Letters and papers of John Frearby Haslam, his family, and friends

Scope and Content

Comprises: (1) Many hundreds of letters by, or concerning, J.F. Haslam and members of his family from many generations, some original, others photocopied, or typed and pasted into exercise books, accompanied by a box of index cards to 'every letter of the 1825-1850 collection' containing many details and arranged in date order; (2) Numerous drafts and copies of the Haslam family tree in various of its branches; (3) Family photographs from several generations; (4) Miscellaneous documents, including the will of Samuel Haslam (1828), both the original and a photocopy, and J.F. Haslam's licence to preach; (5) File of personalia; (6) A photocopy of a printed memoir of J.F. Haslam's life and missionary service (1857) and a printed obituary notice (1850); (7) Several Ordnance Survey maps; (8) Correspondence between the University Librarian, Mr D. Cox, and the Rev. J.A.G. Haslam, J.F. Haslam's grandson, concerning the donation of the archive to the Brotherton Collection, 1977-1984.

Administrative / Biographical History

John Frearby Haslam was born on 13 June 1811 to Samuel Haslam by his second wife, Elizabeth Frearby, in Sowerby Bridge in the parish of Halifax. After attending Heath Grammar School, he left home in 1825 for tuition under the Rev. J.W. Brooks, Vicar of East Retford, Nottinghamshire. In 1832 he entered St John's College, Cambridge, where he read classics and mathematics, in which latter subject he graduated in 1836. Soon after this he offered himself to the Church Missionary Society for service overseas. After a junior curacy in Chesterfield, during which time he married his first wife, Elizabeth Denton, in May 1837, he was appointed to the post of principal of the Christian Institution at Cotta, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), where he and his wife arrived in January 1839. His wife died soon afterwards, and he later married Elizabeth Bailey in December 1842. By her he had five children. He himself suffered from failing health amidst his missionary labours and eventually died on 19 March 1850.

Access Information

Access is unrestricted.

Acquisition Information

The gift of the Rev. J.A.G. Haslam of Cambridge on 31 July 1984.

Note

In English.

Family Names