Leonard Woods’ Sermon preached at Haverhill in remembrance of Mrs. Harriet Newell, wife of Rev. Samuel Newell was published by Samuel T. Armstrong of Boston, Massachusetts in 1815. The sermon was based on Matthew 19:29, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Samuel and Harriet Newell went to India as missionaries in 1812, but were barred from staying by the East India Company. On the journey to the nearby Isle of France (Mauritus), Harriet contracted dysentery and soon passed away. This sermon was given at her memorial service, and filled the first 25 pages of this book. The rest of the book contained Harriet’s memoirs, consisting of her letters and journals.
The Copp Collection contains about 150 books of early American imprint and shows a wide range of reading matter typical of a New England Puritan family living in a port town. Literacy was expected of many New Englanders, as Puritan doctrine required everyone to read the Bible. The abundance of multiple Bibles, psalms, hymnodies, sermons, and morality tales reflects the Copp’s religious beliefs. Other highlights of the library include the works of Shakespeare, almanacs, historical and political texts, and travel narratives.
The Copp Collection contains a variety of household objects that the Copp family of Connecticut used from around 1700 until the mid-1800s. Part of the Puritan Great Migration from England to Boston, the family eventually made their home in New London County, Connecticut, where their textiles, clothes, utensils, ceramics, books, bibles, and letters provide a vivid picture of daily life. More of the collection from the Division of Home and Community Life can be viewed by searching accession number 28810.