Box 1

This manuscript grammar notebook, written in Chaldean Aramaic and English, appears to have originally belonged to William Bentley (Harvard A.B. 1777); Bentley's name and a date, "December 1776," appear on the volume but have been struck through, and the handwriting appears to be his. The names of Elisha Parmele and Polly Parmele are also on the volume; presumably it was given to Elisha by Bentley, and upon Elisha's death in 1784 it was passed to Polly.

This volume, in Parmele's hand, is written in Syriac and English. It, too, appears to have been passed to Polly Parmele upon his death.

These three small volumes, written in Chaldean Aramaic and English, are in Parmele's hand.

Edward Everett Hale has speculated that Parmele prepared this document, written primarily in Syriac, for an event at Harvard. It is unknown whether or not it was delivered.

This document describes Parmele's examination before an association of ministers in Berkshire County and records their subsequent decision to recommend him as a candidate for "the gospel ministry." Stephen West was the moderator of this meeting, and Daniel Collens was its scribe.

Parmele appears to have been in Virginia when he made these journal entries.

This series contains materials created by Parmele in the course of his religious work and studies, as well as documents created by those who selected him as pastor in Lee, Massachusetts. Due to his deteriorating health, Parmele was forced to resign from the pastorship at Lee less than a year after he had accepted the position, and this series includes documents related to his release from the pastorship and his subsequent voyage south, to Virginia.

This series contains materials created by Parmele in the course of his religious work and studies, as well as documents created by those who selected him as pastor in Lee, Massachusetts. Due to his deteriorating health, Parmele was forced to resign from the pastorship at Lee less than a year after he had accepted the position, and this series includes documents related to his release from the pastorship and his subsequent voyage south, to Virginia.

These appear to be Parmele's notes on a work by the scholar William Jones (1726-1800) regarding the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity.

This series contains materials created by Parmele in the course of his religious work and studies, as well as documents created by those who selected him as pastor in Lee, Massachusetts. Due to his deteriorating health, Parmele was forced to resign from the pastorship at Lee less than a year after he had accepted the position, and this series includes documents related to his release from the pastorship and his subsequent voyage south, to Virginia.

This letter, signed by Stephen West, Ezra Stiles, and Josiah Sherman, attests to the reputable character of Elisha Parmele and his brother, Reuben, who was also a minister. The signers explain the health concerns motivating the brothers' travels southward and request that those who encounter them treat them with "kindness and brotherly love."

This series contains two documents: Parmele's will, written just before his departure for Virginia in 1784, and a legal agreement of his heirs, signed in the year following his death.

This series contains two documents: Parmele's will, written just before his departure for Virginia in 1784, and a legal agreement of his heirs, signed in the year following his death.