Biographical/historical information

Rebecca Townsend Jamieson was born on January 26, 1818 to Captain Thomas and Mrs. Townsend in Middleford, Delaware. She grew up religious and became a member of the Church. She spent a year in a female boarding school at Newark, Delaware. Afterwards, she went to Philadelphia to finish her education. After she finished, she returned home to her stepfather Rev. Dr. Alexander Campbell in Buckingham Academy in Maryland. There, Rebecca met and married Jesse M. Jamieson, who was accepted as a missionary destined for Northern India. On November 17, 1835, Jessie and Rebecca Jamieson traveled to Calcutta, India. They lived in Calcutta for over three months, and then moved to Canpur. In Canpur, Rebecca gave birth to their son Campbell Townsend. Afterwards, they traveled to Shohorunpore, where Rebecca got sick with a liver disease. They moved up to the hills, searching for better air in the mountains. While in Shohorunpore, Rebecca gave birth to a daughter, who passed away after 8 days. In late March 1838, the Jamieson family then moved to Subothro, where the family was healthier. In Subothbro, they continued their missionary work. There, Rebecca also became fluent in speaking and writing the Hindu language. Rebecca and Jessie had a total of five children. On September 2, 1845, Rebecca died of cholera in Subothbro.

Sources:

The Annual of Washington and Jefferson College By Washington and Jefferson College (Washington, Pa.), 1884

Memorials of Foreign Missionaries of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. By William Rankin, 1895

Scope and arrangement

A letter written February 17, 1841, by missionary Rebecca Townsend Jamieson, a wife and mother, who was living with her husband and children in Subothro (now Sabathu) in the Himalaya Mountains in Northern India. In it she describes in good detail the experiences and the hardships during the previous two to three years of their missionary work in Shohorunpore and Subothro, India, including being extremely sick at times and giving birth to three children, one of whom died at the age of eight days.

Administrative information

Custodial History

October 7, 2016 0.005 cubic feet; A letter written February 17, 1841, by missionary Rebecca Townsend Jamieson, a wife and mother, who was living with her husband and children in Subothro (now Sabathu) in the Himalaya Mountains in Northern India. In it she describes in good detail the experiences and the hardships during the previous two to three years of their missionary work in Shohorunpore and Subothro, India, including being extremely sick at times and giving birth to three children, one of whom died at the age of eight days. Purchased from Denning House Antiquarian Books & Manuscripts, Lancaster, PA.

Source of acquisition

Purchased from Denning House Antiquarian Books & Manuscripts, Lancaster, PA

Processing information

Processed by Aleck Tan, January 2020

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

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Key terms

Personal Names

Jamieson, Rebecca Townsend

Topical

Childbirth--India--Solan (District)
Women missionaries--India--Solan (District)

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