History of Lexington, (Middlesex County) Massachusetts United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Lexington, (Middlesex County) Massachusetts, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Jonas Clark, clergyman, was born in Newton, Mass., Dec. 25, 1730. He was graduated at Harvard in 1752, and was pastor of the First parish, Lexington, Mass., from 1755 to 1805. He brought up a family of twelve children and maintained a liberal hospitality on a salary of ?80 and twenty cords of wood per year, and the proceeds from cultivating sixty acres of land. His house was a rallying place for such patriots as John Hancock, Samuel and John Adams, Joseph Warren and Governor Brooks. He drew up the directions given by the town to its representatives in the general court and provincial congress. He was a delegate to the convention which framed the state constitution, and proposed several amendments, which were adopted. He published sermons, notably one on the battle of Lexington. He died at Lexington, Mass., Nov. 15, 1805.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Artemas Bowers Muzzey, clergyman and author, was born in Lexington, Mass., Sept. 21, 1802; son of Amos and Lydia (Boutelle) Muzzey; grandson of Amos and Abegail (Bowers) Muzzey, and of Timothy Boutelle, and a descendant of Benjamin and Alice (Dexter) Muzzy. He was graduated at Harvard A.B., 1824, A.M., 1827, B.D., 1828. He was ordained to the Unitarian ministry, June 10, 1830; was pastor at Framingham, Mass., 1830-33; at Cambridgeport, 1834-54; at Concord, N.H., 1854-57, and at Newburyport, Mass., 1857-65. He retired in the latter year to Cambridge, Mass., and devoted himself to literary work, and also filled the pulpit at Chestnut Hill, Brookline, Mass., for several years. He was an overseer at Harvard, 1860-66; a member of the state board of education, and received the degree D.D. from Tufts in 1890. He was married, June 26, 183l, to Hepsabeth, daughter of Enoch Patterson of Boston, Mass., and secondly to Lucy J. Moseley of Newburyport, Mass. He is the author of: The Young Man's Friend (1836); Sunday-School Guide (1837); Moral Teacher (1839); The Young Maiden (1840); Man, a Soul (1842); The Fireside (1849); The Sabboth School Hymn and Time-Book (1855); Christ in the Will, the Heart, and the Life, sermons (1861); The Blade and the Ear, Thoughts for a Young Man (1864); Value of Study of Intellectual Philosophy to the Minister (1869); The Higher Education (1871); Personal Recollections of the Rev. Dr. Channing (1874-75); Immortality in the Sight of Scripture and Science (1876); Personal Recollections of Men in the Battle of Lexington (1877); Truths Consequent on Belief in a God (1879); Reminiscences of Men of the Revolution and their Families (1882); Education of Old Age (1884), and Prime Movers of the Revolution known to the Writer (1890). He died in Cambridge, Mass., April 2l, 1892.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Theodore Parker, clergyman, was born in Lexington, Mass., Aug. 24, 1810; son of John and Hannah (Stearns) Parker; grandson of Capt. John Parker, an officer at the battle of Lexington, and a descendant of Thomas Parker, the immigrant, Lynn, 1635. Theodore worked on his father's farm and in his shop; was a student at the public school; attended a day school in Lexington one term in 1826, where he took up algebra, Latin and Greek; from 1827 was self-instructed, making rapid progress, and in 1830 was examined and admitted to Harvard, where he passed his successive examinations in each class, but under the rules of the college was not allowed to receive a degree. He taught in a private school in Boston in 1831, in a private school in Watertown, Mass., 1832-42, and prosecuted his post-graduate studies, including theology, in 1834. The honorary degree of A.M. was conferred upon him by Harvard in 1840. He was ordained pastor of the Unitarian society at West Roxbury, Mass., June 21, 1837, remaining minister of that society until February, 1845, when he was excommunicated by the Unitarian association on account of alleged heretical teachings, and resigned his pastorate. He formed and was installed as pastor of a new society, Jan. 4, 1846, and preached in Boston at the Melodeon, 1846-52, and at Music Hall, 1852-59. The new society, aided by the reform movement in Massachusetts which had reached its height, grew rapidly. Mr. Parker was a leader in effect-ing the escape of runaway slaves in Boston and defended and helped the revolutionary movement of John Brown in the West. He accepted the editorship of the Massachusetts Quarterly and conducted it, 1847-59. During the winter of 1857, while on a lecturing tour in central New York, he contracted a severe cold which settled on his lungs, and in January, 1859, he made a voyage to Santa Cruz for the benefit of his health. In May, 1859, he went to Southampton and thence to Switzerland and Rome, where he suffered a relapse during the wet season, and was taken to Florence, where he died and was buried in the cemetery outside the walls, the Rev. Mr. Cunningham, an old friend, conducting the funeral service. Busts were made by William W. Story and Robert Hart, and in January, 1902, a bronze statue by Robert Kraus was erected on the lawn of the First Parish (Unitarian) church at West Roxbury by the society. He is the author of: A Discourse of Matters Pertaining to Religion (1849); Occasional Sermons and Speeches (2 vols., 1852); Ten Sermons on Religion (1853); Sermons on Theism, Atheism and the Popular Theology (1853); Additional Speeches and Addresses (2 vols., 1855); Trial of Theodore Parker for the "Misdemeanor of a Speech in Faneuil Hall against Kidnapping" (1855); Two Christmas Celebrations and Experience as a Minister (1859); a volume of Prayers (1862), and Historic Americans (1870). His complete works were edited by Frances P. Cobbe (14 vols., 1863-71), and also Lessons from the World of Matter and the World of Man, selections from his unpublished sermons by Rufus Leighton (1865). His biography was written by John Weiss (1864), and O. B. Frothingham (1874). In October, 1900, his name received twenty-one votes for a place in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, New York university, being fifth in "Class G, Preachers and Theologians," numbering twenty-six names, of which but three, Beecher, Channing and Edwards, received a place. He died in Florence, Italy, May 10, 1860.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor