Missionaries and Slavery: John Davies writes from George Town to the (London) Missionary Society in1810

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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 4^th 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 24^th 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.