The collection of John Wiswall's documents is divided into 2 sections and predominantly covers the years 1770-1792: correspondence and journals. Section 1 is organized as follows: 1.1 Letters from Falmouth (1770-1774); 1.2 Letters from Boston (1775); 1.3 Letters from London and Oxford (1780-1782); and 1.4 Letters with the Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (1783-1789). Section 2 contains: 2.1 Letters and Petitions from Boston and London (1775-1776); 2.2 Family Anecdotes and a Journal; and 2.3 Accounts - financial and personal/family history.
The material chronicles Wiswall's life as a clergyman in Falmouth, Massachusetts; his flight to Boston during the American Revolution; the journey to London and Oxford, England; the time spent as a navy chaplain in the West Indies; and his emigration to Nova Scotia, first to Cornwallis and then to Wilmot where he also served as minister to the communities of Aylesford, Horton, and Digby (in the early years).
The documents shed light on the hardships he encountered in Falmouth, and the distressed situation experienced thereafter due to his loyalty to Britain during the American Revolution. The state, progress, and challenges of his missions in Falmouth and Nova Scotia are recounted and described relating to religion, such as glebe lands; relationship with and attitude towards communities; baptisms, marriages, and burials; catechist/school teachers; churches and property finances; and dissenters. Also included are those records related to him personally, such as his lack of a sufficient salary, travel difficulties, and health problems.
One of the many incidences retold in the Journals are the years on naval ships, in particular, Boyne, in which he describes naval movements and intelligence in the Caribbean, such as at St. Lucia and Grenada. Herein he describes the men, and conditions on ship (which causes ill health) in entries for July and August of 1780.
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