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Overview

Biographical Note

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Preferred Citation

Alternate Forms Available

Restrictions on Access

Restrictions on Use

Related Material

Subject Terms

Container List [ + ]

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Guide to the Garrettson Family Papers

Prepared by Lacey Brother, Student Assistant, Kristen D. Turner, Associate Archivist and Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist

United Methodist Archives and History Center
General Commission on Archives and History, Madison, New Jersey

11/6/2006
(Published for the Drew University Methodist Library)


Overview of Records

Record Creator: Garrettson, Freeborn
Title: Garrettson Family Papers
Dates: 1760- 1885
Abstract: Freeborn Garrettson (1752-1827) was a pioneer preacher, missionary, and leader of early American Methodism. The Garrettson Family Papers contain the papers and writings of Freeborn, Catherine, and Mary Garrettson.
Extent: 2.66 cu. feet



Biographical Note

Freeborn Garrettson (1752-1827) was a pioneer preacher, missionary, and leader of early American Methodism. In 1775, Garrettson worked as an assistant on a circuit, and in May 1776, he was admitted on trial in the Baltimore Conference. Garrettson served circuits in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

During the American Revolution, Garrettson suffered more persecution than any other American Methodist preacher, in part because he refused to take the oath to bear arms for the Americanswhich was required by Maryland law. He also was openly opposed to slavery. He was beaten, tortured, and harassed frequently, and imprisoned in 1780 by supporters of the Revolution. During the Revolutionary period, Francis Asbury, the only British Methodist missionary not to flee back to England, relied heavily on Garrettson to oversee much of Methodism's early work in America.

In 1781, the Baltimore Conference appointed Garrettson to several traveling circuits in Virginia and North Carolina. He remained in that region for a year, traveling hundreds of miles, preaching nearly five hundred sermons, stationing preachers, and holding quarterly meetings. Garrettson returned to the Delmarva Peninsula in 1782 and stayed there until 1784.

That year, Thomas Coke arrived from England to reorganize the American Methodist societies into a church. He sent Garrettson to the south to announce the Christmas Conference of 1784. This conference united the societies and marked the beginning of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

At the Christmas Conference, Garrettson and James O. Cromwell were commissioned as missionaries and sent to Nova Scotia to begin Methodist work there. Garrettson remained in Nova Scotia for three years. He returned in 1787 for the General Conference held in Baltimore.

At this Conference he was appointed presiding elder of the Delmarva Peninsula region. Garrettson accepted his appointment, but within a year, Asbury shifted him to the New England region.

On his journey to New England in 1788, Garrettson stopped in New York City, only to be shocked by the deteriorating condition of Methodism in the region. He was particularly concerned with the Hudson River Valley, and was able to convince Asbury that work was needed there. Garrettson gathered twelve young, itinerant preachers, and together they concentrated their efforts on the Hudson River Valley.

In 1793, Garrettson married Catherine Livingston (1752-1849), the daughter of Margaret Beekman and Robert R. (the Judge) Livingston. Catherine was the fifth of ten children. The Livingstons were a prominent American family. They had great wealth, social position, and political connections.

Catherine's conversion to Methodism came when she was in her mid-thirties, and she became intensely religious. She joined the Methodist Church in Rhinebeck, New York, in defiance of her family, who viewed Methodism as a radical sect. Her marriage to Freeborn was opposed by most of her family, except her sister Margaret Tillotson, in who's home she took refuge. Catherine's mother threatened loss of family status and forfeiture of property and inheritance rights if Catherine insisted on marrying Freeborn. Catherine stood firm in her beliefs, and eventually her family relented.

With Catherine's support and encouragement, Freeborn continued his itinerancy in the Hudson River Valley. The Garrettson home, Wildercliffe, in Rhinebeck, New York, was always open to traveling ministers and preachers. His marriage into the Livingston family aided his success, despite continued regional prejudice against Methodists. When Garrettson began his work in 1788 there were four Methodist circuits in the New York Conference. By the 1791 conference meeting, Garrettson could report of twelve circuits. At that conference he took leadership of the northern nine circuits.

In July 1793 Garrettson was appointed the presiding elder of the Philadelphia Conference. Both he and Catherine traveled to the city. They returned to Rhinebeck in the spring of 1794, for Catherine was excepting the birth of their first and only child, Mary Rutherford (1794-1879).

