Thomson family - papers, 1824-ca.1970

MLMSS 5955

fonds

1824-ca.1970

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Photographs

87865

1 box - 0.18 Meters
Textual Records
Clippings
Textual Records - (printed)
Photographs
Textual Records - (typescript)

Rev. Dr. Adam Thomson (1779-1861) was minister of a Presbyterian Church in Coldstream, Scotland. He was responsible for breaking the monopoly of Bible-printing in Scotland and making it possible for the poor to purchase Bibles. His second son, Rev. Adam Thomson (1813-1874) was born in Coldstream and in 1824, he matriculated at the University of Edinburgh. He became a licensed preacher at the age of 18 and began his ministry at Hawick, Scotland, which was to last for 27 years. In Hawick, he met and married Helen Ritchie Wilson (1819-1853) and they had a son (Adam) and three daughters (Mary, Isabella and Helen). While at Hawick, Rev. Adam Thomson took an active part in social and political movements. He met his second wife, Margaret Smellie (1830-1906), while travelling abroad in 1857. A son, James, was born to them in 1858. Due to health problems, Rev. Adam Thomson was advised to move to a milder climate and in 1860 he accepted a call to Phillip Street United Presbyterian Church in Sydney. His son Adam was studying Medicine at the University of Edinburgh at that time. A daughter, Annie, was born in Sydney in 1863. In 1865, Rev. Adam Thomson was appointed the first Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales. He was an active force in the establishment of St. Andrew's College at the University of Sydney, and became its first principal in 1873.

compiled ca.1970; Thomson family tree: 4 MS versions (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/1)
1840; Rev. Dr. Adam Thomson - card from Bible presented "in recognition of his services in connection with the Abolition of the Bible Monoply [sic]" (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/2)
1824-1874; Rev. Adam Thomson - papers, being admission cards & references from Edinburgh University (1826-1831), library & membership cards from Edinburgh (1824-1863), list of furnishing expenses (1837), passports for Continental travel (1836,1856), letter received from daughter Helen Wilson Thomson (29 Oct. 1874), and last Will & Testament (1874) (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/2)
ca. 1833-1860; Rev. Adam Thomson - notes for Church services, sermons, addresses, lectures & meetings (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/3)
17 Nov. 1856 - 2 Dec. 1856; Rev. Adam Thomson - travel diary from holiday in Portugal
(Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/4)
ca.1873; Rev. Adam Thomson - notebook containing names & addresses of members of Phillip Street Presbyterian Church, Sydney, including details of some baptisms in 1873. (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/5)
ca. 1866-1929; Newscuttings relating to Rev. Adam Thomson (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/6)
unknown; Typescript papers relating to Rev. Adam Thomson, being biographical notes (author unknown); transcript extract from travel diary of Rev. Adam Thomson (10 Jan. 1857 - 7 Feb. 1857); transcript extract from diary of daughter, Helen Wilson Thomson (31 July 1868 - 10 Aug. 1868); transcript extract from diary of Rev. Adam Thomson (7 Apr. 1869 - 27 Apr. 1869); list of members of Phillip Street Presbyterian Church, Sydney (1870?) (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/6)
1899, 1935, 1942; Booklets from St. Stephen's Presbyterian Churches, Phillip Street & Macquarie Street, Sydney, including an historical sermon by Rev. John Ferguson on the 50th Jubilee of the Phillip Street church (1899) (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/6)
ca.1865-1935; Thomson family photographs, including Rev. Adam Thomson (1865?), Isabella Anderson (daughter), Annie Thomson (daughter), Coldstream in Scotland (birthplace of Rev. Adam Thomson), Old Scots Church Sydney (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/7)
1856-1901; Adam Thomson - papers, being letters received from father Rev. Adam Thomson, Dugald Thomson and nephew Adam Anderson; and admission cards & references from University of Edinburgh (Call No.: ML MSS 5955/1/8)

See also related collections: Fell family papers at ML MSS 1114 and ML MSS 1114, ADD ON 2032; and Wood family papers at ML MSS 5962.