The Society originated in a bequest by Robert Boyle in 1691 for advancing religion amongst infidels. Until the American War of Independence the rents of an estate at Brafferton, Yorkshire, were remitted to William and Mary College, Virginia. In 1794 the charity was reconstituted as “The Society for the Conversion and Religious Instruction and Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West-India Islands”, and in 1836, after the abolition of slavery, as “The Society for Advancing the Christian Faith in the British West-India Islands, and elsewhere, in the Dioceses of Jamaica, and of the Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, and in the Mauritius”. A supplemental charter was issued on 29 October 1962. See The two charters of the Society for Advancing the Christian Faith… to which is prefixed a short account of the charitable fund, 1836.
This list is divided into the following sections:
- Charters etc.
- Proceedings in Chancery concerning the grant of the first charter, 1788 – 1794
- Proceedings in Chancery concerning the grant of the second charter, 1834 – 1835
- Minutes, 1794 – 1956
- Treasurer’s accounts and subscriptions, 1793 – 1972
- Correspondence and papers, 1642 – 1929
- Maps and miscellaneous papers, 1724 – 1849
11 reels
Reference: CFS
Contents
| Section A: Charters Etc. | |
| Reel | Contents |
| 1 | Charter incorporating The Society for the Conversion and Religious Instruction and Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West-India Islands, 30 October 1794. Great Seal |
| Release by the Rev. James Curtin, of Antigua, to the C.F.S. of land and chapel in Long Street, Saint John, Antigua, 8 February 1810 | |
| Charter incorporating The Society for Advancing the Christian Faith in the British West-India Islands and elsewhere within the Dioceses of Jamaica and of Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, and in the Mauritius, 11 January 1836. Great seal | |
| Supplemental charter, 29 October 1962. Great seal |
| Section B: Proceedings In Chancery Concerning The Grant Of The First Charter, 1788 – 1794 | |
| Reel | Contents |
| 1 | Will of Robert Boyle, of Stalbridge, Dorset, 1691 (copy) |
| Letters patent founding The College of William and Mary, Virginia, 8 February 1692 (copy) | |
| Extracts from the foundation charter of The College of William and Mary, and from the statutes, 27 February 1729 | |
| Reports of the state of the charity, 1787 | |
| Remarks by W. Ainge that the application of the charity has not answered the purposes intended | |
| Draft information | |
| Answer of John Lloyd, 27 June 1788 (copy) | |
| Brief for the Relator, 8 December 1788 | |
| Answers of John Lloyd and of the Company for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England, 1789 | |
| Opinion of Sir John Scott, Solicitor-General, 7 May 1789 | |
| Briefs for the Relator, 1790 | |
| Transcript of shorthand notes, 17 November 1790 | |
| Decree, 12 November 1790 | |
| Scheme of the Company for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England for disposition of rent-charge, 1791 | |
| Brief of pleadings, 1791 | |
| Petition by the Relator, 4 August 1791 | |
| Observations in support of the Relator’s petition, 1791 | |
| Report by Master in Chancery, 4 August 1791 | |
| Statements of facts, 1791 | |
| Brief petition for the Relator, 1792 | |
| 2 | Heads of plan for application of the charity, 20 March 1792 |
| Petition on behalf of the Company for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England, 1792 (copy) | |
| Order, 20 March 1792 | |
| Draft petitions for a charter, 1792 | |
| Order on petition, 23 April 1792 | |
| Minutes on petition of the Company for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England, 23 July 1792 (copy) | |
| Petitions, charters, orders etc. 1792 – 1794 |
| Section C: Proceedings In Chancery Concerning The Grant Of The Second Charter, 1834 – 1835 | |
| Reel | Contents |
| 2 | Opinion of John Bell, 22 – 26 December 1834 |
| Bill and draft information, 4 April 1835 | |
| Instructions to draw an answer, 1835 | |
| Answer, 13 April 1835 | |
| Brief, 21 April 1835 | |
| 3 | State of facts on behalf of the Relator, 4 June 1835 |
| Opinion of Loftus Wigram on State of facts, 15 May 1835 (copy) | |
| Petition for letters patent, 2 June 1835 (copy) | |
| Report, 24 July 1835 | |
| Brief on further directions, July 1835 | |
| Order on further directions, 1 August 1835 |
| Section D: Minutes | |
| Reel | Contents |
| 3 | Minutes, 3 April 1794 – 5 June 1832 |
| Index to minutes, 1794 – 1832 | |
