I am relying for part of this introduction to the following source:
https://guyaneseonline.wordpress.com/2020/07/26/education-the-growth-of-education-in-british-guiana-guyana-1800-1876-by-dr-odeen-ishmael/
The Netherlands formally ceded to Britain the territories which later became British Guiana in 1815 but the British had been in full control since 1803 and for short periods in the recent past. According to Dr Ishmael it was a Dutch plantation owner, Hermanus Post, who asked the London Missionary Society to send someone to conduct the school he had established in George Town in 1808 - the “Town” of the letter transcribed below – the Reverend John Davies, writer of the letter arriving in January 1809 to take up the task. But the letter transcribed below suggests that Davies came out as a missionary and on arrival was asked by Hermanus Post to conduct the school. That school accepted children of plantation owners and managers, local officials, children of soldiers, free Africans and slaves in government service. The slave trade had been abolished in 1807 though slavery not yet; Davies was an abolitionist but as his letter shows he thought that bringing the Gospel to the slaves (who he calls “Negroes” never “slaves”) was consistent with the interest of the plantation owners and managers, some of whom appear to have agreed with him. He wants to expand the areas in which missionary work is carried on and this is a principal concern of the letter. He can only do it with the agreement of plantation owners: he needs their permission to go on to their property to preach to their property.
Davies may
have not been the first British missionary to arrive; the Reverend Wray who is
mentioned in the letter arrived in 1808 according to Ishmael who provides the
following:
On Plantation La Ressouvenir, Rev. John Wray had
arrived in 1808 to preach to slaves at a chapel Hermanus Post built. He also
taught some slaves to read parts of the Bible and to write. The slaves who
learned to read then taught their companions to do so.
Mrs. Wray was also involved in the educating the children
of the “upper class” in Demerara, and later in Berbice, after her husband was
transferred there. She received payments from the planters and was able to send
her two daughters to England to boarding school. Later they returned to Guyana
to take charge of Mrs. Wray’s school.
Correspondence
from John Davies is archived at the London School of African and Asian Studies.
This newly-discovered letter adds some details to what is already known and
provides some colour to the story.
Transcription
The
letter is addressed to the “Directors of the Missionary Society, Joseph
Hardcastles Esq, Old Swan Stairs, London”. The docketing dates the letter to 4th
July 1810 and gives a “Received” date of 17 September. The letter had arrived
in Britain at Port Glasgow on 27 August and reached London on 30 August
according to postmarks; the delay in getting it to the final destination is not
explained. The letter begins abruptly without superscription and it looks like
two sides are missing from a single folded sheet but the text is entirely
coherent as it stands and begins with a capital letter:
My hands
are, as much as anything can do so, completely tied up from missionary labours,
yet as I came out for Jesus Christ I will do all I can afford to do to extend
his name.
Essequibo is
a place I have long endeavoured to introduce the name of Jesus & his
salvation. At length the Lord has opened a way. Some time ago, a Gentleman who
is a countryman of mine [Welsh] & who has the management of two
Estates in Essequibo belonging to Wm. Postelthwaite Esqr [ spelt
Postlethwaite in the UCL slavery database, though it is likely that a son is the
claimant for compensation] came to hear me. He used to attend the Gospel in
England & his heart rejoices to hear it here. I interested him to try to
get a place for me to preach in Essequibo. The Negroes there as you will see in
Mr Postelthwaite’s letter are much addicted to Obea & of course in the most
dreadful state. Mr P. asked Mr Williams, this is the name of the manager of the
Estates, what must be done to save the Negroes from being completely destroyed.
Mr W. advised him to apply to me. He did.
Sabbath June
24th I landed there about two o’clock in the afternoon &
preached at 5 o'clock to about 200 Negroes & others. All were very attentive. I left
some Catechisms & Testaments to be given to those who could & would
instruct the ignorant. I left Monday morning & arrived back [in
Georgetown] Tuesday afternoon.
The school
will diminish if I go often for the parents complained then & on it I
depend for support [his salary] & to pay off the preal [legal
term]debt of 9000 guilders if ever I can. Mr Wray & I continue to
supply Mahaica. When last there I called on Mr Hopkinson who is the proprietor
of 2 or 3 or 4 plantations [ over a dozen Hopkinson claimants in the UCL database
claiming for over 3000 slaves. But the numbers are duplicated
across claimants and may relate to joint claims for the same persons] &
asked if he would not like to have his Negroes instructed in Religion. He said
he would consider of it. I hope he will permit them to be taught.
Mr
Postelthwaite wishes to have a missionary out. I gave him your address. He will
pay his expenses which I said would not exceed £200. Everything respecting
money he will write you. I mentioned to him that Mr Post had not only promised
to pay my expenses out but after I came desired me to take over the
school [ NB. This differs from Ishmael’s account which has him come out to take
on the school rather than as a missionary] & that he would pay all
expenses attending it & doubtless would have done so, but he died & no
provision being made in the will came on me & the Society ….. to pay it. He
said he would fix it permanently & I hope it will be so that the missionary
will not be left in the lamentable situation I am.
Experience
in matters of the world & especially in Religion will be of more importance
than being able to read Homer or any other Academical attainment in his
situation among none but Negroes in general & far from the Town [George
Town]. The good natural abilities & a habit of reading are absolutely
necessary in all Missionaries in this land. The field is extensive &
flaming zeal for the redeemer’s glory & ardent Love to souls together with
good constitution & unremitting labour will alone be able to cultivate it.
All things go on well in Town. I am honoured Gentlemen your humble &
obedient servant John Davies.