Samuel DANFORTH

                   Historical information included in notes.




From WILLIAM Thaddeus Harris, Esq., "Notes on the Danforth Family," NEHGS Register, v. 7 (Oct., 1853) pp. 315-321."Rev. Samuel Danforth, son of the Rev. Samuel Danforth of Roxbury, was born at Roxbury, 18 Dec., 1666, graduated at Harvard in 1683, and was ordained at Taunton, Mass., as successor to the Rev. George Shove, in 1688, where he continued to perform the duties of his pastoral office, with singular fidelity and success, until 'his translation to the heavenly paradise Nov. 14, 1727, fifteen days after the first shock of the great earthquake in New England.' He was esteemed one of the most learned and eminent Ministers of his day, and his death was recorded as a 'public loss.' His wife was the daughter of the Rev. James Allen, of Boston."Rev. Samuel Danforth was a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1683, and was ordained in 1688 pastor of the church at Taunton. He was not only of clerical descent on his father's, but also on his mother's side. His mother was the daughter of Rev. John Wilson, pastor of the First Church in Boston, and granddaughter of Dr. William Wilson, Prebendary of Rochester, England, who was also grandnephew to Dr. Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of Canterbury. Mr. Danforth was called to the work of the ministry in Taunton, with a large share of ministerial influence to precede and prepare the way for him. He was much sought after. "The town," remarks Mr. Baylies, "was extremely anxious to obtain Mr. Danforth." The following is found in the Proprietors' Records, Book No. IV, page 29: "Feb. 27th, 1687. It is voted that Captain Bartholomew Tipping shall have ten acres of land adjoining to his own land, formerly laid out to him, at a place called Rumford, for his labor and charge to fetch up to our town Mr. Danforth, provided it be not prejudiciall to any highway or former grant." Captain Tipping sold Mr. Danforth his house and lot, and the following persons agreed to give him certain parcels of land, "in part pay therefor," namely: Acres James Walker 10 Peter Walker 10 John Hall 5 Thomas Lincoln, Sen. 5 John Richmond 5 William Withrell 5 James Tisdill 5 Edward Bobit 5 Elkanah Bobit 2 Peter Pitts, Senior 5 Jonathan Briggs 4 Samuel Hall 4 John Smith, Jr. 5 Samuel Hollaway 2 John Dean 5 John Macomber, Jr. 5 William Paull 5 Robert Crossman, Jr. 3 Joseph Leonard 4 Mary Street 6 Joseph Willis 5 John Hathaway, Sen. 10 John Briant 10 The above named persons may be supposed, therefore, to have been particularly desirous to secure the services of so eminent a minister as Samuel Danforth. Mr. Baylies assigns the time of ordination to 1687. It doubtless occurred in that year, as Captain Tipping had already brought Mr. Danforth to town before the 27th of February. It is a mortifying fact, that in the present state of our records, we are unable to speak with any certainty concerning the services of ordination. If his father, the minister of Roxbury, had been living, we could easily decide who preached the sermon. But he died before Samuel entered college. His older brother, John, doubtless was present, and may have given the Right Hand of Fellowship. His father-in-law, Rev. Mr. Allen of Boston, may have preached the sermon. Rev. Increase Mather, then President of Harvard College, may have given the charge, or offered the ordaining prayer, and Cotton Mather, a successor of his father in the ministry of Boston, may have addressed the people. Mr. Angier, the successor of Mr. Newman at Rehoboth, Mr. Keith of Bridgewater, and John Cotton, Jr., of Plymouth, doubtless were present, and took part in the proceedings. The popularity of Mr. Danforth in the beginning of his ministry continued without abatement to its close. Nothing occurred to disturb the harmony of the relation formed. "He was peculiarly fortunate," remarks someone commenting on his ministry, "in retaining the attachment of his people. They were eager to settle him, and their interest in him endured to the end." "His various qualifications," remarks Mr. Baylies, "rendered him extremely useful in town, and while he instructed his people in all things t
