Eliza Vowell

John Vowell, Sr., along with his son, John, Jr., his son’s wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Eliza (the author of the letter below), were all stationers, first at Watling Street and then at 133 Leadenhall Street, 1745-1813. Vowell, Sr., turned the business over to his son in 1773, but remained active in the Court of Stationers until his death in 1801 at the age of 94. John Vowell, Jr., was deceased by 1792; Sarah Vowell operated the firm alone from 1792-1800. William Weare eventually joined her, taking over the business in 1808. By 1805 Vowell and Weare had become the primary stationers to the East India Company. The Vowells, like so many individuals in the Flower Correspondence, were Baptists, attending at Carter Lane, Southwark, under John Rippon, one of the leading Baptist ministers of his day. Eliza’s father subscribed to the Bristol Education Society, the fund-raising arm of Bristol Baptist College, in 1774 (Account 25). Eliza Vowell joined Carter Lane on 7 April 1799 (Horsley-down and Carter Lane Church Book, n.p.). The letter below demonstrates her active involvement in Baptist affairs (she was well aware of Pearce's stature within the denomination) and her family business. Unfortunately, Pearce’s health was deteriorating, and he would die later that year. In 1800-01, Eliza Vowell subscribed to the Baptist Missionary Society; her mother joined her in 1804-05 (Periodical Accounts of the BMS, 2.207; 3.136). See also Universal British Directory, vol. 5, p. 141; Ian Maxted, The London Book Trades: A Preliminary Checklist of Members (Kent, UK: William Dawson, 1977), p. 234.

Eliza Vowell, 133 Leadenhall Street, London, to Samuel Pearce, St. Pauls Square, Birmingham, 20 April 1799.

I feel myself gratified in being permitted by M^r Maitland to enclose this Letter to M^r Pearce because it is an honor & pleasure I never expected to receive. May it contain good news from abroad & convey fresh vigor to y^r heart the sincerest wish that swells mine, is that our kind father will speedily answer the innumerable prayers of y^r Friends by raising you again to that Zenith of usefulness & glory in which you have so conspicuously shone---I have the additional pleasure of conveying a Letter from the same place to my dear Pastor D^r Rippon who sends his affectionate respects some time ago M^r Fuller told me if y^r health permitted you might probably visit London, if this should be the case & you ever come into Leadenhall St. let me with intire sincerity assure you no one in London shall give you a heartier welcome than Mother & self if you will favor us so abundantly as to grant us any of y^r Company---will you excuse this long Liberty from a young stranger who never the less will with the hope of y^r permission style as well as feel herself M^r Pearce’s sincere friend.

Eliza Vowell

No. 133 Leadenhall St.

Text: Samuel Pearce Carey Box, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford.