 to 1816. A letter to Bishop Simpson from Price's daughter, Rebecca, accompanied the donation of this volume to the Historical Society. The letter gives an account of Price's early life and long career as a circuit rider, lay preacher and pastor.
Journal of the Philadelphia Conference, 1800-1814
Asbury, Francis, 1745-1816
Church committees
Religious leaders
Corporate minutes
Minutes of the annual Philadelphia Conference from 1800 through 1814, presided over by Francis Asbury and others. Each year's entry states the date, place, church leaders presiding, and members present, followed by the business discussed. Business regularly includes the recommendation and evaluation of traveling preachers, allegations of misbehavior, financial accounting, requests for assistance, and committee reports. An index of names, compiled from the records in 1868, appears at the rear of the book.
Letters
Two photocopied letters and one typed reproduction of a letter to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1771. The first letter discusses allegations of misbehavior, the second a request for contact from a colleague, and the third a request for pens from a preacher laid up with gout.
Church buildings
Three handwritten letters to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1792 and 1793. One receipt for debt paid on the Preaching House, another receipt for fees paid to rent the Quantico meeting house, and an accounting of fees paid for work upon the Quantico meeting house.
Two letters to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1799, recommending men to serve or be trained as traveling preachers on the area circuits.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1800. Letters include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1800 exists and is scanned separately.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1800, including the date of the letter, name of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1801. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1801 exists and is scanned separately. Most of the letters from this year concern the behavior of one John Stuart, a "band man and liar."
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1801, including the name and/or circuit of writer, date of the letter, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1802. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1802 exists and is scanned separately. Most of the letters from this year are recommendations for traveling preachers.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1802, including the name and/or circuit of writer, date of the letter, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1803. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1803 exists and is scanned separately. Most of the letters from this year are recommendations for traveling preachers.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1803, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1804. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1804 exists and is scanned separately.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1804, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of the Methodists in Philadelphia in 1805. Letters include requests or receipts for financial Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1805 exists and is scanned separately. Letters from this year include many discussions of members' misbehavior, as well as an annual statement from the Committee of Claims.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1805, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1806. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1807. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1807 exists and is scanned separately. Most of the letters from this year are recommendations for traveling preachers.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1807, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1808. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1808 exists and is scanned separately. Most of the letters from this year are recommendations for traveling preachers.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1808, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1809. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1809 exists and is scanned separately.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1809, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1810. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1810 exists and is scanned separately. This year's letters include an accounting from the Committee of Claims.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1810, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1811. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1811 exists and is scanned separately. This year's letters include many discussions of members' misbehavior, as well as some committee reports.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1811, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1812. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1812 exists and is scanned separately.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1812, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1813. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1813 exists and is scanned separately. This year's letters include discussion of a book sale to help fund the traveling preachers.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1813, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1814. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1814 exists and is scanned separately.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1814, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1815. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1815 exists and is scanned separately. Many letters from this year discuss the bad behavior and subsequent suspension of one John Miller.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1815, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1816. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1816 exists and is scanned separately. Most of the letters from this year are recommendations for traveling preachers.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1816, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.
Correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1817. Letters to conference typically include: requests and recommendations for circuit preachers; reports of misbehavior by or censure of members; and requests for or receipts of financial compensation or other aid. A separate index of the correspondence for 1817 exists and is scanned separately. Many of the letters from this year include discussions of a conflict related to land rights.
Index of correspondence to the annual conference of Methodists in Philadelphia in 1817, including the date of the letter, name and/or circuit of writer, name of addressee, and a brief summary of the subject.