Longmeadow Historical Society sermon collection, circa 1710-1933
Some of the many 18th century sermons in this collection
Scope and Content Note
The sermons are arranged in three series. The first is alphabetical by the minister’s name (8 boxes), the second is Ministers 1-9 (2 boxes) and the third series is unidentified sermons and sermon excerpts (2 boxes). Most folders include an item-level listing of the contents. There are also some typed transcriptions by Helen Connor, who was probably the person who initially organized this collection.
Series one includes both published sermons and manuscript sermons, most of which have a direct relationship to Longmeadow. Many of the published works have ownership inscriptions from members of local families. One of the notable published works is the “Address to the Six Nations recommending the Gospel of Saint John” by Teyoninhokarawen, written in both English and the Mohawk language (London, 1805). This series has numerous manuscript sermons by Stephen Williams, the first minister of the First Church of Christ in Longmeadow (nearly 3 boxes) as well as all three of the ministers named Richard Salter Storrs (4 boxes). Many ministers traveled to speak to different congregations, often giving the same sermon multiple times. Some, like Reverend Williams, would note the various places and dates they had given that sermon at the top of the manuscript.
Series two is comprised of sets of manuscript sermons thought to be by the same person. Since the names are not known, they are identified by number (“1” through “9”) and when known, the location and dates are also given. The nine ministers are as follows:
Minister 1: First Church of Christ in Mansfield, CT. 1786-1809, 31 pieces.
Minister 2: Ellington, CT. 1790-1797, 25 pieces
Minister 3: Easthampton, MA. 1785-1795, 22 pieces
Minister 4: Northfield (MA or CT?). 1789-1794, 13 pieces
Minister 5: Northbury (CT?). 1766-1783, 36 pieces
Minister 6: Places and dates unknown. 41 pieces filed by gospel subject
Minister 7: Places unknown. 1789-1796, 6 pieces filed by date
Minister 8: Places unknown. 1789-1811, 4 pieces filed by gospel subject
Minister 9: Charlestown. 1790-1792, 4 pieces filed by gospel subject
With additional research, the authors of some of the sermons and excerpts in this series, as well as in Series three might be able to be identified.
Box and Folder Listing
| Minister | Title/Subject | Box:Folder |
|---|---|---|
| Series I | ||
| Bacchus, Charles | “A Fast Sermon” | 1:1 |
| Bacchus, Charles | Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Storrs (Sarah Williston Storrs) | 1:2 |
| Bacchus, Charles | “Century Sermon” | 1:3 |
| Barnes, Rev. Stephen G. | “Theology and Life” | 1:4 |
| Bartlett, Robert Merrill | “Three Centuries and Tomorrow” | 1:5 |
| Beckwith, George R. | “Letter Concerning Lay-Ordination” | 1:6 |
| Beecher, Lyman, A.M. | “The Bible a Code of Laws a Sermon, delivered at the ordination of Sereno Edwards Dwight…,” 1827 | 1:7 |
| Bliss, Rev. Charles | “Foundations of Sapphires,” Thanksgiving sermon, 1863 and “Religious Recognition,” 1874 | 1:8 |
| Breck, Robert, A.M. | “Funeral Sermon on the Reverend Dr. Stephen Williams,” 1782 and “Past dispensations of Providence called to mind: In a sermon, delivered in the First Parish in Springfield, on the 16th of October 1775. Just one hundred years from the burning of the town by the Indians” 1784 | 1:9 |
| Burroughs, Eden (1738-1813) and Estabrook, Experience (1755-1799) | ” A faithful narrative of the wonderful dealings of God, towards Polly Davis, of New-Grantham, in the state of New-Hampshire …,” 1794 | 1:10 |
