One bound volume with a variety of handwritten items and newspaper clipping. This early 19th century copy book is a mix of records, class notes, and scrapbook. It is written in several hands, but several sections seem to have been written by Rev. Charles Simmons. The first 25 pages are horticultural notes from a periodical pasted over the manuscript entries, then a short section of theological questions and answers. There are then a series of essays or class notes, such as Ledyard's Eulogy on Women, Questions with answers from Blairs Lectures, Irving's Granada, Butler's Analogy. A 39 page section titled "Letters to a friend, containing Sketches from my journal of a tour in some parts of New England, in the Spring and Summer of 1828", seemed to have been written by Charles Simmons. This section has references to Thomas Williams and the importance of having a doctrinal tract Society, described a visit to the Rev. Enoch Pond in Sutton, the Rev. Wood of Upton, Spirit of the Pilgrims, opinions of Dr. Beecher and a long positive description of the Rev. Emmons' contributions to theology. The writer is a Calvinist. The journal of the tour is followed by Church Records, Paris, N.Y., names of members, time of admission, deaths, removals and a short history of the Congregational church of Paris, NY. This section seems to be the notes of Charles Simmons, who was baptized at this church, but does not appear to be the official church record. The last page of the book contains an antislavery poem with a famous image of a slave accompanied by the words, "Have we not all one father?"

The following biographical sketch of Charles Simmons comes from Mortimer Blake, A Centurial History of the Mendon Association of Congregational Ministers, with the Centennial Address, Delivered at Franklin, Mass. Nov. 19, 1851, And Biographical Sketches of Members and Licentiates. Boston: Sewall Harding, 1853. Pages 199-201

"Rev. Charles Simmons Is a native of Paris Hill Oneida Co NY and the son of Aaron Simmons Jr whose father belonged to Little Compton RI. His mother was Lydia Wilbor daughter of Charles Wilbor of Little Compton and sister of the late Gov Wilbor of the same place.

He spent his early life in the family of Rev. W.R. Weeks DD of Paris Hill NY and in travelling as general agent for the Utica Christian Repository which Dr. Weeks then conducted and for similar publications. He also served an apprenticeship as blacksmith and carried on the business as partner a year during which time he engaged to go in this capacity under the patronage of the Am Board to one of the Indian tribes near Green Bay. But they abandoned the enterprize and he was released. He then engaged in study for college with Dr. Weeks but on his advice he relinquished the idea of graduating studied theology and was approbated by the Oneida Association 24 May 1832.

Mr Simmons commenced preaching in Hebronville South Attleboro in July and was ordained there 26 Dec 1832 and dismissed 21 Oct 1838. He spent the winter following in Middleboro assisting Rev. Mr. Putnam in that extensive town. He was stated supply at North Scituate 1839 and also at Wareham the year and a half following. Since this latter date he has resided in North Wrentham preaching occasionally but employed chiefly in the distribution of Dr Emmons's Works and upon his own publications.

Mr. Simmons married Miss Eliza Perrigo daughter of Mr. John Perrigo of North Wrentham and has two children.

Publications. Besides many articles in the Utica Repository, Hopkinsian Magazine, N.E. Telegraph, etc., he has issued, 1 Tract on U.S. Slavery, 24 pp 1841. 2. Scripture Manual, 1st edition, at Wareham 1841; 2d, in 1844. Stereotyped, 1845. Over 40,000 copies of this valuable work have been sold in this country, and it has been translated into other languages at some of the Mission Stations. 3. A tract on Human Ability and Dependence, 1850. 4. A Manual of Maxims, 1852."