Samuel Phillips | |
---|---|
1st Pastor of the South Church, Andover, Massachusetts | |
In office October 17, 1711 – June 5, 1771 | |
Preceded by | office established |
Succeeded by | Jonathan French |
Personal details | |
Born | Samuel Phillips February 17, 1690 Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British America |
Died | June 5, 1771 Andover, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America | (aged 81)
Resting place | South Church Cemetery, Andover, MA 42°39′14.05″N 71°8′35.93″W / 42.6539028°N 71.1433139°W |
Spouse |
Hannah White (
m. 1711) |
Children | Mary (b. 1712) Samuel (b. 1715) Lydia (b. 1717) John (b. 1719) William (b. 1722) |
Parent(s) | Samuel Phillips Mary Emerson |
Education | Harvard College, 1708 |
Signature | |
Samuel Phillips (February 17, 1690 [a] – June 5, 1771) was an American Congregational minister and the first pastor of the South Church in Andover, Massachusetts. His son, John Phillips, was the founder of Phillips Exeter Academy, and his grandson, Samuel Phillips Jr., was the founder of Phillips Academy Andover and briefly the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.
Samuel Phillips was born in Salem, Massachusetts on February 17, 1690. [3] Phillips was the second eldest child and eldest son of Samuel Phillips and Mary Emerson [b] [c] and one of eight siblings, including one half-sister: [9]
Child with second wife Sarah Mayfield, married April 27, 1704:
His grandfather was Rev. Samuel Phillips [f] of Rowley and his great-grandfather George Phillips of Watertown, [32] one of the first to settle in Watertown and founder of its First Congregational Church.
Phillips was admitted to Harvard College in July 1704 and graduated in 1708. [4] After about a year of teaching in Chebacco (formerly a parish of Ipswich and currently Essex), Massachusetts, he became more focused on preparing for the ministry. [12]
Phillips preached in Norton for a short period of time. He had the respect of the parish and was asked to relocate and begin preaching with its new church. [12] He was not ordained however: "The influence of the minister of the old Parish of Taunton was unfavorable." [12]
In 1710 Phillips came to Andover to serve as the pastor of the newly founded South Church. He began preaching on April 30 of that year. On December 12 the Parish voted unanimously in his favor. He declined, however, to officially take on the role immediately after his approval due to his young age. [12] On October 17, 1711, the day of the official organization of the church and at the age of 22, Phillips was ordained as the first pastor of the South Church. [1] He "preached the [first] Sermon himself, from Ezek. 3:17." [12]
While pastor he published a number of works, many of which were written for members of the parish to take as guidance. [33] He preached an Artillery Sermon, an Election Sermon, and a Convention Sermon, suggesting he was highly esteemed. [34] Reverend John Webb [g], in the preface of Advice to A Child, writes of Phillips:
"The discourses he has published heretofore, have given him this testimony in the consciences of all good Christians who have read them. That he is a well-qualified and faithful minister of Jesus Christ." [34]
Phillips had at least two African American servants, Salem and Rama. After Phillips died, they became servants of Rev. Jonathan French, the next pastor. They had a child named Cyrus (baptized December 23, 1770) and another Titus (b. November 24, 1774). [38]
Phillips remained pastor of the church until his death on June 5, 1771, serving nearly sixty years. Jonathan French succeeded him as second pastor. [39]
Phillips married Hannah White (1691 – January 7, 1773) of Haverhill, daughter of John White [h] of Haverhill and Lydia Gilman on January 17, 1712. [41] [17] [42] [40] [i] Together they had five children:
Hannah died on January 7, 1773, at the age of 82. [41] [42] [j]
Phillips died on June 5, 1771. Over the course of his ministry, he baptised 2143 people including 30 adults [48] and witnessed the parish grow from 35 in 1711 to 573. [49] He is the longest-serving pastor of the church to date.[ citation needed] He is buried in the South Church Cemetery, Andover, Massachusetts along with other members of the Phillips family.
