March 6, 1840
My dear Brother,¹

I am happy to inform you that I safely arrived here on the 27th ult. accompanied by Brother Lillie. Mr. & Mrs. Moyle very kindly received us, requesting me to make this house my head quarters. Brother Lillie remained with me two days.² During which he introduced me to most of his friends at Brantford and Paris who received us very kindly and testified their respect and affection for him. I preached on the Sabbath morning at Paris in the school room and although the notice had been short and the people had been frequently disappointed respecting my coming, there were present from 120 to 150 persons. To address³ them was rather a formidable task for my kind Brother had so commended me to them that their expectations were raised too highly, but as they were determined to be pleased their new preacher did not disappoint them.

Paris, I think, must become an increasingly important station as from the beauty of its situation, the salubrity of its atmosphere, and the fertility of the country around, its population must increase both in number and wealth: and what is of great importance to ministerial usefulness, its inhabitants are likely to be more permanent than many others as almost every man resides on his own property acquired by his industrious exertions since his settlement here, which must be recent as six years ago the village consisted of three houses only now it is one of the largest I have seen in Canada.

I wish I could say as much for Brantford the prospect there is very discouraging. I could not forbear wishing my first sermon might be my last also. I am aware this was an wrong feeling and I will strive and pray against it. But I assure you it was distressing to me to address, in a obvious place of worship, about 20 persons: the echo of my own voice proclaiming the nakedness of the place seemed to say "the glory is departed".

I must now beg permission to speak in word or two on behalf of my Brother Lillie. I delivered to him your letter which I am sorry to state did not accord with his expectations. He told me 100[Eng. Pds.] Sterling per annum would not support him at Toronto. That you are aware was my opinion. The Society in granting 200[Eng. pds] per annum for the support of a Theological Institution has acted with a noble generosity to which I think our churches in Canada should respond by doing something for the comfortable support of the tutor and increasing the number of students. The Baptist professor at Montreal, Dr. Davis, a far inferior preacher to Bro. Lillie, has 200[Eng. Pds.] per annum and under his care ten students at 25[Eng. Pds.] per annum. Elder Rus was here yesterday soliciting a subscription from Mr. Moyle for the support of a student, and said Dr. Davis had written to him "Brother Rus cannot your wealthy friends around Brantford support our students." "Brother Rus" has been successfully soliciting the friends. How cannot we do likewise? I should be exceedingly sorry to lose the opportunity of establishing a Theological seminary for the instruction of young men in sound scriptural British theology. If will be of vast importance to the Province. Brother Lillie is just adapted for the office of Principle and he only desires 150[Eng. Pds.] per annum. Will it not be for his usefulness and our credit and the advantage of the churches that our Theological Professor should appear somewhat respectable in the Metropolis and that his mind be relieved from distressing anxieties? I have thought a collection might be made annually in each of our churches or that the collection made at the monthly missionary prayer meeting might with propriety be diverted to the seminary. You however, I have no doubt, will not be wanting in expedients to accomplish the object. I would only say do what you can. I will gladly pledge myself, though I can do but little, to do all I can. Should God in his providence see fit to settle me at Paris I will try to raise 5[Eng. Pds.] per annum for the good cause. Let every church do the same there are ten, and the object will be accomplished.

Mr. & Mrs. Moyle writes with me in kind regards to you, Mrs. Roaf and family. And believe me yours affectionately, Thomas Baker.

[P.S.] B. I was present one morning whilst Br. Lillie taught the young men under his care. I was much pleased especially with the senior Mr. Cribbs. I think he bids fair to be an efficient missionary, T Baker. Mr. Moyle is a Practical Geologist and has offered to give me the benefit of his knowledge. I have read Bakewell and Phillips and from a press at Lyel whilst at your house I should must like to become better acquainted with him. If therefore it would not be attended with too much trouble, I should be greatly obliged by your obtaining a similar copy to your own from Mr. Lillie and forwarding it to me at Mr. & Mrs. Kay's, harness maker, Brantford. If Mr. Lillie has not the same or a later edition, do not send it.

[Note on back of letter, the letter has been endorsed by Roaf,] Revd T. Baker. To Mr .Roaf 21/1 & 6/3 1840 & Mr. James Wilkes 30/3 1840.

[letter also contains a postmark dated Mar 7, 1849 from Paris, U.C.]

¹ This letter and (Box 14-114) were sent to the Whitehern Archives by Mr. John Cable with his notes about the historical context, as follows; we are grateful for his donation of these letters:

