Guide to the Metrical History of Christianity, undated
Collection overview:
Title:
Date range:
Creator:
Extent:
Abstract:
Metrical History of Christianity
undated
Taylor, Edward, 1642-1729
0.15 linear feet (1 volume)
Poem, known as the "Metrical History of Christianity," written by Edward
Taylor (1642-1729), a colonial poet, physician and pastor.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Redwood Library & Athenaeum, Newport, Rhode Island
Collection number: RLC.Ms.Bound.0026
Access and use:
Access to the collection: Access is open to members and researchers at the Redwood Library and
Athenaeum.
Use of the materials: This collection is owned by the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the
Special Collections Librarian of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
Preferred citation: Metrical History of Christianity, RLC.Ms.Bound.0026, Redwood Library
and Athenaeum.
Administrative information:
About the collection
Acquisition: Gift of Roderick Terry, Jr.
Custodial history: This bound manuscript was found in the attic of a house in Enfield,
Connecticut, once owned by John Taylor, the grandson of Edward Taylor.
It was purchased by Rev. Roderick Terry (1849-1933), the great-greatgreat grandson of Edward Taylor, in 1905. Terry and scholar Donald E.
Sanford both independently identified the handwriting and prose as that
of Edward Taylor.
Processing information: Prior to processing in 2014, this volume was classified as: sc ml 4 .T21.
About the finding aid
Author: Phoebe Bean, 2014
Revisions: Elizabeth Delmage, 2015
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
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Additional information:
Bibliography: Stanford, Donald E. "Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity."
American Literature Vol. 33, no. 3 (November 1961): 279-295.
Biographical note:
Rev. Edward Taylor (1642-1729) was born at Scetchley, Leicestershire, England, and was first educated
at Cambridge University. After Taylor refused to sign the Act of Uniformity of 1662, an oath required of
all dissenters after the restoration of King Charles II (1630-1685), he immigrated to Boston. He kept a
detailed journal from the time he departed England, which has been published as The Diary of Edward
Taylor, edited by Francis Murphy (Springfield, Mass., 1964). Taylor attended Harvard College and then
became the pastor and physician of Westfield, Massachusetts, where he remained until his death. He
was a vocal supporter of the Halfway Covenant of 1662, along with Increase and Cotton Mather. He is
best known for his spiritual poetry and theological beliefs.
Scope and content note:
This collection is comprised of one volume with a poem written by Edward Taylor known as the
"Metrical History of Christianity." This volume is over four hundred pages long and is vellum-bound with
leather ties.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged in chronological order.
Inventory:
Volume
RLC.Ms.Bound.0026
Title
Metrical History of Christianity
Date
undated
Access terms:
Subjects:
Christianity--History
Church history--Poetry
Religion and poetry--18th century
Genre terms:
Poetry
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