USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Centurial history of the Mendon association of Congregational ministers, with the Centennial address, delivered at Franklin, Mass., Nov. 19, l851, and biographical sketches of the members and licentiates > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
3. Elisha Rockwood, born Wrentham, 1716; married Elizabeth Adams of Sherborn, 1738, and soon removed to Groton, and settled as clothier and farmer. Hie oldest son was
4. Elisha Rockwood, born in Groton, 1740 ; married Abigail Stone, of Groton, 1771 ; removed to Chesterfield, N. H., amongst the first settlers ; joined with the church, and died there, - he in his 92d and she in her 63d year. Their third child, and oldest son, was
5. Elisha Rockwood, the subject of the above sketch. - Letter of Rev. E. Rockwood, Swansey, N. H.
of 3 d. al )-
ch [r.
166
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
3. Susan Brigham, was married to Dea. C. C. Denny, of Keene, N. H., and died in 1843, leaving one son, Henry Rockwood Denny.
4. Hannah Abagail, is the wife of Dexter Brigham, Jr., of the firm of Harnden & Co., Boston.
5. Robert Breck, died at 3 days old.
Mrs. Rockwood died at Westboro', 4 June, 1836, and he married Mrs. Emily W. Herrick, relict of Rev. Osgood Herrick, late of Millbury. She still lives.
Mr. Rockwood has published several sermons : 1. Ordina- tion Sermon of Rev. Cyrus Mann, Westminster. 2. A Cen- tury Sermon, in Westboro', 1808. 3. A Dedicatory Sermon. 4. Farewell Sermon at W., 1835. 5. Funeral Sermon of Rev. John Sabin, 1845.
35. REV. SAMUEL W. COLBURN
Is the son of Mr. Asa Colburn, of Lebanon, N. H. His mother was sister of Rev. Dr. S. Wood of Boscawen, N. H., by whom he was adopted and educated. Graduated at Dartmouth, 1808; ordained in West Taunton, 29 August, 1809, and dismissed in feeble health, 9 Dec. 1812. As health permitted, he labored some time as missionary in R. I. Installed in East Abington, 3d ch., 13 Oct., 1813; dis- missed 5 Feb., 1830. Several years agent of the Am. Doct. Tract and Book Society. Preached a year at Newark, N. J., two years at West Attleboro', and three years at Sandwich. From July 1835 to July 1838 were spent at Little Compton, R. I. His present residence is South Weymouth. He has published several occasional sermons. The Doctrinal Tracts, Nos. 9 and 16, are from his pen.
Mr. Colburn married Miss Ruth Cogswell, daughter of Nehemiah and Ruth Cogswell, of Boscawen, N. H., and has three children. One is the wife of Mr. Albert Reed, of New York ; the second married Mr. Theron V. Shaw, South
167
REV. JACOB IDE, D. D.
Weymouth ; and the third is wife to Mr. B. A. Smith, Prin- cipal of Leicester Academy .*
36. REV. JACOB 'IDE, D. D.,
The son of Mr. Jacob Ide, of Attleborough, was born in Attleborough, 1786. ; He graduated at Brown University, 1809, and A. M., whence he received the honorary degree of S. T. D., 1827 ; and studied theology at Andover, where he was graduated, 1812. He was ordained over the church in West Medway, 2 November, 1814, and there still con- tinues.
Dr. Ide married Mary Emmons, daughter of Rev. N. Emmons, D. D., of Franklin. Of his children, the oldest son living, Jacob, Jr., graduated at Amherst College, 1848 ; and is preparing for the ministry. His youngest daughter, Mary, was married to Rev. Charles T. Torrey.
Dr. Ide was one of the editors of the " Christian Maga- zine," published in the Association, and enriched its pages with his communications. He has published several occa- sional discourses, and edited a new and uniform edition of Dr. Emmons's Works, to which he prefixed an able exhibition of the life of the author. He has also superintended the theological studies, wholly or in part, of forty-one candidates for the ministry.#
* Letter of Rev. S. W. Colburn, South Weymouth.
His New England ancestry originates in Nicholas Ide, Rehoboth, 1645. Nicholas, Jr., b. Nov., 1654., m. Mary Ormsby and had 7 ch. Ja- cob, his second son, m. Sarah Perry and had 2 ch., Sarah, and Jacob, b. 26 Sept., 1723. He was father of Jacob, and grandfather to Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., above.