Phillips wrote a number of publications over his lifetime covering a variety of subjects. The following is a complete list of his works: [43]
Title | Year Published | Notes |
---|---|---|
Elegy upon the death of Nicholas Noyes and George Curwen | 1718 | Reverend Nicholas Noyes (December 22, 1647 – December 13, 1717) was a minister who served as the assistant reverend to Reverend John Higginson during the Salem witch trials in 1692. He was born in Newton to Nicholas Noyes (1616 – 1701) and Mary Cutting (1622 – 1701) and graduated from Harvard College in 1667. [50] Higginson and Noyes were both ministers of the First Church of Salem, serving from 1660 – 1708 and 1683 – 1717 respectively. [51] He may not gave regretted participating in the witch trials given that his signature is not present on related documents asking for forgiveness. He died in Salem of brain hemorrhage. [50] |
A word in Season | 1727 | |
Three plain, practical Discourses | 1728 | |
Advice to a Child | 1729 | Its preface was written by John Webb, friend and classmate of Phillips and pastor of the New North Church, now known as St. Stephen's Church, in Boston (see note). [34] |
The History of the Saviour | 1738 | |
The Orthodox Christian | 1738 | |
A Minister's Address to his People | 1739 | |
A Preface to Mr. Barnard's funeral sermon for Mr. Abiel Abbot | 1739 | |
Artillery Election Sermon | 1741 | |
Living Water to be had for Asking | 1750 | |
A Sermon at the General Election | 1750 | |
A Sermon at the Installation of Rev. Samuel Chandler | 1751 | Rev. Samuel Chandler (1712 – April 16, 1775) was a clergyman born in Andover. He was ordained in the second parish of York, Maine, from January 20, 1742, to 1751 and served as a member of the clergy of Gloucester, Massachusetts, from November 13, 1751, until his death. [43] |
Sinner's Refusal to come to Christ Reproved | 1753 | |
The Necessity of God's Drawing, in Order to Man's Coming unto Christ [52] | 1753 | Delivered in Boston on June 3, 1753 [53] |
Sermon at the Anniversary Convention of Ministers | 1753 | Delivered in Boston May 31, 1753. |
Sermon at the Ordination of Nathan Holt | 1759 | Nathan Holt (1725 – August 2, 1792) [k] was born and baptized in the South Parish of Andover. His father Nicholas Holt and mother were also members of the South Church. [54] He was ordained pastor of the church of Danvers, Massachusetts, on January 3, 1759. [43] |
Seasonable Advice to a Neighbor | 1761 | |
Address to Young People | 1763 | |
Discourse on Justification | 1766 | Delivered in Boston [43] |
A Sermon on Suicide | 1767 | Written after the death of David Gray, who committed suicide January 7, 1767. [43] Gray was not allowed a Christian burial at the South Church, of which he was a member, but was posthumously buried there. [55] |
Samuel Phillips | |
---|---|
1st Pastor of the South Church, Andover, Massachusetts | |
In office October 17, 1711 – June 5, 1771 | |
Preceded by | office established |
Succeeded by | Jonathan French |
Personal details | |
Born | Samuel Phillips February 17, 1690 Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British America |
Died | June 5, 1771 Andover, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America | (aged 81)
Resting place | South Church Cemetery, Andover, MA 42°39′14.05″N 71°8′35.93″W / 42.6539028°N 71.1433139°W |
Spouse |
Hannah White (
m. 1711) |
Children | Mary (b. 1712) Samuel (b. 1715) Lydia (b. 1717) John (b. 1719) William (b. 1722) |
Parent(s) | Samuel Phillips Mary Emerson |
Education | Harvard College, 1708 |
Signature | |
Samuel Phillips (February 17, 1690 [a] – June 5, 1771) was an American Congregational minister and the first pastor of the South Church in Andover, Massachusetts. His son, John Phillips, was the founder of Phillips Exeter Academy, and his grandson, Samuel Phillips Jr., was the founder of Phillips Academy Andover and briefly the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.
Samuel Phillips was born in Salem, Massachusetts on February 17, 1690. [3] Phillips was the second eldest child and eldest son of Samuel Phillips and Mary Emerson [b] [c] and one of eight siblings, including one half-sister: [9]
Child with second wife Sarah Mayfield, married April 27, 1704:
His grandfather was Rev. Samuel Phillips [f] of Rowley and his great-grandfather George Phillips of Watertown, [32] one of the first to settle in Watertown and founder of its First Congregational Church.
