Swedenborgians

Submitted by edpope on

Introduction to a dataset. Only surnames A to F so far.

Mostly because of the William Blake connection there has been a fair amount of research published recently on the Swedenborgians. I have been reading Robert Rix, William Blake and the Cultures of Radical Christianity (2007) but have not yet seen (except some Google sample pages) Martha Keith Schuchard's Emanuel Swedenborg Secret Agent in Heaven & Earth (2011) which is still listed on the Bodleian catalogue under "Bodleian Acquisitions Services". It's about 600 pages long and costs about £150, it appears to be well researched so I may be repeating her research in some cases. Anyway I've taken my usual approach and am researching every individual I can find to have been connected with the Swedenborgians in London, from various printed lists but mostly from the baptism registers of the two Swedenborgian chapels in London, which include many adult baptisms and often give birth dates and parents of adult baptisms. I've only got letters A to F online so far. Go to A-Z of Names & Addresses and select Swedenborgians then click on APPLY

Dave Darwin see bio entry Darwin for your comment and my reply

Alan Misson (not verified)

Mon, 09/03/2015 - 08:52

Hi, I recently came across your website whilst doing a search related to William Butter and was intrigued by your Swedenborgian data in general and your information on William Butter and Mary Darby in particular. I also see that you mention my family tree – “Ancestry user-submitted tree has her as another child of Israel and Mary Darby”.

I am a Swedenborgian (New Church) Lay Preacher and have researched many of my Swedenborgian ancestors or ancestral relations. I am particularly interested in your information about William Butter being apprenticed to another William Butter in Norwich for 5 years in 1786 and then being a tailor in Compton Street Soho in 1802 - what do you mean exactly by “voted 1802 Graham”? Henry Peckitt also lived in Compton Street and other relatives Francis Gerardin and Thomas Watson lived in Poland Street.

Alan Misson

Linda Pagnani (not verified)

Fri, 20/09/2019 - 05:32

My 5x great grandfrather John Clarkson was active in the New Church.  P.rior to his connection to the Swedenborgians he was a Quaker.  His sons Romaine and George Clarkson were christened at St. James Westminster where Blake was also christened.  They went on to practice law, George as a barrister was a member of the Queen's Council.  They represented John Horne Tooke in his sedition trial.  His daughter Harriet married James Hodson, a New Church minister.  They were very active in the church and Harriet Clarkson Hodson mentioned the New Church in her will.