# His students are, Rev. Messrs. * Sewall Harding, * David Brigham, * Zolva Whitmore, * John M. Putnam, * George Fisher,
* Henry H. F. Swett, *James O. Barney, * Levi Packard, - Cone, of E. Haddam, Ct., M. S. Hagar, - Morrell, of Boscawen, N.
168
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
37. REV. ALVAN COBB
Is the son of Timothy and Deborah (Church) Cobb, and is a native of Carver .* He graduated at Brown University, 1813, and A. M .; and studied theology with Rev. Otis Thompson, of Rehoboth. He was ordained over the church in West Taunton, 19 April, 1815, where he still labors.
Mr. Cobb married Mary, daughter of Hon. Elijah and Rebecca Ingraham, of Pawtucket. She died 13 September, 1846, having had two children, one of whom survives. He next married Miss Abiah F. Homer, of Boston.
Mr. Cobb's chief publications are : 1. Funeral Sermon of Mrs. Rebecca Talbot, N. Y., 1825. 2. Sermon on "Fore- fathers' Day," Plymouth, 1831. 3. Ordination Sermon of Rev. C. Simmons, Attleborough, 1832. 4. Funeral Sermon of Mrs. Hannah Walker, Taunton, 1838. 5 Ordination Sermon of Rev. David Tilton, Edgartown, M. V., 1835. 6. Funeral Sermon of Rev. Joseph H. Bailey, Dighton, 1844. 7. Doctrinal Tract, No. 23, - besides many articles in periodicals.
Mr. Cobb has had charge of the theological instruction of nine students.t
H., * Gilbert Fay, * Lucius W. Clark, * Cyrus W. Conant, Charles R. Fisk, * Varnum Noyes, * John Forbush, * Isaac E. Heaton, * Ch's T. Torrey, * Eli Thurston, * Thomas Edwards, * John Dwight, * Ed- mund Dowse, * Charles Chamberlain, * Daniel J. Poor, Samuel Vial, * Samuel Hunt, * Abram Jenkins, Jr., * Richard C. Spofford, * Jo- seph H. Bailey, * William Phipps, Jr., * Jonathan Grout, * William M. Thayer, * Preston Pond, Jr., * Horace D. Walker, * Allen Lincoln, William S. Leavett, Asa Bullard, * Malachi Bullard, * Jame's M. Ba- con, Jacob Ide, Jr. Some of these remained but a short time. Those starred are elsewhere mentioned.
* His ancestry are found in Plymouth Colony. His grandfather, Nathan, was brother to Ebenezer Cobb, of Kingston, who attained the age of one hundred and eight.
t They are Rev. Messrs. * Silas Shores, * James Tisdale, * Charles
REV. JOSEPHUS WHEATON. 169
38. REV. JOSEPHUS WHEATON
Was born in Rehoboth, 16 March, 1788, and was the son of Joseph Wheaton, Esq. He early evinced a strong thirst for knowledge, and by his own ingenuity and perseverance obtained the trade of shoemaker, the avails of which enabled him to obtain an education. He entered the Sophomore class in Brown University, and graduated in 1812, one of the best scholars in his class ; among whom was Rev. C. Kingsbury, missionary to the Choctaws, his room-mate and dear friend. He made profession of religion while in college ; and after graduation, studied for the ministry with Rev. Otis Thompson, of his native town. At the same time he had, for a while, the preceptorship of George-street Academy, Providence ; and was tutor in the college from 1813 to 1815. He was approbated while in the University, and commenced supply- ing the pulpit in Holliston, vacated by the death of Rev. Mr. Dickinson. He was ordained pastor of the Church in Hol- liston, 6 December, 1815. Rev. Otis Thompson preached the sermon. A pulmonary disease soon made its appearance, with which he contended about three years. The latter part of the time he was blind - until he died, 4 February, 1825, at nearly the age of thirty-seven, and in the tenth year of his ministry.
Mr. Wheaton married first, Mary, the only daughter of Daniel and Sarah Ide, of Franklin. Her father died in her infancy, and she was brought up in the family of Peter Hunt, Esq., of Seekonk, to whom her mother was married. This alliance continued only from January, 1816 to July, 1817, when. Mrs. Wheaton died of : consumption. Mr. Wheaton's second wife was Miss Abby Fales, whom he left
J. Warren, Martin Cushman, Michael Burdette, David Tilton, H. Au- gustus Woodman, - Robinson, * Thomas T. Richmond. The starred are included in this volume.