| 4 | Minutes, 8 January 1833 – 9 July 1956 |
| Minutes of committee, 1 May 1794 – 9 February 1809 | |
| Rough minutes, 5 December 1809 – 5 March 1822 | |
| 5 | Rough minutes, 4 June 1822 – 10 March 1835 |
| Section E: Treasurer’s Accounts & Subscriptions, 1793 – 1972 | |
| Reel | Contents |
| 5 | Accounts of receipts and payments, 1793 – 1826 |
| Accounts of receipts and payments, 1827 – 1925 | |
| 6 | Accounts of receipts and payments, 1926 – 1972 |
| Minutes of committee for auditing the treasurer’s accounts, 6 March 1809 – 19 May 1853 | |
| Accounts, Registers of Expenditure, etc. 1822 – 1895 | |
| 7 | Registers of subscriptions and donations, 1823 – 1864 |
| Account books of subscriptions, 1828, 1830, 1831 – 1837 | |
| Account books of subscriptions for rebuilding churches, chapels, and schoolhouses in Barbados and St. Vincent, 1831 – 1832 | |
| Accounts enrolled on parchment and submitted to the Lord Chancellor and others as required by charter, 1836 – 1839, 1853, 1889 and 1896. Also statements of accounts submitted to the Charity Commissioners, 1900 – 1909 and 1911 – 1927. Copies and drafts |
| Section F: Correspondence & Papers, 1642 – 1929 | |
| Reel | Contents |
| 8 | Letter book containing copies of letters to the Society, 29 April 1822 – 30 August 1832 |
| Index to the previous item | |
| Letters received 1835 – 1895 (letter book containing copies of letters) | |
| 9 | Letters and papers, 1642 – 1796. Includes the following: |
| ‘An Act for Incorporating of Harvard College at Cambridge in New England’, 27 June 1692 | |
| Appointment by the Rector, Visitors and Governors of William and Mary College of Henry Compton, Bishop of London, as Chancellor, 31 March 1707. Seal | |
| Grant by Queen Anne of £500 for rebuilding William and Mary College destroyed by fire in October 1705, 21 March 1709 (copy) | |
| Petition by Saquarereis, Indian hostage, to Governor William Dummer and the Council and House of Representatives of Massachusetts, 27 December 1725, stating that he is the only survivor of four hostages… Asks to be transferred from Castle William to John Checkley’s house in Boston… Examination by the House of Representatives of Checkley who acknowledges authorship of the petition | |
| Letter from Henry Newman to the Bishop of London, from the Middle Temple, 31 March 1726, reporting on the Negroes in Mauritius… Memorial by Anglican ministers and others in New England to the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, 24 July 1727, that Timothy Cutler and Samuel Myles, ministers at Boston, be overseers of Harvard College, being teaching elders, according to the provisions of the foundation (copy) | |
| ‘A sketch of a Plan for the instruction of the Negroes in the West India Islands in the Principles of the Christian Religion’, no date. The author is perhaps Gabriel, Marquis Duquesne (ff. 109 – 5) | |
| Charter of the Society for the Conversion and Religious Instruction and Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West-India Islands, 1793 (corrected proofs) | |
| Letter from Granville Sharp to the Bishop of London, from the Middle Temple, 29 January 1795 | |
| Letters and papers, 1802 – 1841. Letters are addressed to officers of the C.F.S. including: | |
| List of subscribers, 1802 | |
| To the Governors, Planters, and Parochial Clergy of the Island of Antigua, 8 January 1810. A letter from the Bishop of London complaining of obstruction in Curtin’s parish of St. John where congregation was turned out of church. Religion will make Negroes better men, more temperate, honest, faithful, industrious, and so more serviceable to their masters and the public. The Society will examine disputes between missionaries and the established clergy | |
| Letter from the Rev. James Curtin, from London, 5 February 1810, stating that the bishop’s letter should he amended since it is not safe for him to take it | |
| Petition to the Crown by Charles Ellis, M.P., Chairman of the Standing Committee of West India Planters and Merchants, against the emancipation of slaves unless compensation is paid, 10 February 1824 (printed) | |
| ‘Notitia’ by the Rev. John Stainsby, of St. Thomas in the East, Jamaica, for the half year ending 30 June 1824, stating the numbers of baptised, attending school, attending public worship and sacraments, and numbers married and buried. An attempted rebellion in the western part of the island has been put down, but his own parish is tranquil | |
| Letter from William Hart Coleridge, Bishop of Barbados, from Barbados, 26 January 1832, concerning draft of £5,000 for re-building churches and schoolhouses in Barbados | |
