The letter to Thomas Worth provides excellent evidence of the fundraising methods of those working on behalf of the hospital as well as the means by which at least some copies of the pamphlet were distributed.
It reads as follows: “Phila. 8th month 1754. Loving Friend, At the desire of the managers of the Pennsilvania Hospital we now enclose thee one of the Books lately published giving an Accott of the rise and present state thereof, A Scheme designd for the relief of our miserable fellow Creatures, many of whom as thou will perceive by the Account have already received great relief by it, and if thro’ the blessing of God, the funds should encrease in such manner as may be reasonably expected, more will receive benefit by it. As we have been witness to the Cures and kindness which has been already done by this tru[ly] charitable Foundation, we cannot but earnestly recommend it to those who either by their situation or for other reasons have not yet attended to it, And as we believe kind providen[ce] hath bless’d many in thy Neighborhood with sufficien[t] means to contribute to this good design, and probably with Hearts delighting in such Acts of Goodness too, if any person wi[ll] call upon them for that purpose— we therefore begg thy interes[t] and Solicitation among them to that End. Any Sums wi[ll] be gladly received & faithfully applied and if thou will be so kind as to inform us by a line or two with thy success and wh[at] thou Art willing to give towards it, it will oblige Thy real Friends John Smith John Reyn[ell].”
Smith and Reynell were two of the original twelve managers of the project, elected at a meeting of the contributors at the State-House in Philadelphia on 1 July 1751. Reynell, a Quaker merchant, served as Treasurer.
There is no record of Worth having donated to the hospital.
Provenance
Provenance Detail
Freeman's Auction
Notes
Sale 873: May 21, 2021. Lot 355
https://freemansauction.com/auction/873-books-manuscripts-various-owner/lot/355
General Notes
Note Type
Historical Note
Note
There is a Thomas Worth (c. 1688- c. 1778) listed as a Justice of the Peace in Darby, Chester County but no other information is available. It is not known if this is the same Thomas Worth. In either case, there is no known record of Thomas Worth having donated to the Hospital.
