THOMAS SHEPARD

SHEPARD'S BOOK

• Birth Notes
  •  born in Towcester, England, 5 November, 1605 ; 

• Death Notes
  • died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 25 August, 1649. Shepard died from Quinsy, a Peritonsillar abscess, which is a complication of tonsillitis at the age of 44.

• General Notes
  • SHEPARD, Thomas, clergyman, born in Towcester, England, 5 November, 1605 ; died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 25 August, 1649. He was graduated at Oxford in 1627, ordained in the established church, and in 1630 silenced for non-conformity. He was subsequently tutor and chaplain in the family of Sir Richard Darby, whose cousin he married. He was silenced again in 1633, and in October, 1635, sailed for t his country, settled in Boston, and from that time till his death was pastor of the church in Cambridge, succeeding Thomas Hooker. He soon became involved in the Antinomian controversy, actively opposed the innovators, and was a member of the synod that silenced them. His second wife, Joanna, whom he married in 1637, was the daughter of Thomas Hooker. He was active in founding Harvard, and instrumental in placing it at Cambridge. Nathaniel Morton, the historian, says of him: "By his death not only the church and people of Cambridge, but all New England, suffered a great loss." By his third wife, Margaret Boradel, he was the ancestor of President John Q. Adams. He was a vigorous and popular writer on theological subjects, and published "New England's Lamentations for Old England's Errors" (London, 1645) ; " The Clear Sunshine of the Gospel Breaking out on the Indians of New England" (1648; New York, 1865) ; "Theses Sabbatica" (1649) ; and left in manuscript numerous sermons that were subsequently printed in England. These include "Subjection to Christ," with a memoir of him by Samuel Mather and William Greenhill (London, 1652), and "The Parables of the Ten Virgins and other Sermons" (1660; new ed., Aberdeen, 1638). His autobiography was published (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1832), and his collected works, with a memoir of him by Reverend Horatio Alger (3 vols., Boston, 1853). Cotton Mather also wrote his memoir in the "Magnalia," and in his " Lives of the Chief Fathers of New England."--His son, Thomas, clergyman, born in London, England, 5 April, 1635; died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 22 December, 1677, was graduated at Harvard in 1653, and from 1658 till his death was assistant pastor of the Cambridge church. He published an election sermon (1672), and edited a volume of miscellaneous sermons (1673).
    ************************************************
    The Rev. Thomas Shepard and his friends happened to arrive at the moment Hooker and the church at Newtown were preparing their migration to Connecticut. Rev. Hooker's group were eager to sell their houses and lands, and the newcomers were glad to purchase a settlement already made. After having made these arrangements, Rev. Shepard formed a church and those who came over on the ship, the "Defense", which arrived 3 October 1635, formed the nucleus. Thomas Shepard, in contrast to Hooker, took a very decided and emphatic stand against religious toleration. He felt it was essential to settle and secure religion according to the way the Puritan believed was of God. 
    
    
    
    
    

Click here for details of THOMAS' family with MAGARET TOUTEVILLE

Source/Citation

---

This page is within a frameset. View the entire genealogy report of SHEPARD families, or surname index of SHEPARD pedigrees or report summary SHEPARD heritage from 'My Ancestors and Relatives'.
Genogram Templates.

---

Copyright © 2007 GenoPro Inc. All rights reserved.