15
170
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
a widow with three children. She was subsequently mar- ried to Dea. Benjamin Shepherd, of Wrentham, 15 No- vember, 1838, and died in Wrentham. Their children were,
1. Francis, grad. Brown, 1840, and now practising Law.
2. Henry Stewart, grad. Brown, 1841, now a Lawyer in California.
3. Mary and Louisa.
Mr. Wheaton excelled in an intimate acquaintance with the classics, and his talents as an instructor, drew many youth to him for qualification for college.
" As a preacher he was instructive, animated, and animating. His delivery was uncommonly rapid, yet natural, and made him a highly acceptable preacher. His conciliating deport- ment, amiable temper, and dignified, yet unaffected manners won the affections of those who were not always pleased with his theological sentiments, which closely resemble those of his predecessor, and were decidedly what are termed Hopkin- sian. He united his people when they were not a little dis- cordant, and retained their respect, confidence, and affection, to the close of his life. Humility was the distinguishing fea- ture of his piety : and it shone with brightness during his long and painful sickness."
Mr. Wheaton published several occasional sermons. Among them : 1. A Fast Sermon, on the Equality of Man- kind, and the Evils of Slavery : 1820.
2. A Funeral Sermon of Miss Sarah Emmons : 1823.
3. Dedication Sermon of the meeting-house, Holliston, 5 Nov., 1823.
39. REV. THOMAS WILLIAMS,
The son of Joseph Williams,* was born in Pomfret, Ct., 5 Nov., 1779, graduated at Yale College, 1800, and A. M. in
* His immigrant Ancestor was Robert Williams, of Roxbury, from
171
REV . THOMAS WILLIAMS.
course : also A. M. at Brown Univ., 1814. After graduation, he taught a Colored school in Boston, of a hundred scholars. In 1804, May, he was approbated to preach, by the Windham Evangelical Association, when he returned to Boston, and officiated as chaplain to the almshouse. At the close of his engagement, he went as a missionary to Otsego, Delaware Co., N. Y., under the direction of the Conn. Dom. Miss. Society. On his return, he was ordained in Providence, R. I.,1 Jan.,1807. Spent six weeks with Rev. Dr. Emmons, reading Ecclesias- tical writers, and then acted as stated supply to the Richmond St. Church, in Providence, until 1816, when he removed to Foxboro', where he was installed, 16 Nov., 1816, and continued until 24 Oct., 1821. He preached in Attleboro' from 29 Sept., 1824, until 11 Dec., 1827 ; in Hebronville, in the same town, until April, 1832; then in Barrington, R. I., until 1838; since which last date, he has resided in Providence, laboring in destitute parishes. He has never viewed himself as reg- ularly settled over any individual Church, but as set apart to do the work of an Evangelist, or "Job work," as he signif- icantly terms it.
Mr. Williams was one of the originators of the Evan. Consociation of Rhode Island, drafted its articles of Faith and Rules, and was the first scribe of the body.
Mr. Williams married Miss Ruth Hale, of Newbury, and has had seven children. His second son, Nathan Ritter, graduated at Yale, and was ordained at Shrewsbury, 28 Feb., 1849.
Mr. Williams has published several volumes and pamph- lets. The following list is nearly complete.
1. Volume of ten sermons on Election, Hartford, 1810.
Norwich, England. Freeman, 1638. He had four sons. Samuel, Dea. in Roxbury ; Isaac, settled in Newton, ancestor of the founder of Wms. Coll .; Stephen, Thomas. The ancestral line is, Robert, 2. Dea. Sam- uel, 3. Samuel, Jr., 4. William, one of the first settlers in Pomfret, Ct., and brother to the first minister, 5. Joseph, 6. Rev. Thomas, above.
172
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
2. Sermon on the peace between the U. S. and Great Britain, 1815.
3. Sermon on the National Thanksgiving for peace, 1815.
4. Ordination Sermon of Rev. Emerson Paine, 14 Feb., 1816.
5. Sermon on Psalmody, 1817 ; another in 1823.
6. Dedication Sermon at Foxboro', 1 Jan., 1823.
7. Volume of seven sermons, Providence, 1823.
8. Funeral Sermon of Mrs. Chloe Read, Attleboro', 1826.
9. On the effects of the Gospel on the day of Pentecost.
10. Volume of twelve sermons, Providence, 1832.
11. Sermon on Rhode Island Protestantism, 1836. -
12. " Domestic Chaplain," - twenty-four short sermons, Hartford, 1839.