ouching their spiritual welfare, they found his advice and aid no less useful in their temporal concerns. He acquired over them an unbounded influence, which he exercised for the general good, and although some of them might dislike advice, which too often came in the shape of a command, yet as nothing was meant but their good, they acquiesced, and were grateful." Mr. Allen, in a brief biographical notice of the Taunton minister, pronounces him "one of the most learned and eminent divines of his day." This well agrees with the representation of him by contemporaries. The estate of Mr. Danforth embraced the present site of the Dean Cotton Mill on Broadway, nearly opposite the gaol, which water privilege, I have understood from Job Godfrey, Esq., Proprietors' clerk, was improved by the minister for a saw and grist mill. Lest any should charge the learned divine with pursuing an unclerical calling, it should be added that the mill was in charge of one of his sons.(*) The record of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company for 1708 is as follows: "April 5th 1708. The Rev'd Mr. Samuel Danforth was chosen to preach the Artillery Sermon, and the then commission officers, with Mr. Samuel Sewall Esqr. (1679) and Mr. Edward Bromfield Esqr. (1679) were desired to request it of him. "May 3rd. It was returned accepted pr him." Rev. SAMUEL3 DANFORTH of Taunton, who delivered the sermon before the Artillery Company in 1708, was a son of Rev. Samuel Danforth of Roxbury (colleague of Rev. John Eliot), who delivered the sermon before the Company in 1667, and was a brother of Rev. John Danforth of Dorchester, who delivered the sermon before the Company in 1693. INSCRIPTIONS(+)(OLD STONE)HERE LYES BURIED YE BODY OF YE REV'D MR. SAMUELDANFORTH, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE NOV. 14, 1727. (NEW STONE)SacredTo the memory of the Rev. Samuel Danforth, who was born in Roxbury, Dec.18, 1666; graduated at Harvard College in 1683; was ordained and settled as thefourth minister in Taunton, and continued in the ministry 44 years, to the timeof his death, which was on Nov. 14, 1727. The old family records give the death of Rev. Samuel Danforth thus: Nov. 14, 1727, Died ye Rev'd Mr. Samuel Danforth in ye sixty-first year of his age.(*) He was not only preacher, but doctor and teacher to the people of his congregation, giving in fullest measure his life of service for them. He lived, died & was buried among the people of his first love.(*) This in Ministry of Taunton, Vol. I, page 186. Danforth Genealogy gives Katherine, also Wills. Samuel in his will dated 5 May, 1725, confirms a deed of his fulling mill, die house & comb shop to his son Samuel; mentions dau. Elizabeth, late deceased, wife of Mr. John Walley, of Boston; dau. Sarah, wife of Mr. Wm. Downes, of Boston; dau. Mary, wife of Jacob Barney; daus. Hannah, Bethia, Rachel & Katherine Danforth; sons James & Thomas Danforth; father-in-law Mr. James Allen deceased. Speaks of his grist mill & malt house (page 35). Will of Hannah Danforth, widow - relict of the Rev. Samuel Danforth, late of Taunton, dated 26 Feb. 1745, prob. 24 Dec., 1761: "I give my gold ring that I had at Madam Osborn's funeral to my dau., Sarah Down; to my two daus. viz. Marah & Bethiah my two other gold rings; to my gchild Susannah Hodges one of my silver spoons," divides her wearing apparell between her four daus. Sarah, Mary, Bethiah & Katherine; excepting her "Calico gown that I had of Madam Osborn, which, with my necklace, I give to my dau. Katherine"; to sons Samuel & Thomas Danforth & grandson James Danforth, 5 pounds each, & smaller amounts to the others, refers to the bond Ephraim Hodges gave he; "a puter plate" to each of the daughters & "my silver porringer." Codicil added 17 May, 1750, mentioned in addition her daughter Cobb & granddaughter Abigail Danforth & the three daus. of her dau. Katherine, namely Susannah, Martha & Rachel. In an enfeebled state of body & mind which came upon the widow, her son-in-law Samuel Down, of Boston, gentleman, was appointed to look after matters 26 May, 1758. The son Thomas Danforth "brazier,"
Norwich, Conn., was appointed adm., of her estate Sept. 27, 1768. (*)Ministry of Taunton, Vol. I, page 186. (+)The record of the children of "Rev. Samuel Danforth and Hannah his wife" was found on a detached leaf of an old printed volume, in his father's possession, "nearly illegible." Danforth Genealogy, pages 34-36. Ministry of Taunton, Vol. I, pages 184-185. Taunton Vital Records, Vol. I, pages 116-117 (births); Vol. II, page 135 (marriages). *)Danforth Genealogy, pages 26, 34. Taunton Vital Records, Vol. I, page 117; Roxbury Vital Records, Vol. I, page 89. (+)Ibid., Vol. III, page 61. ??Ministry of Taunton, Vol. I, pages 187-8. **Sewall's Papers, Vol. I (1674-1700), page 228