| Champion, Judah | Election sermon, 1776 | 1:11 |
| Colton, A.M. | Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Emeline G. Wright, 1863 | 1:12 |
| Davis, Rev. Emerson | “Memorial Sermons,” 1866 | 1:13 |
| Dickinson, Rev. Baxter | “The Importance and Means of an Able Ministry,” 1836, printed in the American National Preacher. | |
| Doolittle, Mr. | Handwritten, 1725-26 | 1:14 |
| Ely,, Alfred, A.M. | “Sermon Delivered at the Interment of Mrs. Lucretia Colton…,” 1821 | 1:15 |
| Emerson, John, A.M. | “Sermon Delivered at the Interment of William Billings, Esq., …,” 1813 | 1:16 |
| Hall, Rev. Gordon | “The Word of God is Not Bound,” 1857 | 1:17 |
| Johns, Evan, A.M. | “The Lethargy of Impenitence Exposed,” 1815 | |
| Lathrop, Joseph, D.D. | 1789-1815 | 1:18 |
| Park, Prof. Edwards A. | 1874 | 1:19 |
| Sargeant, Mr. | Undated | 1:20 |
| Sprague. William B., D.D. | 1863 | 1:21 |
| Stone, Nathan, A.M. | 1760 | 1:22 |
| Stoddard, Mr. | 1726 | 1:23 |
| Stoddard, Mr. | 1710, 1716 | 1:24 |
| Storrs, John, A.M. | 1786 | 1:25 |
| Storrs, Richard Salter (1763-1819) | 1785 | 2:1 |
| 1786 | 2:2 | |
| January – July, 1786 | 2:3 | |
| August – December, 1786 | 2:4 | |
| January – June, 1787 | 2:5 | |
| June – August, 1787 | 2:6 | |
| September – December, 1787 | 2:7 | |
| January – June, 1788 | 2:8 | |
| June – September, 1788 | 2:9 | |
| September – December | 2:10 | |
| January – April, 1789 | 2:11 | |
| May – June, 1789 | 2:12 | |
| July – September, 1789 | 2:13 | |
| October – November, 1789 | 2:14 | |
| Storrs, Richard Salter (1763-1819) | January – March, 1790 | 3:1 |
| April – May, 1790 | 3:2 | |
| August – October, 1790 | 3:3 | |
| November – December, 1790 | 3:4 | |
| January – March, 1791 | 3:5 | |
| April – August, 1791 | 3:6 | |
| September – December, 1791 | 3:7 | |
| January – March, 1792 | 3:8 | |
| April – July, 1792 | 3:9 | |
| August – December, 1792 | 3:10 | |
| Storrs, Richard Salter (1763-1819) | January – June, 1793 | 4:1 |
| July – December, 1793 | 4:2 | |
| January – March, 1794 | 4:3 | |
| April – August, 1794 | 4:4 | |
| September – November, 1794 | 4:5 | |
| January – December, 1795 | 4:6 | |
| 1796 | 4:7 | |
| 1797 | 4:8 | |
| 1800 | 4:9 | |
| “…Sermon Delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Stephen Williams…1800”. 1801 | 4:10 | |
| 1801 | 4:11 | |
| 1802 | 4:12 | |
| Storrs, Richard Salter (1763-1819) | January – October, 1803 | 5:1 |
| 1804 | 5:2 | |
| 1805 | 5:3 | |
| 1807 | 5:4 | |
| 1809 | 5:5 | |
| 1815 | 5:6 | |
| 1819 | 5:7 | |
| 1789-1791? (empty 8.2017) | 5:8 | |
| 1791-1792 ? | 5:9 | |
| Undated | 5:10 | |
| Undated (thought to be by Storrs) | 5:11 | |
| Storrs, Richard Salter (1787-1873) | “A Discourse Delivered at the Dedication of the North Meeting House in Braintree,” 1831 | 5:12 |
| A Dialogue, Exhibiting Some of the Principles and Practical Consequences of Modern Infidelity,” 1806 | 5:13 | |
| Storrs, Richard Salter, Jr., D.D. (1821-1900) | 4 printed sermons, 1861-1874 | 5:14 |
| Teyoninhokarawen | “Address to the Six Nations; recommending the Gospel of Saint John” 1805. English and Mohawk language | 5:15 |
| Thatcher, Peter, A.M. | “Sermon on the Deathogf the Hon. James Bowdoin, Esq, L.L.D., F.R.S.,” 1790 | 5:16 |
| Trumbull, Benjamin, D.D. | “Sermon at the Funeral of the Rev. Mr. Noah Williston,” 1812 | 5:17 |
| Tyler, W.S. | “A Discourse Commemorative of Hon. Samuel Williston…,” 1874 | 5:18 |
| Williams, Rev. Stephen (1693-1782) | Guide to Williams Sermons (Symbol Guide) | 6:1 |
| 1714 | 6:2 | |
| 1715 | 6:3 | |
| January – March, 1716 | 6:4 | |
| May – December, 1716 | 6:5 | |
| 1717 | 6:6 | |
