Experience and Gospel Labours of the Rev. Benjamin Abbott: To Which is Annexed a Narrative of His Life and Death

New York: J. Emory and B. Waugh / J. Collord, Printer, 1830. Hardcover. Good/No Jacket. 12mo. 211 pages. Hardcover bound in original full leather. The binding is worn and bumped but quite sound. The text is foxed and stained. The endpapers have numerous notations and early inscriptions. The front pastedown and flyleaf have the signatures of "Jacob Dysard." The verso of the second front flyleaf has the inscription, "Jacob Dizard, His Book, Dec. 14th 1833. Price 75." The recto of the second rear flyleaf has two early inscriptions. The top inscription is in iron gall ink and reads, "Jacob Dizard His Book." Beneath this is written in early blue ink is, "and this Book tells all about old Methodist Preachers their labors and success. I wish we had such preachers now. -R.L. (or R.S.)." The rear pastedown has numerous pencil and ink notations. We believe the owner was Jacob Dysard (1809-1887) who was born in Pocahontas County, Virginia (now West Virginia) and who died in Greenbriar County, West Virginia. Dysard owned 500-600 acres in Greenbriar County near Anthony's Creek. Benjamin Abbott (1732-1796) was a Methodist Episcopal evangelist originally from Pennsylvania. He had apparently spent much of the first part of his life drinking, playing cards, cockfighting, and fighting and working on farms. At 40 (1772) he converted to Methodism and became a circuit preacher. In 1790 he was ordained as a Deacon. He had an energetic and charismatic temperament and was apparently very popular. He died in Salem, New Jersey.