13. Funeral Sermon of Rev. Dr. Emmons, 1840.
14. Discourse on the Battle of the Great Day, 1849.
15. Sermon on Theological and Evangelical Orthodoxy, 1850.
16. Discourse on the Life and Death of Oliver Shaw, 1851.
17. Volume on the Official Character of Dr. Emmons, 1851.
Mr. Williams also contributed very many articles in the Conn. Ev. Magazine and Panoplist.
40. REV. CALVIN PARK, D. D.
Was the son of Nathan Park, and was born in North- bridge, 11 Sept., 1774. He graduated at Brown University, 1797, and A. M .; and from which he received the degree of S. T. D., 1818. He studied theology with Rev. Dr. Austin of Worcester. In 1800, he accepted the office of Tutor in his Alma Mater, which office he filled until 1804, when he was elected Professor of Languages. In 1811, he took the chair of Moral Philosophy and Metaphysics, and continued in it until his resignation, 1825.
He preached, from the beginning of his connection with the college, in destitute churches in the vicinity, but he was
T
REV. CALVIN PARK, D . D . 173
not ordained until 1815, May 17 ; when, at his request, the Mendon Association convened at Franklin, and he was there inducted into the sacred office, as Evangelist. Rev. Dr. Crane, of his native town, preached the sermon. After the resignation of his professorship, he commenced preaching to the Evangelical church in Stoughton. He was installed as pastor, 13 Dec., 1826. In 1840, he resigned the pastoral charge, but still resided in the town until his death, 5 Jan., 1847, the same day on which died his near and well-loved brother in the ministry, Rev. Daniel Thomas of Abington, in the 73d year of his age. His last words were : "It is well that we are not always to live."
Dr. Park married Miss Abigail Ware of Wrentham, the daughter of Mr. Nathaniel and Abigail Ware. He had three children :
1. Harrison G., Rev., now in Burlington. (See Members, No. 51).
2. Edwards A., Rev., S. T. D. and Divinity Professor in Andover Theological Seminary. He married Miss Maria Edwards, daughter of Wm. Edwards, of Hunter, Greene Co., N. Y., and recently deceased at Brooklyn.
3. Calvin E., Rev., and pastor of the Congregational Church in West Boxford. He married Miss Harriet T., daughter of Joseph Pope of Portland, Me., deceased.
The following extract from a biographical sketch of Dr. Park, on the Records of this Association, is deemed pertinent and truthful :-
" As a teacher, he was apt, faithful, and thorough. If any under his care were not good scholars, the fault was not in him. He possessed a clear, discriminating mind, and sound judgment. He was not satisfied with looking at the mere surface of things, but disposed to examine elements and prin- ciples ; and was one who could see effects in their causes.
" As to character and habits, he was correct, stable, con- scientious, pious, and devout. Although he had great sen-
15*
174
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
sibility and quickness of feeling, yet his passions were und control. No one, it is presumed, ever found confidence him misplaced.
" His mind was of a meditative and pensive cast. As moralist and divine, he had no superior. His views of tl great doctrines of the Gospel were strictly Calvinistic. The were his own ; made so not by adoption, but by a caref examination of evidence. He knew what and why } believed. So rooted and grounded was he in the truth that he was not shaken by any of the new or plausibl theories which came up in the religious community.
" As a preacher, he was clear, definite, instructive, solemi and impressive. He fully and faithfully preached what h believed. His aim in his sermons was at the understanding conscience, and heart of his hearers. But few preachers with his compass of voice, or even with a much greater, could keep an audience more still and attentive.
" He was not a man of noise and display, but of sound thought and close reasoning. He felt, and he made his hearers feel."
41. REV. DANIEL THOMAS,
The son of Daniel Thomas, was born in Middleboro', 1779, and graduated at Brown University, 1803, and A. M. He studied theology with Rev. O. Thompson, of Rehoboth, and was ordained over the second church in Abington, south parish, 1 June, 1808. He successfully labored there until his dismission, 1842. He died 5 Jan., 1847, in the 68th year of his age.
Mr. Thomas was never married. He was betrothed in the early part of his ministry, to a very lovely and respectable lady of his own parish. But she became sick and was con- fined to her bed, most of the time for thirty-seven years. This prevented their union ; and yet it showed the strength
175
REV. DANIEL THOMAS.
of its bond, that he remained true, affectionate, indulgent, and gentle in the trial, and never sought another, considering his engagement morally binding, and a prevention to any other connection.
