Asbury Theological Seminary

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Pachuau, Lalsangkima

World Religions and Mission

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Galbreath, Charles

Global and Multicultural Leadership

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Miller, James

Mark

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Arnold, Bill

Seminar in the Ancient Near East

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Mucherera, Tapiwa

Clinical Pastoral Education

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Okello, Joseph

Philosophy of Christian Religion

Suter, Daniel

Book Review: Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Gregory Koukal

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Shutt, Shelbi

The strange gifts of suffering

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Seminary Singers

Key, Danny

Tenebrae service 2025 (Video)

Danielson, Robert A.

11
The Asbury Journal 80/1: 11-20
© 2025 Asbury Theological Seminary
DOI: 10.7252/Journal.01.2025S.02
Robert A. Danielson
New Additions to the Archives and Special Collections: 
John Wesley Letter and Possible Samuel Wesley Letter
 
 In a generous gift to Asbury Theological Seminary this past winter, 
Rev. George S. Rigby, Jr. donated a collection of Wesleyana and rare 
books which he had collected over a lifetime. Of particular significance, 
this collection contained an original letter from Rev. John Wesley, the 
founder of Methodism. This particular letter is well documented and was 
purchased in 1971 from Charles Sessler, Inc., a noted dealer in rare books 
and manuscripts. Rev. Rigby shared the letter with Dr. Frank Baker in 1981, 
when he was the editor-in-chief of The Oxford Edition of Wesley’s Works. In 
Baker’s correspondence with Rigby, he indicates that Thomas Warrick came 
as an assistant to Burslem in Staffordshire in August of 1785. Two other 
young men (one a Samuel Edwards and the other possibly John Robotham) 
had also turned up as preachers. The two younger men were arguing about 
who should remain, and one of them, who was married, wanted a house 
for his wife. Baker noted, “Like Asbury, however, who learned it from 
him, Wesley didn’t really favour married preachers, and although he did 
support them from Conference funds, that support was mainly limited to 
the ‘regulars.’” This letter was also printed in John Telford’s The Letters of 
the Rev. John Wesley, A.M. (Epworth Press, London 1931, reprinted 1960) 
volume eight, page 168; however in that publication the year is wrong, 
listed as 1789. The transcript of the letter records,
12    The Asbury Journal    80/1 (2025)
  Bath
  Sept 10 1785
My Dear Sister
 I know not what to do, or what 
to say; this untoward man so perplexes 
me!  It is not my business to find 
Houses for Preacher’s wives; I do not take 
it upon me. I did not order him to come to 
Burslem:  I only permitted what I could not 
help.  I must leave our Brethren to 
compromise these matters among themselves: 
they are too hard for me. A Preacher is 
wanting in Gloucester Circuit. One of them 
may go thither. I am, with Love to bro. 
Warrick  My Dear Sister,
 Your Affectionate Brother
  J Wesley
danielson: new additions to the archives and special collections   13
Image of the John Wesley Letter Donated to Asbury Seminary
(Used with the permission of the Asbury Theological Seminary Archives 
and Special Collections)
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14    The Asbury Journal    80/1 (2025)
Addressed: 
To 
 Mrs Warrick 
At the Preaching House 
 In Burslem, 
  near 
Fr Glo’ster Newcastle under Lain (possibly Newcastle-
under-Lyme)
Image of the Cover of the John Wesley Letter
(Used with the permission of the Asbury Theological Seminary Archives 
and Special Collections)
{ 
danielson: new additions to the archives and special collections   15
 The other letter with possible historical significance is a letter 
reportedly from Samuel Wesley, although it has not been authenticated. It 
appears to have come from the collection of autograph letters and historical 
documents of Alfred Morrison, who was a well-known collector of such 
materials in the 19th century. It is the documentation from Morrison that 
attributes the letter to Samuel Wesley. The letter is sent to “Capt. Early Ship 
is called The Wm & Mary- Paul Beckford Mastr.”
Image of the Back Page of the Possible Samuel Wesley Letter
(Used with the permission of the Asbury Theological Seminary Archives 
and Special Collections)
16    The Asbury Journal    80/1 (2025)
  Epworth May 17, [1]710
Sir
  The 10th instant I recd yrs at Gainsbro’, (tho’ 
without any date) with that of Mrs. Sparling enclosd. 
I have sent an acct of it to council, with a copy of 
our Ltr of Atturney, to know if it gives us sufficient pow-
-ers to sell our 3d pt, or whether that be all yr Mr. Ana-
-sley has a Title to? If they resolv[e] both in the affirma-
-tive, I shall consent to the sale; for 240 £ is better 
then nothing. If you would likewise be so kind to 
take yr Kinsman’s advice about it, who it’s likely 
may by this time have digested it, it may be very 
proper. I’ll send the Result to you the next post af-
-ter I hear from my council, & beg you would do as 
same to me, directed for me [at Epworth, to be 
left at Gainsbro’, Lincolnshire.] I am
  Honrd Sir!
  
  Yrs most obligd
  & most humble servt
  
   S Wesley
danielson: new additions to the archives and special collections   17
Image of the Main Page of the Possible Samuel Wesley Letter
(Used with the permission of the Asbury Theological Seminary Archives 
and Special Collections)
18    The Asbury Journal    80/1 (2025)
Some internal evidence that might support a letter from Samuel 
Wesley can be seen in the date of 1710, since Samuel became the rector 
at Epworth in Lincolnshire in 1695. By 1700, Samuel was in serious debt, 
and this was followed by a number of catastrophes, including the rectory 
burning in 1702, a crop of flax burning in 1704, being imprisoned for debt 
in 1705, and the rectory burning again in 1709 with its contents and almost 
with his son, John. So, a concern about funds makes sense as well. Also of 
interest, his wife Susanna was the daughter of Samuel Annesley, and the 
name “Anasley” in the letter could refer to that family and the possibility of 
selling some type of property for an inherited part.
Enoch Wood Bust of John Wesley (circa 1800)- 
Gift from Rev. George Rigby
(Used with the permission of the Asbury Theological Seminary Archives 
and Special Collections)
danielson: new additions to the archives and special collections   19
 
Rev. Rigby’s gift also included around 100 books (with about 
half of these being older rare texts), several prints, and at least nine older 
porcelain Staffordshire figures of Wesley and other collectable items of 
Methodist ephemera. Of particular note is the Staffordshire bust of John 
Wesley done by Enoch Woods. The Woods family of Staffordshire potters 
were followers of John Wesley, and Wesley sat for Enoch Woods in Burslem 
in 1781 for this image. It was first released for sale in Leeds at the Methodist 
Conference in 1781. Wesley considered this likeness by Woods to be one 
of the best done of Wesley. The bust gifted to the Seminary is inscribed, 
noting Wesley’s death in 1791. A second issue was made at the time of 
Wesley’s death, so this bust is from this period or slightly later.
Black Wedgewood Bust of John Wesley (circa 1904)- 
Gift from Rev. George Rigby
(Used with the permission of the Asbury Theological Seminary Archives 
and Special Collections)
20    The Asbury Journal    80/1 (2025)
Some Other Staffordshire Figures of Wesley Given by Rev. George Rigby
(Used with the permission of the Asbury Theological Seminary Archives 
and Special Collections)
The Archives and Special Collections, along with the B.L. Fisher 
Library and Asbury Theological Seminary in general, are grateful for Rev. 
Rigby’s collection and hope it will continue to encourage scholars studying 
the Wesleyan Movement in the future.
