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School of Oriental and African Studies

Beighton, Thomas and Abigail

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0102 MS 380698

Held at: School of Oriental and African Studies

Title: Beighton, Thomas and Abigail

Date(s): 1818-1821

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 1 volume

Name of creator(s): Beighton | Thomas | 1790-1844 | missionary
Beighton | Abigail | 1791-1879 | née Tobitt | missionary

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Thomas Beighton: born at Ednaston, Derbyshire, 1790; studied at Gosport; appointed to the Malacca mission of the London Missionary Society (LMS); ordained at Derby, 1817; married Abigail Tobitt; sailed to Malacca via Madras with his wife, 1818; stationed at Penang, 1819; carried out missionary work in Penang, the Malayan Peninsula, and the Queda coast, particularly educational work and translation; responsible for the mission printing press at Penang, which produced materials in Malay and English; died in Penang, 1844. Publications: various Christian texts published in Malay, 1836-1841.

Abigail Beighton (née Tobitt): born, 1791; engaged in missionary work in female education; returned to England, 1846; died at Barnet, 1879.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Typescript transcript of letters and extracts of letters, and some photocopies of original letters, 1818-1821, from Thomas and Abigail Beighton to family and friends, recording problems encountered on the journey from England to Madras; local customs; and missionary work in Malacca and Penang, particularly their work in education; also including much discussion of family matters and of relationships among the missionary communities.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Unrestricted.

Conditions governing reproduction:

No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Database.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Presented in 1999.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Privately held.

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of the London Missionary Society (Ref: CWM/LMS), including Thomas Beighton's candidate's papers (Ref: CWM/LMS Candidates' Papers Box 1 No 39); journals (or extracts) of Thomas Beighton in Penang, 1819, 1822-1824, 1830, 1838-1839 (Ref: CWM/LMS Ultra Ganges Journals); letters of Thomas or Abigail Beighton from Penang, 1819-1845 (Ref: CWM/LMS Ultra Ganges Penang Incoming correspondence).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Sources: Dictionary of National Biography; LMS Register of Missionaries, ed James Sibree; British Library OPAC.