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Benjamin Pearson family papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 1427

Scope and Contents

The Benjamin Pearson Family Papers consist of family letters, poery, and other writings, 1726-1818, by and about the Pearson family of England and Pennsylvania. Most of the letters are addressed to Benjamin Pearson (1682-1763) from various locations in England. Pearson had emigrated from Yorkshire in 1712 and had settled with his wife and children in Darby, Pennsylvania. Correspondents include his brother, Laurence Pearson; his sister, Margaret (Pearson) Jeffreys; his cousin, Samuel Ashton; his nephew and niece Michael and Patience (Jeffreys) Bland; and Elizabeth, John, and Thomas Bears. The correspondents all were members of the Society of Friends, and the letters record their attitudes toward religion, work, family life, society, and historical events. A notebook of poetry, compiled and annotated by Pearson's sons and later descendants, is one of the few items in the papers produced by the American branch of the family.

Mrs. H. J. Knowles donated the papers to Yale Library in 1954. They were transferred from the Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection (MS 352) in 1985.

Dates

  • 1726-1818

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mrs. H. J. Knowles, 1954. The papers were originally part of the Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection, MS 352.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1427

Abstract

The papers consist of family letters, poetry, and other writings by and about the Pearson family of England and Darby, Pennsylvania. Most of the letters are written to Benjamin Pearson from relatives in England.

Title
Guide to the Benjamin Pearson Family Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by Diane E. Kaplan and John Espy
Date
May 1987
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours