History of Little Compton, (Newport County) Rhode Island United States of America

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Ray Palmer, poet and author, was born at Little Compton, R.I., Nov. 12,1808; son of Thomas and Susanna (Palmer) Palmer. He prepared for college at Phillips Andover academy, was graduated from Yale A.B., 1830, A.M., 1833; taught in a New York city school, 1830-31, and at the Young Ladies' institute, New Haven, COnn.. 1831-34. He was married Oct. 3, 1832, to Ann Maria, daughter of Marinaduke and Maria (Ogden) Ward, of Newark, N.J. Mrs. Palmer died March 8, 1886. Mr. Palmer was ordained to the Congregational ministry July 22, 1835, at Bath, Maine, and was pastor there, 1835-50, and at Albany, N.Y., 1850-66. He was secretary of the American Congregational union, 1866-78, and after 1870 resided in Newark, N.J., where he was acting associate pastor of the Bellevue Avenue church, 1881-84. He was a visitor to Andover Theological seminary, 1865-78; a corporate member of the A.B.C. of F.M., 1854-87, and a director of the American Home Missionary society, 1862-83. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Union college in 1852. His first hymn, My Faith Looks up to Thee, written in 1831, became widely known and was translated into over twenty languages. He is also the author of: Memoir of Charles Pond (1829); Memoir of C. L. Watson (1839); Doctrinal Text-Book (1889); Spiritual Improvement (1839); Hints on the Formation of Religious Opinions (1860); Hymns and Sacred Pieces (1865); Hymns of My Holy Hours (1866); Remember Me (1865); Home (1868), Earnest Words on True Success in Life (1873); Complete Poetical Works (1876) and Voices of Hope and Gladness (1880). His name received one vote for a place in the Hall of Fame, New York university, October, 1900. He died in Newark, N.J., March 29, 1887.

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

History of Little Compton, (Newport County) Rhode Island

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