Guide to the John Rodgers Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

John Rodgers Papers

Inclusive Dates

1747-1807

Call Number

RG 322

Creator(s)

Rodgers, John, 1727-1811.

Quantity

0.30 cubic feet (22 folders)

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research. The manuscript letter in Folder 5 is restricted for preservation reasons; please use transcript in Box 1, Folder 10.

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

John Rodgers was born in Boston in 1727; his family moved to Philadelphia the following year. He studied for the ministry under the Rev. Samuel Blair and was licensed by New Castle Presbytery in 1747. In 1749 he was called to St. George's Church in Delaware. In 1765 Rodgers moved his family to New York City to take charge of a congregation there; this became the First Presbyterian Church.

Rodgers served as a brigade chaplain in the Continental Army of the United States. After the war he returned to New York City, which was largely in ruins; the First Presbyterian Church had been converted into a hospital. Rodgers preached in Episcopal churches in the city until his own church was rebuilt.

Rodgers holds the distinction of having been moderator of the first General Assembly, in 1789. He preached for the last time in 1809 and died two years later, at the age of eighty-four.

Collection Overview

Rodgers' papers include sermons and correspondence, as well as a Continental Army protection for his family and property.

Rodgers' correspondence was transcribed, edited and introduced by Charles Anderson for publication in the Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society. His transcripts of the Rodgers letters is included in this collection.

The 1773 letter to Benjamin Lord in Folder 9 does not address him by name. It has been identified by means of a letter from the donor.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE, 1773-1807

SERIES 2: SERMONS AND DISCOURSES, 1747-1775

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Individual transcripts for the letters in Folders 2 and 3 were found and have been filed in the folders with the manuscripts.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: October 1992
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Rodgers, John, 1727-1811.

Green, Ashbel, 1762-1848.

Boudinot, Elias, 1740-1821.

Corporate Subject

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly. Moderator (1789 : Rodgers)

Topical Subject

Sermons, American--18th century.

Presbyterian Church--United States--Clergy.

Genre-form

Sermons. aat

Correspondence. aat

Personal Added Name

Green, Ashbel, 1762-1848.

Boudinot, Elias, 1740-1821.

Corporate Added Name

United States. Continental Army.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 322

		SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE, 1773-1807

1	2-3	To Elias Boudinot (with transcripts), 1786
1	4	To Elisha Boudinot, 1778
1	5	To Elisha Boudinot, 1781 [restricted for preservation reasons; use transcript in Box 1, Folder 10]
1	6	To Joseph Clay, 1786
1	7	To Ashbel Green, 1786, 1807
1	8	To Jedediah Morse, 1788, 1798
1	9	Correspondence to Benjamin Lord, 1773
1	9	Correspondence to William Woodward, 1801
1	10	Transcript of correspondence, notes and introduction (by C.A. Anderson), 1949

		SERIES 2: SERMONS AND DISCOURSES, 1747-1775

1	11-12	Discourses, 1747
1	13	Sermon, 1758
1	14	Sermon, 1766
1	15	Sermon, 1767
1	16-17	Sermon, 1768
1	18	Sermon, 1770
1	19	Sermon, 1771
1	20	Sermon, 1773
1	21	Sermon, 1775
1	22	Protection from Continental Army, 1776	Digital