Overview
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Preferred Citation
Restrictions on Access
Subject Terms
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Record Creator: | Fifield, Moses | |
Title: | Moses Fifield Papers | |
Date Span: | 1805-1928 | Click here to view the finding aid format suitable for requesting material at the Archives. |
Abstract: | Moses Fifield was a Methodist Episcopal Church minister. The collection is made up of material relating to his ministry. | |
Extent: | 2 cubic feet | |
Identification: |
Moses Fifield (1790-1859), American minister, was born in Unity, New Hampshire on December 7, 1790. He taught school for a time. In 1816 he joined the New England Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Celia Knight (1786-1874) on March 5, 1820.
Fifield served the following appointments as an itinerant preacher: Sandwich Circuit, 1816; Harwich, 1817; Providence, Rhode Island, 1819; Warehouse Point, 1822; Springfield, 1820; Connecticut Circuit, 1823; Tolland circuit, 1824. By 1824, his health had deteriorated, and he could no longer fulfill his duties. He chose to leave the ministry and the conference granted him an honorable location. After that time, he moved to Centreville, Rhode Island, and engaged primarily in secular business as a banker. He continued to serve the church in a limited capacity until his death on April 19, 1859.
The collection spans the years 1805-1928, with most of the material dating from before Fifield's death in 1859. The bulk of the material consists of letters, sermons and various documents. It also includes oil portraits and daguerreotypes of Fifiled and his wife, Celia. A few of the sermons date from Fifield's years as a secular banker; this indicates that he probably continued to preach somewhat during those years. It should be noted that several of Fifield's sermons are written on the back of correspondence which he received. Many of the documents are in poor condition and should be handled carefully, as should the oil paintings which are both cracked and flaking.
Many of the documents are in poor condition and should be handled carefully, as should the oil paintings which are both cracked and flaking.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
The collection is arranged by record type.
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Moses Fifield Papers, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
There are no restrictions regarding this collection.
Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
1637-7-4: 1 | Correspondence | 1833-1858 |
1637-7-4: 2 | Sermons and Addresses | 1805-1843 |
1637-7-4: 3 | Daguerreotypes | Undated |
1637-7-4: 4 | Record of Marriages | 1829-1858 |
1637-7-4: 5 | Certificates and recommendations | 1809-1857 |
1637-7-4: 6 | Family Records | 1880-1911 |
1637-7-4: 7 | Publications | 1928 |
1637-7-4: 8 | Financial | 1820-1824 |
2447-1-1: 1 | Oil Portrait: Moses Fifield | Undated |
2447-1-1: 2 | Oil Portrait: Celia Knight Fifield | Undated |