Bezaleel Howard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bezaleel Howard (November 22, 1753 – January 20, 1837) was an American Congregationalist minister.
- Lucinda Dwight (1785-1788)
- Prudence Williams
Bezaleel Howard | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 22, 1753 |
| Died | January 20, 1837 (aged 83) |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 5 |
Life
Howard was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts to Jane and farmer Nathan Howard.[1][2] Bezaleel worked on the family farm until age 21.[2]
He enrolled at Harvard in 1777, after about nine months of preparation. He graduated in 1781. Following this, he began studying theology under a Dr. Gay while teaching at a school in Hingham.[2] From 1783 until 1785, he was a tutor at Harvard.[3]
In 1784, he was invited to preach at First Church in Springfield, Massachusetts for six weeks.[2][3] He was well-received, and in November 1784 they asked him to become their new pastor. He was ordained at the Springfield church on April 27, 1785.[2]
In the late 1780s, Howard criticized both the insurgents of Shay's Rebellion and local authorities, whom he saw as abusing their power.[4][5]
He resigned from First Church in September 1803, due to ill health.[2] He was succeeded by Samuel Osgood.[6]
In February 1808, Howard bought a home on Elm Street, where he lived until his death.[3]
In 1809, Howard led a group of 18 other Springfield residents in raising money to purchase the freedom of a woman named Jenny, who had escaped from slavery in New York. Howard had officiated the wedding of Jenny and a freeman named Jack Williams several years prior, in 1802.[7][8]
In 1819, Howard joined a splinter group of Unitarian congregation members in forming the new Third Congregational Society of Springfield, and remained with that church until his death.[2][3][6]
He died in 1837 at the age of 83.[2]
Family
In December 1785, he married Lucinda Dwight (b. 1767), the daughter of a prominent congregation member.[2][9] She died in March 1788, leaving Howard with a daughter.[2][9] Two years after her death, he married Prudence Williams (d. 1853), from Wethersfield, Connecticut.[2] The couple went on to have four children (three sons and one daughter), including John and Charles (b. 1794).[2][3][9]
In 1802, Howard became the guardian of Mary Lyman following the death of her parents.[10]
Organizations and honors
In 1793, Howard co-directed a "select school for young ladies". He was also president of the Hampton Bible Society.[3]
In 1818, Howard was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[11]
In 1824, he received the Doctor of Divinity degree from Harvard.[2]
Legacy
Howard Street in Springfield is named after Howard and his family.[12]