Correspondence of Thomas Beighton and Abigail Beighton

Typescript transcript of 28 letters and extracts of letters, and photocopies of three original letters. Written by Thomas and Abigail Beighton to their family and friends Mr Thomas Tobitt, Mrs Rhoda Tobitt, Rev. Burder, Mr Blossom and Miss Anna Cross from first Malacca and then Penang. The letters record the problems encountered on their jourey from England to Madras such as bad weather and sickness. They record local customs, and work in the Mission Houses in Malacca and Penang. In particular the letters refer to work of the Beightons' in education, with reference to the education of women and Malay practice. There is much discussion of family matters and of relationships among the missionary communities. 128 pp.

Thomas Beighton: born at Ednaston, Derbyshire, 1790; studied at Gosport; appointed to the Malacca mission of the London Missionary Society (LMS); ordained at Derby, 1817; married Abigail Tobitt; sailed to Malacca via Madras with his wife, 1818; stationed at Penang, 1819; carried out missionary work in Penang, the Malayan Peninsula, and the Queda coast, particularly educational work and translation; responsible for the mission printing press at Penang, which produced materials in Malay and English; died in Penang, 1844. Publications: various Christian texts published in Malay, 1836-1841.

Abigail Beighton (née Tobitt): born, 1791; engaged in missionary work in female education; returned to England, 1846; died at Barnet, 1879.

Typescript transcript of letters and extracts of letters, and some photocopies of original letters, 1818-1821, from Thomas and Abigail Beighton to family and friends, recording problems encountered on the journey from England to Madras; local customs; and missionary work in Malacca and Penang, particularly their work in education; also including much discussion of family matters and of relationships among the missionary communities.

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Presented in 1999.

For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance

The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of the London Missionary Society (Ref: CWM/LMS), including Thomas Beighton's candidate's papers (Ref: CWM/LMS Candidates' Papers Box 1 No 39); journals (or extracts) of Thomas Beighton in Penang, 1819, 1822-1824, 1830, 1838-1839 (Ref: CWM/LMS Ultra Ganges Journals); letters of Thomas or Abigail Beighton from Penang, 1819-1845 (Ref: CWM/LMS Ultra Ganges Penang Incoming correspondence).