New Light in the Old Dominion

Stewart,

I am very familiar with SWBTS, I received my MDiv there. The very best bibliography for Davies is found in Pilcher’s book, “Apostle of Dissent in Colonial Virginia” and if you can find a copy for sale buy it. The library there may have a copy too.

The Bellamy letters are quoted in Pilcher’s work and are found in his bibliography. I think they are either in the Library of Congress {although those letters are generally the letters to Commissary Thomas Dawson of Williamsburg which mention Davies, or Davies letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury concerning the dissenters.} The other locations of Davies’ old letters is either the Historical Society of Virginia in Richmond, and the Presbyterian Archives in Philadelphia.

The Historical Society has Davies’ old Bible and a few letters. My mother now lives in Williamsburg, and I was able to spend some time at the William and Mary Library and in the Colonial Williamsburg Library. I also got into the library at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, but was not able to access any of their archival materials. The were VERY protective of the portion of Davies’ journal in their possession.

One other possibility on the letters may be the Princeton Archives, which I think you can access on line. I think it is the Firestone Library, and you may be able to get a library loan on the items. Those items are found in the presidential archives.

If you can get access to the Early American Imprints, the 1639-1800 section also has some of Davies’ pamphlets and letters. The Colonial Williamsburg library also has available a copy of Davies’ letter to England reporting on the work among the slaves and requesting materials for their further education. That letter costs a few bucks plus the postage.

I have purchased about every book about Davies that can be found. There is a book of his poetry available through the Scholars Facsimiles and Reprints too, for about $60 if you are starved for the full meal deal. The two Pilcher books are worth the cost, and I am sure you have secured the three volume set of Davies’ sermons by Banner of Truth Trust. The sermons volumes are out of print, and I bought the third one online in England, ouch!

I saw everything that Williamsburg has, and that left me to Princeton and the Presbyterian Archives. Bellamy I think was the name of a pastor in New England and in England, so you will have to be certain which one you are quoting. The one in New England, Mass. was a friend to Jonathan Edwards, and he is the one who received the request from Davies for Edwards to come to Virginia when Davies learned the Edwards had been dismissed at Northampton.

I wish you well with the dissertation. Full time pastoring puts a crunch on the time. Bless you brother.