Later in 1794, Garrettson was appointed presiding elder of the New York District, a position he held for five years. During this time he continued in the itinerancy, traveling and preaching whenever possible. In 1799 he traveled extensively throughout the Philadelphia Conference for a year. From 1800 to 1805 he was stationed in the New York District once again. For the next five years Garrettson served as conference missionary. In 1811 he was again appointed presiding elder of the New York District. He held that position until 1815 when he went into semi-retirement. While family matters were of his concern, the lure of the itinerancy still called him, as he continued to preach, travel, and attend conferences.

Even in semi-retirement, Garrettson remained active in church leadership. He was instrumental in founding Wesleyan Seminary in New York City 1819. This institution closed in 1829. Garrettson also formed the Missionary and Bible Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1819. This organization marked the beginning of organized missionary work within the denomination. In addition, a new Methodist church was constructed in Rhinebeck under the supervision and direction of Garrettson in 1822.

Garrettson was an important and prominent figure in early American Methodism. He was Asbury's right hand man and was instrumental in establishing Methodism's stronghold in North America, particularly in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Nova Scotia, and the Hudson River Valley region. Garrettson was openly opposed to slavery, a strong supporter of missions, an able administrator, and the denomination's peacemaker.

There are several other individuals who figure prominently in this collection, primarily Catherine's siblings. Catherine Livingston Garrettson had nine siblings. She was particularly close to her brother Edward and her sisters Janet Livingston Montgomery, Margaret Livingston Tillotson, and Alida Livingston Armstrong. There is correspondence in this collection between these siblings.

Janet Livingston (1743-1828) was the first child of Margaret and Robert R. Livingston. She married General Richard Montgomery in 1773. Montgomery was a Revolutionary War commander who served under Philip Schuyler during the 1775 expedition to Canada. Montgomery was killed at Quebec in 1776, but his ashes were not returned to the United States until 1818.

Margaret Livingston (n.d.) was the second daughter of Margaret and Robert R. Livingston. She married Thomas Tillotson, a physician, in 1779. The Tillotson home became a refuge for Catherine during her courtship with Freeborn.

Alida Livingston (1761-1822) was the ninth child of Margaret and Robert R. Livingston. She married General John Armstrong in 1789.

Edward Livingston (1764-1836) was the tenth child of Margaret and Robert R. Livingston. He graduated from Princeton University in 1781 and had a legal career in New York City. In 1788, he married Mary McEvers, and they had three children. His wife died in 1800, and his son Lewis perished in a voyage at sea. Edward remarried in 1805. His second wife, Louise D'Avezac de Castera Moreau de Lassay was an eighteen year old daughter of a French planter. They had one daughter, Coralie Livingston (1806-1873). She married Thomas Barton of Philadelphia.

Edward served three terms in Congress (1785-1801) as an anti-federalist. In 1800 he began serving as the federal district attorney and mayor of New York City. He was a popular and effective mayor, but yellow fever and scandal soon hit his administration. In 1803 a clerk in his office embezzled money, but Robert took responsibility for it, repaying the city out of his own pocket, and removing himself from office. He then traveled to New Orleans. He was elected to the Louisiana legislature in 1820 and to Congress in 1822, a seat he held until 1829. In 1831 he became United States Secretary of State.


Scope Note

The Garrettson Family Papers contain the papers and writings of Freeborn, Catherine, and Mary Garrettson. Together these papers document the work and religious beliefs of a Methodist family from the late eighteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. But, separately, the papers of each individual family member could stand alone as a significant collection. The journals of Freeborn Garrettson provide important information on early American Methodism and its growth. Freeborn knew of, and corresponded with, several early church leaders including Thomas Coke, Nathan Bangs, and John Wesley. He served as Francis Asbury's assistant. His papers are an invaluable record on the itinerancy, church polity, and the development of a mainline Protestant denomination in America. The journals and correspondence relating to Catherine Garrettson provide insight into the deeply religious and personal beliefs of a prominent eighteenth and nineteenth century woman.

