A superb book and very scarce in the trade. It's subject is William Burr, New Hampshire Free Will Baptist minister and editor of one of the state's earliest Anti-Slavery papers, The Morning Star.
Based in cotton-trade dependent Dover, previous to 1834, the Morning Star had been "moderate" in its opposition to slavery, and opposed to Freewill Baptists making it a point of religious contention. But Burr took up the editorship that year and everything changed. Burr faced intense backlash from cotton-dependent Doverites, from Free Will Baptists in the South, and from others who felt it was a non-church issue . . . period. It nearly ruined the paper financially. At the 1837 national meeting of the FWBs, there were moves to force the Morning Star to tone things down. Burr refused.
By the time the Civil War arrived, the Morning Star and its abolitionist stance were in favor again. And Burr had been a pioneer in the New England abolitionist movement. When Lincoln visited Dover during the campaign of 1860, Burr was invited to sit on the platform with the soon-to-be President.
A fascinating read. No copies on the market at the time of cataloging.
Brewster, J. M. Fidelity and Usefulness. Life of William Burr. Boston. D. Lothrop & Co. 1871. 208pp.
A very good copy, bound in cloth, and generally solid. Pages are generally bright, with light foxing, and some light spotting on the prelims.
