Mauduit, Jasper

Other names: Governor
Birth: October 14, 1696 in London, England
Death: August 29, 1771 in London, England
Affiliation

Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America

Faith

Christian

Nationality

English

Occupation

Agent in London for the Province of Massachusetts Bay; Governor of the Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America

Marital status

Married Elizabeth King; on her death, married Elizabeth Thody; on her death, married Anne.

Biography

Jasper Mauduit was born in London, England, and served as Agent in London for the Province of Massachusetts Bay from 1762 to 1765. Englishmen appointed as agents in the 18th century were often merchants with trading interests in America. In this capacity, Mauduit represented the interests of the colony to the British government and was the complement of the colony's royal governor. Agents also solicited royal approval of enactments passed by colonial legislatures, were a source of information, and represented colonial interests in British courts. Mauduit then served as Governor of the Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America (New England Company), a powerful missionary society active in the colonies from 1649-1786 that supported a range of efforts, including the missionary work of Wheelock's alumnus Samuel Kirkland, as well as Occom's education at Moor's and his salary during his time with the Montauks on Long Island. In his capacity as governor, Mauduit received a controversial letter on October 2, 1765 from the Boston Commissioners of the Company, signed by Andrew Oliver, that downplayed Wheelock’s role in Occom’s conversion and education. Wheelock pushed back against these claims, writing to many correspondents about the situation, though we do not have a record of Mauduit's position. In response to this controversy, Occom wrote his short Narrative to verify the facts of his life and conversion.

Sources

https://histfam.familysearch.org//getperson.php?personID=I98224&tree=London. Love, W. DeLoss. Samson Occom and the Christian Indians of New England. Boston: The Pilgrim Press, 1899. Print. Skeel, Caroline A. “Jasper Mauduit, Agent in London for the Province of the Massachusetts Bay 1762-5.” Review. The English Historical Review 34.133 (1919), 109-110. Web. Tanner, Edwin P. "Colonial Agencies iin England During the Eighteenth Century." Political Science Quarterly. 16 (1):24-49. Web.