| Letter from the editor of the Berkshire Chronicle, from Reading, 6 March 1832, inquiring whether an advertisement in the British Traveller concerning the fund for Barbados is a forgery | |
| Letter from Christopher Lipscomb, Bishop of Jamaica, 20 April 1839, submitting scheme for the Society’s grant to Jamaica. Public opinion is more favourable to religious education, but in the state of political uncertainty about the island there is much secret machination to which the old Creole clergy are often party | |
| 10 | Letters and papers, 1842 – 1929. Letters are addressed to officers of the C.F.S. unless otherwise stated. Including: |
| Letter from Thomas Parry, Bishop of Barbados, from Barbados, 16 February 1843, referring to relief for sufferers from earthquake in Guadeloupe, Antigua, Nevis, and Montserrat | |
| Letter from the Rev. George Hickson Urquhart Fagan, from London, 4 March 1844, stating that 47,000 of the recent slave population of Mauritius are without religious instruction and 20,000 coolies who have recently migrated from India. S.P.G. supports 13 schoolmasters and has contributed to erection of schoolhouses. Proposes a special mission fund | |
| Reports of the Demerary and Essequebo District Societies for Promoting Christian Knowledge and the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, 1845 | |
| Letter from Aubrey George Spencer, Bishop of Jamaica, 8 March 1847, stating that the population of Jamaica is 400,000, of whom three quarters are emancipated slaves. There are 6,126 pupils in 73 schools. Ten schools are maintained by local endowment, five by casual grants, and 58 by the Society and Diocesan Church Society. Hopes for aid from the local legislatureLetter from Thomas Parry, Bishop of Barbados, from Barbados, 27 November 1847, seeking aid for Tobago devastated by a hurricane. The population is 13,000, and the island was divided into three benefices in 1844 provided for by the local legislature. Describes damage caused by the hurricane | |
| Letter from the Rev. John Armstrong, from Nevis, 11 July 1849, stating that the majority of Negroes in Nevis are indifferent to the spiritual and temporal welfare of their children. The school supported by the Society has 47 boys and 37 girls, and that supported by the Ladies Negro Educational Society has 34 boys and 44 girls |
| Section G: Maps & Miscellaneous Papers, 1724 – 1849 | |
| Reel | Contents |
| 10 | Miscellaneous papers, 1724 – 1849. Including: |
| Harvard College. Quaestianes pro modulo discutiendae sub reverendo D.D. Henrico Flynt… in Comitiis publicis a Laureae Magistralis Candidatis, 1724 | |
| Harvard College. Theses for disputation by ‘Juvenes in Artibus Initiati’, 1724 (printed) | |
| Harvard College. List of graduates, 1642 – 1724 (printed) | |
| Maps, 1787-1810: | |
| Antigua. Surveyed by John Luffman, 1787 – 1788. Published 1793 (four sheets, numbers 1 – 4) | |
| Jamaica. Surveyed by Thomas Jefferys, 1794 (number 5) | |
| Virgin Islands. Surveyed by Thomas Jefferys; corrected by Captain James Waring, 1797 (number 6) | |
| Antigua. Surveyed by Robert Baker; engraved and improved by Thomas Jefferys, 1810 (number 7) | |
| St. Christopher and Nevis. Surveyed by Anthony Ravell; engraved by Thomas Jefferys, 1810 (number 8) | |
| Register of books and tracts sent to the West Indies, 1823 – 1825 | |
| Register of half-yearly ‘notitia’ from chaplains in Antigua, Barbados, St. Kitts, Demerara, Jamaica, Montserrat, and Nevis, stating the area of each ministry, the total numbers of slaves, of slaves baptised and still living, of slaves baptised each half year and in preparation for baptism; numbers of children and adults in Day and Sunday schools; details of public worship; numbers of marriages and burials, 1824 – 1828 | |
| 11 | Government publications, 1823: |
| Acts of Colonial Legislatures for Registry of Slaves (ordered by House of Commons to be printed 27 February 1823) | |
| II Slave Population in the West India Colonies (ordered by House of Commons to be printed 4 March 1823) | |
| Correspondence Relative to Slaves at Honduras: 1820 – 1823 (ordered by House of Commons to be printed 16 June 1823) | |
| Class A. Correspondence with Foreign Powers Relative to the Slave Trade. 1822. 1823 (presented to Parliament July 1823) | |
| Class B. Correspondence with the British Commissioners, at Sierra Leone, The Havannah, Rio De Janeiro, and Surinam, Relating to the Slave Trade. 1822. 1823 (presented to Parliament 1823) |