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Jonathan Edwards correspondence to Esther Burr, 1757.

 Collection
Identifier: MS4863

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a single letter written by Rev. Jonathan Edwards that was sent from Stockbridge, Massachusetts on November 20, 1757 to his daughter, Mrs. Esther Burr in Princeton, New Jersey. In the letter Edwards speaks of religious faith and provides an update on his invitation to the presidency of Princeton University.

Dates

  • 1757

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Access to this collection is unrestricted and open to the public.

Restrictions on Use

Items in this collection are subject to U.S. Copyright Law. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine the copyright status of collection items and to secure any permissions necessary for their reproduction and publication. Requests for permission to publish material must be discussed with the archivist or librarian.

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Biographical Note

Rev. Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was born in East Windsor, Connecticut on October 5, 1703 to Rev. Timothy and Esther Edwards. He attended Yale for both undergraduate and graduate studies, graduating in 1722. He became pastor in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1726, succeeding his grandfather Solomon Stoddard. In 1727 he married Sarah Pierpont and together the couple raised 10 children. Their daughter Esther was born February 13, 1732.

Esther married Rev. Aaron Burr Sr. (1715/6-1757), a Presbyterian pastor in Newark, New Jersey in June of 1752. Rev. Burr Sr. went on to found Princeton College in 1746 and became the school's second president in 1748. In September of 1757 he passed away due to illness. Less than a year later, in April 1758 Esther died of smallpox. The couple's son, Aaron Burr Jr. (1756-1836) went on to become the third vice president of the United States and the controversial slayer of Alexander Hamilton in a duel between the two men.

A more complete biography and timeline of Jonathan Edwards' life is available from the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale.

Extent

1 Folder

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Rev. Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was born in East Windsor, Connecticut on October 5, 1703 to Rev. Timothy and Esther Edwards. In 1727 he married Sarah Pierpont and together the couple raised 10 children. Their daughter Esther was born February 13, 1732. Esther married Rev. Aaron Burr Sr. (1715/6-1757), a Presbyterian pastor in Newark, New Jersey in June of 1752. This collection contains a single letter written by Rev. Jonathan Edwards that was sent from Stockbridge, Massachusetts on November 20, 1757 to his daughter, Esther Burr.

Technical Requirements

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Acquisition Information

No acquisition information is available for this collection.

Accruals

Additional accruals are expected for this collection in the form of full-text transcription. There is no anticipated date for this accrual.

Processing Information

Processed by Zachary Bodnar, June 2019, using DACS Second Edition.

Title
Jonathan Edwards correspondence to Esther Burr, 1757.
Status
Completed
Author
Zachary Bodnar
Date
2019-06-20
Description rules
Dacs2 2013
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Congregational Library & Archives Repository

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