Rate: Manuscript 7d currency (correct rate) in black, indicating to be paid by recipient. This is the single sheet rate for an internal Canadian letter travelling between 61 and 100 miles sent before the rate basis change (rate basis changed from sheets to weight 5 Jan 1844). The rate for this distance, whether per sheet or per ½ oz had remained at 6d Sterling between 1763 and 1851, but due to currency fluctuations, the currency equivalent was 7d only from 1776 to 1851 [Robson Lowe Part II]. The distance from St Thomas to the letter destination of Toronto was 79 miles [Smith's Gazetteer 1846].
Other Postal Markings:
1. Paris UC type DC cancel in black, dated MA 7 1840. Used from NO 2 1833 to AP 20 1841 [Ontario Broken Circles].
Historical Context: The letter has been sent by the Congregational Minister Rev. Thomas Baker from Paris which is confirmed by the internal signature. The recipient in Toronto was the Rev. John Roaf. By 1846 Thomas Baker had moved to Brantford to minister there and John Roaf was the Congregational Minister in Toronto [Smith's Gazetteer 1846]. The letter describes Baker's recent posting to Paris. Rev. Thomas Baker was the father of Mary (Jane) Baker McQuesten. Thomas Baker was born in Portsea, England on January 24, 1795/6 and died on March 29, 1887 in Hamilton, Ontario. Baker withdrew from active military service in 1817 to train for the ministry in the Congregational Church. In 1835 he resigned his pastorate of a congregation in Leatherhead, [or Letherhead] Surrey, to accept an appointment from the London Missionary Society in Canada. He brought his wife, Sarah Hampson, and his eight children to Canada, settling at Kingston, Ontario. By 1846 they had moved to Brantford, where Mrs. Baker and their eldest daughter, Mrs. Harriett Baker Wilkes died in 1847. In the following year (1848) Baker married Mary-Jane McIlwaine of Brantford, and she became the mother of their daughter Mary-Jane Baker (later, Mary B. McQuesten) in October 1849. Mary-Jane became the precious child of a late marriage (Baker was 53 and his wife was 40). After a few years in the ministry in Brantford, Baker accepted a call to Newmarket, where his declining health forced him to resign in 1858.
Rev. Baker was a very strict Congregational Church minister. He demanded a very high moral standard from his congregation. For instance, in his letter of August 1841, to his congregation in Paris, Ontario, he tendered his resignation because they had not fulfilled their promise to erect "a comfortable and commodious Place of Worship." The chastising and judgmental tone of the letter justifies his stance with a legalistic thoroughness. Rev. Baker's writings also contain a lengthy account of dissension within the church which is significant for two reasons. First, it discloses that his subsequent ministry in Brantford was also riddled with discipline problems which he proceeded to rectify with similar stern measures. The lengthy account for the years 1841 to 1848 concludes that members were "most pertinaciously adhering to their opinions" and the matter was finally resolved in 1849 with "resolutions…and names of church members expelled and suspended." It is evident from the form and content of these accounts that Rev. Baker was a highly principled and inflexible pastor, and meted out disciplinary measures with an Old Testament justice and a military rigour [www.whitehern.ca archives]. [Mr. Roaf's translation is on the over side of the letter. We have added some corrections to same.]

Manuscript 7d currency (correct rate) in black, indicating to be paid by recipient. This is the single sheet rate for an internal Canadian letter travelling between 61 and 100 miles sent before the rate basis change (rate basis changed from sheets to weight 5 Jan 1844). The rate for this distance, whether per sheet or per ½ oz had remained at 6d Sterling between 1763 and 1851, but due to currency fluctuations, the currency equivalent was 7d only from 1776 to 1851 [Robson Lowe Part II]. The distance from St Thomas to the letter destination of Toronto was 79 miles [Smith’s Gazetteer 1846].

Other Postal Markings: 1. Paris UC type DC cancel in black, dated MA 7 1840. Used from NO 2 1833 to AP 20 1841 [Ontario Broken Circles].

Historical Context: The letter has been sent by the Congregational Minister Rev. Thomas Baker from Paris which is confirmed by the internal signature. The recipient in Toronto was the Rev. John Roaf. By 1846 Thomas Baker had moved to Brantford to minister there and John Roaf was the Congregational Minister in Toronto [Smith's Gazetteer 1846]. The letter describes Baker's recent posting to Paris. Rev. Thomas Baker was the father of Mary (Jane) Baker McQuesten. Thomas Baker was born in Portsea, England on January 24, 1795/6 and died on March 29, 1887 in Hamilton, Ontario. Baker withdrew from active military service in 1817 to train for the ministry in the Congregational Church. In 1835 he resigned his pastorate of a congregation in Leatherhead, Surrey, to accept an appointment from the London Missionary Society in Canada. He brought his wife, Sarah Hampson, and his eight children to Canada, settling at Kingston, Ontario. By 1846 they had moved to Brantford, where Mrs. Baker and their eldest daughter, Mrs. Harriett Baker Wilkes died in 1847. In the following year (1848) Baker married Mary-Jane McIlwaine of Brantford, and she became the mother of their daughter Mary-Jane Baker (later, Mary B. McQuesten) in October 1849. Mary-Jane became the precious child of a late marriage (Baker was 53 and his wife was 40). After a few years in the ministry in Brantford, Baker accepted a call to Newmarket, where his declining health forced him to resign in 1858.

Rev. Baker was a very strict Congregational Church minister. He demanded a very high moral standard from his congregation. For instance, in his letter of August 1841, to his congregation in Paris, Ontario, he tendered his resignation because they had not fulfilled their promise to erect "a comfortable and commodious Place of Worship". The chastising and judgmental tone of the letter justifies his stance with a legalistic thoroughness. Rev. Baker's writings also contain a lengthy account of dissension within the church which is significant for two reasons. First, it discloses that his subsequent ministry in Brantford was also riddled with discipline problems which he proceeded to rectify with similar stern measures. The lengthy account for the years 1841 to 1848 concludes that members were" most pertinaciously adhering to their opinions" and the matter was finally resolved in 1849 with "resolutions…and names of church members expelled and suspended". It is evident from the form and content of these accounts that Rev. Baker was a highly principled and inflexible pastor, and meted out disciplinary measures with an Old Testament justice and a military rigour [www.whitehern.ca archives].
For more information on Rev. Thomas Baker, go to the Homepage and click on Family and then click on his photo.

² Dr. Lillie was the tutor of the Congregational Academy in Toronto.

³ Rev. Baker uses the archaic "fs" construction for the "ss" sound. We have opted to transcribe using the "ss" construction for ease of reading.

For more information on Rev. Baker, see his Bio by clicking on "Family" on the Home page, and then on his photo.