Likewise, there is a wealth of information in the correspondence sent and received by Mary Garrettson. The correspondence of both Garrettson women highlights the extensive social network of women's friendships and connections. Many of Catherine's friends had daughters who were, in turn, friends with Mary. Mary not only corresponded with her friends, but also knew of and wrote to her mother's friends. It is easy to see the importance of the Livingston family name and connection, as both Catherine and Mary were part of elite, upper class social circles. The Garrettsons socialized with some important Revolutionary American War figures and early national leaders. The largest part of the entire collection is correspondence. Much of this correspondence is undated. Some of the letters have typed transcriptions from the originals. The transcriber is unknown. While some letters are fragile, most are in good condition. The material from Freeborn Garrettson includes journals, correspondence, sermons, conference materials, biographical materials, religious tracts, and a single artifact. Garrettson's journals are the highlight of his materials. This collection contains eleven original journals from 1779 to 1826. These journals do not run consecutively. The entire Garrettson journal collection, which dates from 1775 to 1826, has been microfilmed. The correspondence relating to Freeborn Garrettson is both incoming and outgoing and dates from 1786 to 1827. There are letters to John Wesley, Francis Asbury, and Thomas Coke, as well as to other ministers, preachers, and church brothers. Garrettson also wrote to his wife, daughter, and a few other family members. Also included in the Freeborn Garrettson materials are sermons and sermon outlines and notations.

There is a folder of conference materials which contains several actions regarding the preachers within the New York Conference. The biographical materials contain information on Freeborn, Catherine, and Mary Garrettson, as well as other members of the Livingston family. Notations about a few close friends of the Garrettson's have also been included in this material. Items relating to Catherine Garrettson include journals, a diary, correspondence, writings, an autograph album, and an autobiography.

There are fifteen journals from the years 1787 to 1848. In addition, Catherine kept a dream journal and a travel journal. Her journals contain many references to, and accounts of, her religious conversion and experiences. A handwritten diary is contained in the Catherine Garrettson materials.

The correspondence related to Catherine Garrettson is incoming and outgoing and is dated 1760 to 1848. Catherine wrote many letters to Freeborn and Mary, but she was also a prolific writer to other family members and friends. Family members she wrote to include her sisters Margaret Tillotson, Janet Montgomery, and Alida Armstrong. She also wrote to her brother Edward, and his second wife Louise. There are many letters from Catherine Garrettson to her friends Catharine Few, Anne Van Ness, and Catharine Rusten Suckley. Catherine Garrettson also received much correspondence from her friends, including Anne Van Ness, Martha Pasca, and Fanny Dougan. The remainder of the material related to Catherine include a folder of writings such as poems, scripture verses of meaning, religious notations, and diary excerpts.

There is also an autograph album belonging to Catherine, as well as a short autobiographical article. Material relating to Mary Garrettson includes correspondence, a biography she wrote of her mother, and other writings. The correspondence is both incoming and outgoing, although the letters she received were far greater in number. Most of this correspondence was from her friends. Some of the friends she received letters from include A. C. Bayard, John and Ann Seys, Seymour Landon, Margaretta Kemble, Margaretta Seth, Catherine Schuyler, Richard Reece, Matilda E. Van Ness, H. P. Tuckerman, William Willett, T. F. F. Mercein, and others. The letters date from 1817 to 1877.

In addition, there are some writings by Mary Garrettson. These include a travel account, two books of poems, school lessons, and diary entries. At the end of this collection there are four folders of materials related to the Garrettson family. There is a folder of correspondence between Catharine Few and Margaret Tillotson. Correspondence among members of the Livingston family, including many of Catherine's Garrettson's siblings, can also be found in this collection. A deposition of Catherine and Mary Garrettson can be located in these papers as well. Finally, there is also a religious book belonging to a nephew of Freeborn Garrettson.


Arrangement

Materials have been arranged in the following manner.

Series: Catherine Garrettson

Series: Freeborn Garrettson

Series: Mary Garrettson

Series: Garrettson and Livingston Families


Preferred Citation

When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Garrettson Family Papers, Methodist Collection - Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.


Alternate Form Available

Freeborn Garrettson journals are available on microfilm. This microfilm is located in the Methodist Collection of Drew University.


Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding this collection.


Restrictions on Use

Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.


Related Material

Works based on these materials: Bangs, Nathan. The Life of the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson: Complied from his printed and manuscript journals and other authentic documents. New York: Carlton and Porter, 1868; Lobody, Diane Helen. "Lost in the Ocean of Love: The Mystical Writings of Catherine Livingston Garrettson." Ph.D. diss., Drew University, 1990; and Simpson, Robert Drew, ed. American Methodist Pioneer. The Life and Journals of The Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, 1752-1827. Rutland, Vermont: Academy Books, 1984.

Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, has a collection of Garrettson letters. There are several letters to Freeborn from the leadership of the early Methodist Episcopal Church in America, including John Wesley, Francis Asbury, and Thomas Coke. In addition, there are also letters to Mary Garrettson from church leaders.


Subject Terms

Additonal Creators - Personal
Barton, Coralie Livingston
Bayard, A. C.
Dougan, Fanny
Garrettson, Freeborn
Garrettson, Mary
Kemble, Margaretta
Landon, Seymour
Livingston, Louise (Mrs. Edward)
Mercein, T. F. F.
Olin, Julia.
Pasca, Martha
Reece, Richard
Schuyler, Catherine
Seth, Margaretta
Seys, Ann
Seys, John
Tuckerman, H. P.
Van Ness, Anne
Van Ness, Matilda E.
Wesley, John
Willett, William
Garrettson, Catherine
Subject Names - Personal
Armstrong, Alida
Cooper, Ezekiel
Few, Catharine
Garrettson, Catherine
Garrettson, Freeborn
Garrettson, Mary
Hunt, Albert
Livingston, Edward
Livingston, Julia Eliza Montgomery
Livingston, Louise (Mrs. Edward)
Montgomery, Janet
Nott, Maria
Potter, Maria
Rusten, Catharine
Sands, Robert
Suckley, Catharine
Suckley, Mary.
Suckley, Sarah
Tillotson, Margaret
Van Ness, Anne
Wesley, John
Buff, Rachel
Subject Names - Corporate
Methodist Episcopal Church
Subject Topics
Church history-19th century
Itinerancy.
Methodism
Women
Church history-18th century
Subject Geographic
New York (State).
Genre
Articles
Artifacts
Autobiographies
Autograph albums
Biographies
Depositions.
Diaries
Journals
Lithography
Sermons
Tracts
Correspondence
Occupations
Minister.


Container List


Series: Catherine Garrettson
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1080-5-2: 1 Diary: November 27 - January 7 1787-1788
1080-5-2: 2 Diary: January 9 - March 8 1788
1080-5-2: 3 Diary: March 10 - May 2 1788
1080-5-2: 4 Diary: May 3 - December 22 1788
1080-5-2: 5 Diary: December 22 - August 30 1788-1792
1080-5-2: 6 Diary: March 7 - March 1 1793-1795
1080-5-2: 7 Diary: April 21 - August 1797-1817
1080-5-2: 8 Diary: March 14 - October 28 1811-1816
1080-5-2: 9 Diary: October 12 - November 18 1817-1827
1080-5-2: 10 Diary: February 22 - June 14 1811-1828
1080-5-2: 11 Diary: June 18 - August 25 1828-1830
1080-5-2: 12 Diary: September 26 - March 8 1830-1834
1080-5-2: 13 Diary: June 30 - April 1834-1838
1080-5-2: 14 Diary: May 9 - October 13 1838-1842
1080-5-2: 15 Diary: March 12 - October 14 1844-1848
1080-5-2: 16 Dream journal: August - June 1789-1802
1080-5-2: 17 Travel journal Undated
1080-5-2: 18 copy of Diary 1787-1824
1080-5-2: 19 Correspondence to Freeborn Garrettson 1790-1809
1080-5-2: 20 Correspondence to Freeborn Garrettson 1810-1827
1080-5-2: 21 Correspondence to Mary Garrettson 1804-1837
1080-5-2: 22 Correspondence to Margaret Tillotson 1790-1837
1080-5-2: 23 Correspondence to Janet Montgomery 1790-1819
1080-5-2: 24 Correspondence to Alida Armstrong 1805-1811
1080-5-2: 25 Correspondence to Edward Livingston 1804-1836
1080-5-2: 26 Correspondence to Mrs. Edward Livingston (Louise) 1836-1845
1080-5-2: 27 Correspondence to other family members and/or relatives 1798-1840
1080-5-2: 28 Correspondence to Catharine Few 1810-1815
1080-5-2: 29 Correspondence to Catharine Few 1816-1848
1080-5-2: 30 Correspondence to Anne Van Ness 1810-1827
1080-5-2: 31 Correspondence to Catharine Rusten 1791-1794
1080-5-2: 32 Correspondence to other friends 1805-1832
1080-5-2: 33 Correspondence from Ann Van Ness 1810-1827
1080-5-2: 34 Correspondence from Martha Pasca 1778-1816
1080-5-2: 35 Correspondence from Fanny Dougan 1822-1824
1080-5-2: 36 Correspondence from other friends 1825-1846
1080-5-2: 37 Correspondence from family members and/or relatives 1760-1832
1080-5-2: 38 Letter fragments 1780-1846
1080-5-2: 39 Writings Undated
1080-5-2: 40 Autograph album 1838-1840
1080-5-2: 41 Autobiography Undated

