Correspondence f rom the bishop of Barbados, William Hart Coleridge, to the secretary...

Correspondence f rom the bishop of Barbados, William Hart Coleridge, to the secretary of state mainly concerning ecclesiastical matters such as his visits to the various parts of his diocese, his official residence, his visit to England, and the appointment, passage, conduct and resignation of members of the clergy. Correspondence also includes:

• Bishop's report that William Marshall Harte had been found guilty of the accusations put by the churchwarden and vestry of St Lucy's [see CO 28/147], and fined one shilling by the court. With copy of indictment for a misdemeanor, examination of the witnesses for the prosecution, defence statements, and related correspondence and other papers. The bishop comments 'I was myself present during the whole trial; and tho' it does not become me to speak in any way disrespectfully of the verdict of a jury, or the decision of a lawful court, yet I should be needing in my duty to His Majesty's Government and to my Clergy ... if I hesitated to state, that nothing came out in evidence, or in the speeches of the Attorney General and the two other Counsel employed against Mr Harte, which could in my opinion either attach to him criminality of intention, or the breach of any known law. My respect for Mr Harte both in his private and ministerial claracter remains unabated' [folios 10-97]. Also with later correspondence concerning the possible need to move Mr Harte to a new post and showing a reluctance to do so [folios 157-160].
• Papers concerning requests for aid towards the building of new churches in the parishes of St David, St Patrick and St Andrew, Grenada, including printed copy of a sermon, 'The Duty and Means of Promoting Christian Knowledge', preached by the Reverend J C Barker at St George's Church, Grenada, on 17 June 1827.
• Printed copy of a 'Report of the Barbados Diocesan Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge', 1827.
• Acknowledge of despatch authorising him to draw £1000 from the Treasury towards the building of the parish charch of St Philip, Antigua
• Copy of 'Catechetical Returns of the several Parishes in the Diocese of Barbados and the Leeward Islands for the Year 1827'. Covers Barbados, St Vincent, Antigua, Montserrat, Grenada (Carriacou only), Tortola, Anguilla, Nevis, and St Christopher. Lists plantations by parish with account of religious instruction, if any, provided for slaves [detail varies].
• Printed copy of the 'Ninth Annual Report of the Barbados Society for the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church'
• Printed copy of the 'Third Annual Report of the Grenada District Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge'
• Printed copy of the 'Report of the Committee appointed to examine the State and Progress of the School for the Education of the Poor White Children of the Parish of Saint Peter'
• Copy of correspondence concerning objections to the marriage of William Harris 'a free man of colour' and Betty Cudjoe, a slave. The bishop writes, 'I have directed the Revd Mr Luckock to proceeed in carrying into effect his original purpose of celebrating the marriage between the partiies in question, and generally in all cases to celebrate marriage between parties applying to him for that purpose where no legal impediment exists.'
• Acknowledgement of Colonial Office despatch informing him that the Treasury intend to submit to Parliament a grant of £5000 for the building of certain churches in Grenada.
• Report from James Lugar, rural dean of Demerara and Essequibo, in answer to a report that clergymen are not asked to assist in the burial of slaves.
• Papers concerning the ecclesiastical state of Tobago

Topics

International

Marriage and divorce

Religions

Caribbean

Slavery

Children