Capron, William Banfield. (1824-1876) and Sarah Brown Capron (1828-1919). Papers, 1830-1876.
Papers, 1830 - 1931
MS 0044
2 linear feet
(Re - )Processed August 2002 By Jessica Steytler
Copyright: requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the archivist or librarian.
Top of pageBiography
William Banfield Capron was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts on April 14, 1824, son of William Cargill and Chloe (Day) Capron. His education took him to Phillips Academy, Yale (1848), and Andover Theological Seminary, (1856). He was an ordained Evangelist upon his graduation from Seminary. During his days as a student, William was a private tutor in Baltimore for one year and Principal of Hopkins Grammar School in Hartford, Conn. for six years.
Sarah B. Hooker was born in Lanesboro, Massachusetts in 1828, the daughter of Henry Brown Hooker and Martha (Chickering) Hooker. The family subsequently moved to Falmouth, Massachusetts. Sarah graduated from Wheaton Seminary, and married William Capron on October 1, 1856. Over the course of their marriage, the Caprons had 3 children.
On November 24, 1856 the Caprons sailed to Ceylon, India as missionaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission. Arriving in Madras in March of 1857, they labored in Tirupuvanum and Mana Madura for the next sixteen years.
From 1872 to 1875, the Caprons visited America, returning to the field in January 1875. The Reverend Capron died the following year on October 6, 1876 of heart disease. Sarah Capron lingered in India for ten years, before returning to America in 1886. She remained active in religious work until her death in 1919.
Top of pageScope and Content
This collection is a combination of separate acquisitions to the library. The original collection was donated by Charles Haynes in 1986, and contained letters to and from both Caprons. There were also photographs, journals, and literature about missions.
The second half of the collection was donated to the library in 2001 by Cal Traylor (via the Bostonian Society). The additional material includes more letters from and to Sarah. Laura Capron Keith's (William's sister) correspondence is also featured. Much of that correspondence is from her mother and sister. There are also some letters from her niece, Annie (very possibly William and Sarah's daughter).
Andover Historical Society holds Andover, Mass., West Parish Church Records, 1826 - 1957, contain some William B. Capron material.
Top of pageFolder List
Box 1 Sarah Capron - (1836 - 1919)
correspondence, to and from; includes biographical sketches and post - missionary years.
Box 2 Sarah Capron - (1836 - 1886)
journals (1852, 1856 - 7, 1858, 1860) poetry, autographs, school study index
Box 3 William Capron - (1839 - 1876)
correspondence
Box 4 William and Sarah Capron -
Letterbook, 1837 - 1866 from William and Sarah Capron to the Hookers
Box 5 - 6 Capron Relations [Annie Hooker, James Keith, Laura Capron Keith] (1847 - 1931, gaps) correspondence
Hooker, Annie, 1846 - 1856
Hooker, Henry B., 1830 - 1836
Capron and Hooker Genealogy
Keith, James, 1891 - 1894
Keith, Laura Capron, 1904 - 1931 (gaps); line - a - day diary, 1904 - 1907
Box 7 Mission - Related -
Madura Mission, Annual Reports 1856 - 1877
Lady Doak College Report 1950
Historical Sketches: India and Ceylon; Ceylon Mission
Madura Mission, post Capron Years
Capron, Sarah B.; Memorabilia
"Random Observations on Culture and Religion in India"
Correspondence:
David C. Scudder, 1861 - 1862, to the Sabbath Schools. Letter of Alice A. Evans re Dr. Scudder
Miscellaneous letters of Mary Susan Rice and H.W. Ballantine, 1863 - 1864
folder: Mission related publications
Capron, Annie: Certificate (in Hindi)
Photo album: famous figures, friends, and family
Hindi - written book (curiosity: 2x2 inches)
Box 8 Oversized Items, Photographs -
Folder: multiple photographs: those in envelopes are labeled; includes an album and a panoramic shot in India.
Capron, William - Journal, 1865 - 1866