GB 0096 MS 609 - Notes on an educational method by Philip Doddridge

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 MS 609

Title

Notes on an educational method by Philip Doddridge

Date(s)

  • 1708-1821 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 volume containing 83 leaves

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Philip Doddridge was born in 1702, and orphaned by the age of 13. The Duchess of Bedford decided to finance his entire education providing he would promise to become an Anglican clergyman, but Doddridge was set on becoming a Dissenting minister. Samuel Clark came to the rescue and offered to finance Doddridge's studies, obtaining for him a place at a Dissenting college at Kibworth, Leicestershire, run by John Jennings. Jennings died in c 1722?, and the college was closed down until April 1729, when Isaac Watts and several other ministers met at Lutterworth for a day of fasting and prayer and felt moved to invite Doddridge to reopen the academy in Market Harborough, which he did. By 1730, the Academy had moved to Northampton, and developed such a good reputation that Anglican clergy began to send their sons there. Doddridge died in 1751.

Archival history

According to the Dictionary of National Biography, an account of John Jennings' method, drawn up by Philip Doddridge, was submitted to Isaac Watts, who thought the scheme of opening an academy at Market Harborough might fairly be entrusted to one who had 'so admirably described it'. No printed version of this text is however included in the collected edition of Doddridge's works. It is not clear if this manuscript is the original account made by Doddridge.
GB 0096 MS 609 1708-1821 Collection (fonds) 1 volume containing 83 leaves Possibly: Doddridge , Philip , 1702-1751 , non-conformist minister and schoolmaster
Philip Doddridge was born in 1702, and orphaned by the age of 13. The Duchess of Bedford decided to finance his entire education providing he would promise to become an Anglican clergyman, but Doddridge was set on becoming a Dissenting minister. Samuel Clark came to the rescue and offered to finance Doddridge's studies, obtaining for him a place at a Dissenting college at Kibworth, Leicestershire, run by John Jennings. Jennings died in c 1722?, and the college was closed down until April 1729, when Isaac Watts and several other ministers met at Lutterworth for a day of fasting and prayer and felt moved to invite Doddridge to reopen the academy in Market Harborough, which he did. By 1730, the Academy had moved to Northampton, and developed such a good reputation that Anglican clergy began to send their sons there. Doddridge died in 1751.

According to the Dictionary of National Biography, an account of John Jennings' method, drawn up by Philip Doddridge, was submitted to Isaac Watts, who thought the scheme of opening an academy at Market Harborough might fairly be entrusted to one who had 'so admirably described it'. No printed version of this text is however included in the collected edition of Doddridge's works. It is not clear if this manuscript is the original account made by Doddridge.

Bought from F. Norman in 1963.

Manuscript volume containing 'An account of Mr [John] Jenning's method of academical education, with some reflections upon it, in a letter to a friend who had some thoughts of reviving it. Written in the year 1728', and dated at Market Harborough, 31 Oct 1728. This may be the original account written by Philip Doddridge and sent to Isaac Watts.
This manuscript text is followed, in another hand, by copies of two letters from Robert Nelson, one, of 27 July 1708, to George Hanger giving moral advice on Hanger's departure for Turkey on business; the other, dated Epiphany 1713, to Gabriel Hanger on the same subject. There are also, in other hands, extracts from dissenting authors, one dated Oct 1821.

Single item.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
English
7¾" x 6¼"

Collection level description.

Further material relating to Philip Doddridge may be found in Northampton Central Library; Dr Williams's Library, London; the British Library, London; Harris Manchester College Library, Oxford University; Beinecke Library, Yale University; Devon Record Office; and the John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Papers of Robert Nelson are also held at the National Library of Ireland, Dublin, and the British Library.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Oct 2001 Ancient religions Christianity Doddridge , Philip , 1702-1751 , nonconformist minister and schoolmaster Education England Europe Hamger , Gabriel , fl 1713 , cousin of Robert Nelson Hanger , George , fl 1708 , cousin of Robert Nelson Jennings , John , d c 1722 , nonconformist schoolmaster Leicestershire Market Harborough Nelson , Robert , 1665-1715 , religious writer Protestantism Protestant nonconformity Religions UK Watts , Isaac , 1674-1748 , non-conformist minister and hymn writer Western Europe London

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Bought from F. Norman in 1963.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Manuscript volume containing 'An account of Mr [John] Jenning's method of academical education, with some reflections upon it, in a letter to a friend who had some thoughts of reviving it. Written in the year 1728', and dated at Market Harborough, 31 Oct 1728. This may be the original account written by Philip Doddridge and sent to Isaac Watts.
This manuscript text is followed, in another hand, by copies of two letters from Robert Nelson, one, of 27 July 1708, to George Hanger giving moral advice on Hanger's departure for Turkey on business; the other, dated Epiphany 1713, to Gabriel Hanger on the same subject. There are also, in other hands, extracts from dissenting authors, one dated Oct 1821.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Single item.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Collection level description.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Further material relating to Philip Doddridge may be found in Northampton Central Library; Dr Williams's Library, London; the British Library, London; Harris Manchester College Library, Oxford University; Beinecke Library, Yale University; Devon Record Office; and the John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Papers of Robert Nelson are also held at the National Library of Ireland, Dublin, and the British Library.

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area