Thomas Picton collection, 1760, 1792-1825 (majority within 1792-1825)

Summary

Creator:

Picton, Thomas, 1775-1861

Abstract:

This collection is made up of 135 sermons and 46 incomplete sermons/notes/fragments/prayers by Presbyterian minister Thomas Picton of Westfield, New Jersey; and the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, initially written between 1792 and 1823. Each of Rev. Picton's sermons include designated hymns for the service, places and dates where he delivered it, and sometimes notes about events or people pertinent to the occasion. The collection also includes four letters and drafts of letters dating between 1815 and 1825, pertinent to his ministry, a request for a letter of recommendation, and his dismissal from the West Point chaplaincy.

Extent:

185 items (0.75 linear feet)

Language:

English
Welsh

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Cheney J. Schopieray, January 2025

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection is made up of 135 sermons and 46 incomplete sermons/notes/fragments/prayers by Presbyterian minister Thomas Picton of Westfield, New Jersey; and the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, initially written between 1792 and 1823. Each of Rev. Picton's sermons include designated hymns for the service, places and dates where he delivered it, and sometimes notes about events or people pertinent to the sermon. The collection also includes four letters and drafts of letters dating between 1815 and 1825, pertinent to his ministry, a request for a letter of recommendation, and his dismissal from the West Point chaplaincy.

An example of Thomas Picton's sermons is one that he wrote at Westfield on January 17, 1809, for the funeral of Isaac Acken (who inadvertently shot himself in the arm and died from complications of the gunshot wound). Picton utilized the text again, as the basis for his sermon at the funeral of Sally Mooney at Westfield on January 17, 1810; the funeral of Dr. Isaac Ludlow at Westfield on March 30, 1815; the funeral of West Point cadet Dryden Laycock on October 17, 1818; and for "soldiers" at West Point on July 8, 1821.

Rev. Picton titled one of several sermons pertinent to the War of 1812 "Thanksgiving day" (based on 147th Psalm, 14th verse, 1st part), which he delivered at Westfield on April 13, 1815, "The day appointed by James Madison, President of U.S. for a publick Thanksgiving, on account of peace with England, signed in London Decr. 14. 1814. ratified in Washington Febry 18th. 1815"

One of the fragments (in box two, folder six) is in the Welsh language and another (in box two, folder five) is in shorthand.

The collection includes four letters or draft letters to Rev. Thomas Picton. They are:

• Incomplete autograph letter to Thomas Picton, December 26, 1815; New Haven. Replying to a request for advice from Rev. Picton about Phyllis/Phyllis, a woman of African descent (possibly an enslaved woman), who refused to marry the man "Mr. and Mrs. Aikorn" insisted she marry. On account of their subsequent "unkind & unchristian" treatment, Phillis refused to attend communion.
• Dymbech yng Rgwynedd autograph letter signed to Thomas Picton, January 20, 1818; Cape May Court House. 3 pages. The Welshman from New Bridge, Benbighshire, NW, mentioned in Picton's letter (recently seen in N.Y.), was committed to State Prison where he served his full term. He was about the city before taking a steamboat for N.B.; he was seen on Cape May hearty but fatigued. Daughter recovered from illness. Another daughter and son-in-law moved to Ohio and settled between the Miamis. Tracking down a copy of Dr. Lewis' "Body of Divinity" that was owned by the late Mr. Edwards. It was apparently sent by the estate to Philadelphia where it was sold. Rev. Ogden ordained and installed in Presbyterian congregation at Cape May. Thoughts on Ogden. Five lines and sign off in Welsh language.
• Jno. M. Picton autograph letter signed to Thomas Picton, January 9, 1825; Fortress Monroe. 4 pages. To his uncle. Unpleasant passage on account of stormy weather. With deference, reminded Picton of a vacancy in the artillery company at West Point. Fort Monroe not as well equipped for practical, "scientific & useful" instruction. Specifically mentioned the Library at West Point. Had conversations with Colonel Thayer, applied but has not heard. Wanted to connect with Rev. Picton before re-connecting with Thayer. Did not need transportation money to reach the post.
• Draft letter of three pages, with a section crossed out (still readable), signed "Aristides"; following the draft is a note from J. Mansfield (Mamfield?) to Thomas Picton, dated December 28, 1825, in which he attested to be the author of the draft and that it was originally written as a criticism of the West Point Board's idea of having a group of annual visitors brought in to assess the institution. Posted from West Point December 28, to Thomas Picton in New York.

Biographical / Historical:

Thomas Picton (1775-1861)

• 1775: Thomas Picton was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
• October 18, 1799-November 12, 1804: Started his first ministry at Woodbury and Timber Creek near Camden, New Jersey.
• November 2, 1802: Married Mary Zantzinger (1777-1821).
• April 18, 1805-October 24, 1805: Presbytery of New York.
• October 24, 1805: Picton replaced the deceased Rev. Benjamin Woodruff as minister at the Westfield, New Jersey, Presbyterian Church.
• 1808: Revival launched by Rev. Thomas Picton.
• In 1810 and 1811: Rev. Picton travelled to areas in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, delivering various sermons, including one on the subject of eschatology, emphasizing that scripture does not indicate whether the righteous dead "at least, of dead saints" will be resurrected before or after the general conflagration the world (sermon first delivered December 17, 1809, at Westfield).
• 1818: Resigned from Westfield, New Jersey, Presbyterian Church. According to the church's report, during his time at Westfield, Rev. Picton joined 187 persons, handled the deaths of 227 people, baptized 400 persons, and married 160 couples.
• 1819: Final Westfield sermon published, On Some of the Duties... (Elizabeth-Town, N.J., 1819).
• 1819-1825: Served as chaplain and professor of multiple subjects at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Rev. Picton was the second chaplain to serve at the Academy.
• February 6, 1861: Died in Hoboken, New Jersey, at his son-in-law Edwin Stevens. Age 85.

Acquisition Information:

2024. M-8363 .

Arrangement:

The sermons are arranged by the earliest date Rev. Picton delivered them; incomplete and undated materials follow; the four letters are housed in oversize manuscripts.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Bibliography

McKinney, William K., Charles A. Philhower, and Harry A. Kniffin, Commemorative History of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, New Jersey 1728-1928. Westfield, N.J.: Presbyterian Church, 1929: 169-171.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

African American Presbyterians.
Clergy--New Jersey--Westfield.
Clergy--New York--West Point.
Presbyterians--New Jersey--Westfield.
Sermons, American--18th century.
Sermons, American--19th century.
Sermons, American--New Jersey.

Formats:

Drafts (documents)
Letters (correspondence)
Notes.
Prayers (compositions)
Sermons.

Names:

United States. Army--Chaplains.
United States Military Academy--History--19th century.
United States Military Academy--Religion.

Places:

United States--History--War of 1812.