In person, he was tall, spare, and, in the latter part of his life, emaciated by toil and disease. He had a dark, kindling eye, a swelling, symmetrical forehead ; and in his whole appearance chaste, neat, immaculate. " Without spot " was his apparel ; " without spot or wrinkle " his sermon.
" He was a clear, intelligent preacher. Everybody under- stood him, - some much better than they desired. He did not make spiritual confectionary of his sermons, and spice them so sparingly with Gospel truth as just to keep them ยท from being fatal, so that the enemies might take the pre- paration, not knowing what it was. Nor did he whip down the high doctrines of sovereignty, decrees, election, depravity, the law and the atonement into delicious rhetorical sillabub, so that the 'babes in Christ' might take unconsciously what they knew not. He gave them the 'sincere milk of the Word,' and made them distinctly understand what it was.
" He was a poet. He was pleasantly facetious, and his wit was sensible, adding life, cheerfulness, and power to great principles.
"His character might not inappropriately be compared for chasteness and beauty to a Grecian pillar of Parian marble, - pure, symmetrical, finished.
" Having been in feeble health for more than a year, on the 10th of December, he was taken suddenly more ill, and laid down to die. His mind was clouded, and his mental faculties seemed to be paralized. Reason struggled hard to retain her seat, and at intervals would assert her sway. But it was evident she had yielded her empire to disease. In the midst of this mental darkness, there was the man, the Chris- tian, the minister, meek, patient, gentle, holy. On the morning of January 5, he faintly whispered, 'I am going
176 .
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
home,' and ceased to breathe. Rev. Mr. Couch, of North Bridgewater, preached his funeral sermon ; and his dust was committed to the earth, the same day with the remains of his long and intimately acquainted friend and neighbor, Rev. Dr. Park, of Stoughton."*
Mr. Thomas published a few occasional sermons and poems.
42. REV. JOHN FERGUSON
Was born 9 Dec., 1788, in Dunse, Berwickshire, Scotland. He is the oldest son of Mr. John Ferguson, a native of the same town in 1739 .; His mother's maiden name was Ann Briggs, a native of Little Compton, R. I. Both his parents died in Newport, R. I., and each at the age of 85.
At 20 years of age, and while residing in Providence, R. I., he began preparing for the ministry, under the direction of Rev. C. Park, D. D., then professor in the college. He did not graduate, but received an honorary A. M. from Amherst College in 1837.
He was ordained at East Attleboro', as successor of Rev. N. Holman, 27 Feb., 1822, was dismissed 25 March, 1835. Installed at Whately, 16 March, 1836, and dismissed, 17 June, 1840. He preached about two years in Lanesboro', and has since been engaged by the Am. Tract Society, as
* Extract from Funeral Sermon, in Puritan Recorder.
t The grandfather of Rev. Mr. Ferguson was a native of the High- lands of Scotland. He belonged to the Scotch Greys, - a regiment of heavy cavalry, - and was under the Duke of Marlborough in all his wars. He was brother to Rev. - Ferguson, minister of the parish of Logierait, in Perthshire, who was the father of Doct. Adam Ferguson, the historian, and predecessor of Dugald Stewart in the chair of Phi- losophy, at Edinburgh. He died in 1742. Mr. F. above, is the only male representative of his family, excepting his own children.
4
177
REV. MOSES THACHER.
General Agent for New Hampshire and Vermont. His residence is at Whately.
Mr. Ferguson married first, Mary V., daughter of Benja- min Hammett, of Newport, R. I. His present wife was Margaret Snow Eddy, daughter of William Eddy, of Provi- dence, R. I. He has had eleven children, eight of whom are living ; viz .: John; Mary H., m. to Mr. Stockbridge, Whately ; Peter ; William E .; George R., grad. Amherst Coll., 1849; Margaret E., Teacher in the Young Ladies' Institute, Pittsfield; James A., and Abby Park.
Mr. Ferguson has published several sermons, and a me- moir of Dr. S. Hopkins, of Newport, R. I., for Sabbath Schools.