| 1718 | 6:7 | |
| January – July, 1719 | 6:8 | |
| August – December, 1719 | 6:9 | |
| January – June, 1720 | 6:10 | |
| July – November, 1720 | 6:11 | |
| 1721 | 6:12 | |
| 1722 | 6:13 | |
| 1723 | 6:14 | |
| 1724 | 6:15 | |
| 1725 | 6:16 | |
| 1727 | 6:17 | |
| 1730 | 6:18 | |
| 1731 | 6:19 | |
| 1732 | 6:20 | |
| 1733 | 6:21 | |
| April 1, 1733 | 6:22 | |
| 1734 | 6:23 | |
| 1735 | 6:24 | |
| 1736 | 6:25 | |
| 1737 | 6:26 | |
| 1738 | 6:27 | |
| 1739 | 6:28 | |
| Williams, Stephen (1693-1782) | 1740 | 7:1 |
| January – June, 1741 | 7:2 | |
| September – November, 1741 | 7:3 | |
| 1742 | 7:4 | |
| 1743 | 7:5 | |
| June – July, 1744 | 7:6 | |
| July – December, 1744 | 7:7 | |
| 1745 | 7:8 | |
| 1746 | 7:9 | |
| 1747 | 7:10 | |
| 1748 | 7:11 | |
| 1749 | 7:12 | |
| January – May, 1750 | 7:13 | |
| May – November, 1750 | 7:14 | |
| August 25, 1750 | 7:15 | |
| 1751 | 7:16 | |
| Williams, Stephen (1693-1782) | January – March, 1752 | 8:1 |
| May – August, 1752 | 8:2 | |
| January – June, 1753 | 8:3 | |
| July – December, 1753 | 8:4 | |
| 1754 | 8:5 | |
| 1755 | 8:6 | |
| 1756 | 8:7 | |
| 1757 | 8:8 | |
| 1758 | 8:9 | |
| 1759 | 8:10 | |
| 1760 | 8:11 | |
| 1764 | 8:12 | |
| 1769 | 8:13 | |
| 1770 | 8:14 | |
| Sermon: Town Meeting, March 9, 1771 | 8:15 | |
| 1772 | 8:16 | |
| 1774 | 8:17 | |
| 1775 | 8:18 | |
| 1776 | 8:19 | |
| 1777 | 8:20 | |
| March 29, 1778 | 8:21 | |
| 1779 | 8:22 | |
| 1780 | 8:23 | |
| 1781 | 8:24 | |
| Sermon excerpts (Stephen Williams’ hand?), 1707 | 8:25 | |
| Paper on his position as Minister, undated | 8:26 | |
| Sermon fragments. References to Bliss: Sarah, Ebenezer, and Peletiah, undated | 8:27 | |
| Fragments, undated | 8:28 | |
| Williams, Warham and Estabrook, Mr. | Notes on sermons by Williams and Estabrook, 1760-1761, unknown author. | 8:29 |
| Wiswell, S | 1712 | 8:30 |
| Wolcott, Samuel | “Discourse Delivered in Belchertown, Mass on the Day of the Annual State Thanksgiving,” 1850 | 8:31 |
| Series II | ||
| Minister I – Mansfield, Connecticut | Reference file | 9:1 |
| 1786-1792 | 9:2 | |
| 1792-1803 | 9:3 | |
| 1803-1805 | 9:4 | |
| 1806-1809 | 9:5 | |
| Minister II – Ellington, Connecticut | 1790-1793 | 9:6 |
| 1794-1795 | 9:7 | |
| 1795-1796 | 9:8 | |
| October, 1796 – June, 1797 | 9:9 | |
| July, 1797 – December, 1797 | 9:10 | |
| Minister III – Easthampton, Massachusetts | 1785 – March, 1793 | 9:11 |
| November, 1793 – May, 1794 | 9:12 | |
| December, 1794 – October, 1795 | 9:13 | |
| Minister IV – Norfield | April, 1789 – January, 1791 | 9:14 |
| October, 1791 – October, 1793 | 9:15 | |
| September – December, 1793 | 9:16 | |
| Minister V – Northbury | November, 1766 – July 5, 1772 | 10:1 |
| August, 1773 – June 7, 1778 | 10:2 | |
| June, 1779 – May, 1782 | 10:3 | |
| March, 1782 – June, 1783 | 10:4 | |
| September 8, 1783 – December 21, 1783 | 10:5 | |
| Minister VI | Undated | 10:6 |
| Undated | 10:7 | |
| Undated | 10:8 | |
| Undated | 10:9 | |
| Minister VII | 1789 and 1796 | 10:10 |
| Minister VIII | 1789-1811 | 10:11 |
| Minister IX – Charlestown | 1790-1793 | 10:12 |
| Series III | ||
| Unidentified | 18th century | 11:1-22 |
| Unidentified | 18th and 19th century | 12:1-14 |
Subjects
- Congregationalism--Sermons--18th century
- Congregationalism--Sermons--19th century
- First Church of Christ (Longmeadow, Mass.)
- Mohawk language--Texts
Contributors
- Storrs, Richard Salter (1763-1819)
- Storrs, Richard Salter (1787-1873)
- Storrs, Richard Salter (1821-1900)
- Williams, Stephen (1693-1782)
Types of material
- Extracts (partial documents)
- Sermons
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