Series: Freeborn Garrettson
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1080-5-1: 1 Journal: May 18 - May 5 1788-1779
1080-5-1: 2 Journal: May 21 - July 12 1779
1080-5-1: 3 Journal: September 29 - July 26 1779-1780
1080-5-1: 4 Journal: July 27 - October 23 1780-1781
1080-5-1: 5 Journal: October 28 - October 11 1781-1782
1080-5-1: 6 Journal: October 17 - December 14 1782-1783
1080-5-1: 7 Journal: February 6 - May 6 1793
1080-5-1: 8 Journal: March 21 - April 10 1805
1080-5-1: 9 Journal: July 27 - August 16 1809
1080-5-1: 10 Journal: June 16 - May 29 1817-1821
1080-5-1: 11 Journal: March 31 - June 8 1824-1826
1080-5-1: 12 Correspondence to/from John Wesley 1786-1787
1080-5-1: 13 Correspondence to Ezekiel Cooper 1807-1826
1080-5-1: 14 Correspondence to other ministers, preachers, and church brothers 1785-1827
1080-5-1: 15 Correspondence to Catherine Garrettson 1791-1813
1080-5-1: 16 Correspondence to Catherine Garrettson 1815-1827
1080-5-1: 17 Correspondence to Mary Garrettson 1809-1923
1080-5-1: 18 Correspondence (general) 1805-1824
1080-5-1: 19 Sermons Undated
1080-5-1: 20 Sermons Undated
1080-5-1: 21 Sermon outlines and notations Undated
1080-5-1: 22 Conference materials 1802-1827
1080-5-1: 23 Writings Undated
1080-5-1: 24 Biographical materials Undated
1080-5-1: 25 Religious tracts Undated
1080-5-1: 26 Artifact--Pocket notebook Undated

Series: Mary Garrettson
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1080-5-3: 1 Correspondence to Catherine Garrettson Undated
1080-5-3: 2 Correspondence to Maria Potter 1817-1829
1080-5-3: 3 Correspondence to Mary Suckley Undated
1080-5-3: 4 Correspondence to Albert Hunt Undated
1080-5-3: 5 Correspondence to other friends and family members 1819-1878
1080-5-3: 6 Correspondence from A.C. Bayard Undated
1080-5-3: 7 Correspondence from John Seys 1835-1855
1080-5-3: 8 Correspondence from Ann Seys 1836-1842
1080-5-3: 9 Correspondence (other Seys letters) 1837-1853
1080-5-3: 10 Correspondence from Seymour Landon 1838-1850
1080-5-3: 11 Correspondence from Margaretta Kemble 1833-1864
1080-5-3: 12 Correspondence from Margaret Seth 1814-1831
1080-5-3: 13 Correspondence from Catherine Schuyler Undated
1080-5-3: 14 Correspondence from Richard Reece 1828-1849
1080-5-3: 15 Correspondence from Matilda E. Van Ness 1838-1844
1080-5-3: 16 Correspondence from H. P. Tuckerman 1828-1841
1080-5-3: 17 Correspondence from William Willett 1837-1841
1080-5-3: 18 Correspondence from T. F. F. Mercein 1853-1854
1080-5-3: 19 Correspondence from other friends 1824-1860
1080-5-3: 20 Correspondence from Coralie Livingston Barton Undated
1080-5-3: 21 Correspondence from Louise Livingston Undated
1080-5-3: 22 Correspondence from Julia Olin 1843-1877
1080-5-3: 23 Letter fragments Undated
1080-5-3: 24 Biography of Catherine Garrettson Undated
1080-5-3: 25 Writings Undated
1080-5-3: 26 Writings Undated
1080-5-3: 27 Writings Undated
1080-5-3: 28 Writings, miscellaneous Undated

Series: Garrettson and Livingston Families
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1080-5-3: 29 Correspondence from Catharine Few to Margaret Tillotson 1809-1835
1080-5-3: 30 Correspondence between other Livingston family members and/or friends 1775-1885
1080-5-3: 31 Deposition 1848
1080-5-3: 32 Book 1826