43. REV. MOSES THACHER
Is the son of Obadiah and Elizabeth (Richardson) Thacher, and was born in Princeton, 14 Nov., 1795 .* Fitted for
* His immigrant ancestor was Rev. Thomas Thacher, son of Rev. Peter Thacher, of Sarum, or Salsbury, England. He was born 1 May, 1620, arrived in Boston, 4 June, 1635, ord. at Weymouth, 2 Jan., 1645, inst. pastor of the Old South Church, Boston, 16 Feb., 1670, and d. 16 Oct., 1678, aged 58. He m. a daughter of Rev. Ralph Partridge, of Duxbury. His son, Rev. Peter, b. at Salem, 18 July, 1651, ord. at Milton 1 June, 1681, and d. 27 Dec., 1727, aged 77. He m. Theodora, daughter of Rev. John Oxenbridge, of the first church, Boston. He m. 2nd., the widow of Rev. John Bailey, and 3d., the widow of Rev. Joshua Gee, both of Boston. He had 9 ch .; The sixth, was Rev. Peter, b. 9 Oct., 1688, ord. at Middleboro', 2 Nov., 1709, and d. 22 April, 1744, aged 56. He m. Mary, sister of Rev. Thomas Prince, of the Old South Ch., Boston; he had ten ch. The eldest was Rev. Peter, ord. in East Attle- boro', 30 Nov., 1748, and died 13 Sept., 1785, aged 70. Hc m. Bethiah, daughter of Obadiah Carpenter, of Attleboro', and had ten ch .; one of whom was Obadiah, father to Rev. Moses above. Of the last two genera- tions of this family, six are in the ministry, and over one hundred now living members of the church. Eighteen of them joined the church in Harford, Pa., on one Sabbath, in 1808. See Farmer, History of Middle- boro' and Daggett's Attleboro', and Letter of Rev. M. Thacher.
178
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
college, partly, with Rev. N. Holman, and graduated at Browr University, 1821, and A. M. He studied Divinity with Rev. O. Thompson, of Rehoboth, and was ordained at North Wrentham, 20 Aug., 1823, and dismissed, 30 Oct., 1832 A portion of the church withdrew, and was constituted a separate church over whom he was installed, 20 Feb., 1833. In 1838, he left New England for the Middle States, and was installed at Wysox, Pa., 29 April, 1840. Afterwards he was settled four and a half years at Virgil, Cortlandt Co., N. Y., and is now pastor of the church in Genoa, Cayuga Co., N. Y. Mr. Thacher married Henrietta, daughter of Stephen and Lurana Wilmarth, of Attleboro', and has several children.
Mr. Thacher has published : 1. Funeral Sermon of Mr. Shubael Pratt, of Foxboro', 1822 ; 2. do. of Mrs. Naomi F. Harlow, wife of Rev. William Harlow, of North Wrentham, 1823 ; 3. do. on the death of his mother, 1823 ; 4. New Eng- land Telegraph as a weekly religious paper, for four years, from Jan., 1831, and two years as a monthly magazine; 5. several Tractates upon Free Masonry ; 6. on Household Baptism ; 7. Confession of Faith in Scriptural Quotations.
44. REV. JAMES O. BARNEY
Is a native of Providence, R. I., where he was born 30 Sept., 1795. His parents were Cromwell and Lydia P. (Grinnell) Barney. At the age of fourteen, he was seized with a strong desire to visit foreign countries, and shipped as a sailor to gratify this wish. His seafaring life, though short, - being terminated by the Embargo Act, and the war with England, - had its share of peril and suffering. Once he was shipwrecked, once on short allowance, and once nearly drowned at sea in a long-boat. He then went to Attleboro' to learn a trade, where he was conquered to Christ by the powerful revival of 1815, under Rev. N. Holman. He joined the church, 2 July, 1815, and began his preparation for
179
REV . WILLARD PIERCE.
the ministry ; graduated at Brown University 1821, and A. M. ; and studied divinity with Rev. Prof. C. Park, and Rev. Dr. Ide. He was ordained at Seekonk, 4 Feb., 1824, and was dismissed, 13 May, 1850, to act as Seamen's Chaplain, and to supply the pulpit of the Fourth Cong. Church in the city of Providence. He returned 1 June, 1852, to his form- er charge, retaining, however, a partial chaplaincy among seamen at the port.
Mr. Barney married Eliza Lathe, daughter of Mr. Zepha- niah Lathe, of Charlton, and has four children. Eliza L., the oldest, is married to Mr. James Walker, grad. Amherst Coll., 1844, and teacher of a high school in Taunton.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.