A very rare, unpublished letter by Freewill Baptist evangelist and revivalist, John Colby [1787-1817]. One of the most effective of the traveling evangelists among the early Free Willers, he established at least five independent churches and was very effective in preaching to those not yet converted, as well as in converting others to the Free Will Baptist movement. 

He developed consumption and died in 1817 at just 20 years old in the home of a Baptist Deacon in Virginia. He was certainly the "David Brainerd" or "Robert Murray M'Cheyne" of the movement. Of great personal piety and ministerial promise, he died, as they did, at just 29 years of age. Immediately afterward, his biography was published, The Life, Experience, and Travels of John Colby, Preacher of the Gospel. 

 It is unclear whether the below is a holograph in the hand of Colby or that of the church. There is no evidence the present letter having been recorded and it is unpublished or referenced elsewhere. Badly compromised at the bottom half, though probably recoverable.

One interesting note, when Colby died, the church addressed here, in Burrillville [Rhode Island], was taken over by one of the first female pastors in American history, Clarissa Danforth. 

"Sutton Late Billymead. June the 1th 1814

To the Church of Crist in Burrillville,

Beloved Brethren and sisters in the Lord. Through the never failing goodness and Blessing of that God on whose name we daily Call I am alive while others are dead. And Injoy some degree of health while others lay on beds of languishing around me for which I desire to give Glory to Him that Setteth in the Heavens and judgeth among the Godly, whose grace heitherto Has ben sufficient for us All, and will be so long as we abound in the work of the Lord. And as I am now favoured with a momentary privilege to act in I joyfully improve it in writing to my presious Brethren who has ben Nigh to me by the bonds of Christian union. But before I further procede I hasen to mention with gratitude and solemnity the reseit of a Letter from Brother Rhodes Baring date April the 23, which I reseived the 15 of May after returning from meting on the Sabbath I took . . . 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

. . . A large number of souls, and united you together In a church, I pray that you may be as a City on a hill that cannot be hid. Let your light shine before men that while they behold your good works they may be constrained to glorify Our Father which is in Heaven. I pray that your Lives and Conversation may be loud speaking to the wicked from day to day, that they may never have accation to Speek Reproachfully of the Couse of Christ, on the account of the Misconduct of his profes'd followers. I often think I I can only return and find you all as much Ingaged in religion is I left you how easy it will be for me to preach to the unconverted. And I should have strong faith to believe that I shall yt see the Glory of God manifested in the Salvation of souls. May the Lord grant that a union and harmony ever be preserved among you and subsist in the Church and to this end it is of importance that you often meet together and speak often to each other to Cheer the faint of mind and often be your voyses in pure devotion join. The Lord grant that you may live to his glory here and then you will live eternally in the Heavens. Which may God grant may be our happy Lot and Portion for Jesus' Sake. 

A Coppy from John Colbe letter."