Phillips was admitted to Harvard College in July 1704 and graduated in 1708. [4] After about a year of teaching in Chebacco (formerly a parish of Ipswich and currently Essex), Massachusetts, he became more focused on preparing for the ministry. [12]
Phillips preached in Norton for a short period of time. He had the respect of the parish and was asked to relocate and begin preaching with its new church. [12] He was not ordained however: "The influence of the minister of the old Parish of Taunton was unfavorable." [12]
In 1710 Phillips came to Andover to serve as the pastor of the newly founded South Church. He began preaching on April 30 of that year. On December 12 the Parish voted unanimously in his favor. He declined, however, to officially take on the role immediately after his approval due to his young age. [12] On October 17, 1711, the day of the official organization of the church and at the age of 22, Phillips was ordained as the first pastor of the South Church. [1] He "preached the [first] Sermon himself, from Ezek. 3:17." [12]
While pastor he published a number of works, many of which were written for members of the parish to take as guidance. [33] He preached an Artillery Sermon, an Election Sermon, and a Convention Sermon, suggesting he was highly esteemed. [34] Reverend John Webb [g], in the preface of Advice to A Child, writes of Phillips:
"The discourses he has published heretofore, have given him this testimony in the consciences of all good Christians who have read them. That he is a well-qualified and faithful minister of Jesus Christ." [34]
Phillips had at least two African American servants, Salem and Rama. After Phillips died, they became servants of Rev. Jonathan French, the next pastor. They had a child named Cyrus (baptized December 23, 1770) and another Titus (b. November 24, 1774). [38]
Phillips remained pastor of the church until his death on June 5, 1771, serving nearly sixty years. Jonathan French succeeded him as second pastor. [39]
Phillips married Hannah White (1691 – January 7, 1773) of Haverhill, daughter of John White [h] of Haverhill and Lydia Gilman on January 17, 1712. [41] [17] [42] [40] [i] Together they had five children:
Hannah died on January 7, 1773, at the age of 82. [41] [42] [j]
Phillips died on June 5, 1771. Over the course of his ministry, he baptised 2143 people including 30 adults [48] and witnessed the parish grow from 35 in 1711 to 573. [49] He is the longest-serving pastor of the church to date.[ citation needed] He is buried in the South Church Cemetery, Andover, Massachusetts along with other members of the Phillips family.
Phillips wrote a number of publications over his lifetime covering a variety of subjects. The following is a complete list of his works: [43]
Title | Year Published | Notes |
---|---|---|
Elegy upon the death of Nicholas Noyes and George Curwen | 1718 | Reverend Nicholas Noyes (December 22, 1647 – December 13, 1717) was a minister who served as the assistant reverend to Reverend John Higginson during the Salem witch trials in 1692. He was born in Newton to Nicholas Noyes (1616 – 1701) and Mary Cutting (1622 – 1701) and graduated from Harvard College in 1667. [50] Higginson and Noyes were both ministers of the First Church of Salem, serving from 1660 – 1708 and 1683 – 1717 respectively. [51] He may not gave regretted participating in the witch trials given that his signature is not present on related documents asking for forgiveness. He died in Salem of brain hemorrhage. [50] |
A word in Season | 1727 | |
Three plain, practical Discourses | 1728 | |
Advice to a Child | 1729 | Its preface was written by John Webb, friend and classmate of Phillips and pastor of the New North Church, now known as St. Stephen's Church, in Boston (see note). [34] |
The History of the Saviour | 1738 | |
The Orthodox Christian | 1738 | |
A Minister's Address to his People | 1739 | |
A Preface to Mr. Barnard's funeral sermon for Mr. Abiel Abbot | 1739 | |
Artillery Election Sermon | 1741 | |
Living Water to be had for Asking | 1750 | |
A Sermon at the General Election | 1750 | |
A Sermon at the Installation of Rev. Samuel Chandler | 1751 | Rev. Samuel Chandler (1712 – April 16, 1775) was a clergyman born in Andover. He was ordained in the second parish of York, Maine, from January 20, 1742, to 1751 and served as a member of the clergy of Gloucester, Massachusetts, from November 13, 1751, until his death. [43] |
Sinner's Refusal to come to Christ Reproved | 1753 | |
The Necessity of God's Drawing, in Order to Man's Coming unto Christ [52] | 1753 | Delivered in Boston on June 3, 1753 [53] |
Sermon at the Anniversary Convention of Ministers | 1753 | Delivered in Boston May 31, 1753. |
Sermon at the Ordination of Nathan Holt | 1759 | Nathan Holt (1725 – August 2, 1792) [k] was born and baptized in the South Parish of Andover. His father Nicholas Holt and mother were also members of the South Church. [54] He was ordained pastor of the church of Danvers, Massachusetts, on January 3, 1759. [43] |
Seasonable Advice to a Neighbor | 1761 | |
Address to Young People | 1763 | |
Discourse on Justification | 1766 | Delivered in Boston [43] |
A Sermon on Suicide | 1767 | Written after the death of David Gray, who committed suicide January 7, 1767. [43] Gray was not allowed a Christian burial at the South Church, of which he was a member, but was posthumously buried there. [55] |