M. 12 Nov 1656 in Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wife: Dorcas Chester
D. 28 Feb 1713 in Billerica, Massachusetts
In a couple of ways, Samuel Whiting was born to become a Puritan minister in a newly founded town. Firstly, he came from in East Anglia, which supplied more than half of the religious elite to the Massachusetts colony. And secondly, his father became the first minister of the town of Lynn, so Samuel followed the same path.
Samuel was born on March 25, 1633 to Samuel Whiting and Elizabeth St. John in the town of Skirbeck, Lincolnshire, England, where his father was the parish pastor. He was one of four children, and also had a half-sister from his father’s first marriage. Samuel Whiting Sr. was forced out of his church because of his “non-conformist” views, and when young Samuel was three-years-old, the family migrated to New England. They arrived in Boston on May 26, 1636. Later that year, they relocated to the town of Saugus, later renamed Lynn, and this is where Samuel grew up.
When Samuel came of age, he set his sights on becoming a minister like his father. In about 1649, he entered Harvard College, earning a degree in 1653. In the early days of Harvard, the school was primarily for training young men to enter the clergy. The handful of graduates each year supplied the surrounding towns with ministers. After graduating, Samuel continued at Harvard for another year and began his career in 1656. That same year, he got married. His wife was Dorcas Chester, a 19-year-old woman from Wethersfield, Connecticut, where the wedding took place on November 12th. Between 1660 and 1682, Samuel and Dorcas had eleven children, but the youngest four died as infants.
In about 1658, Samuel moved his family to Billerica, Massachusetts, likely because the new community had a need for a minister. The town had no meetinghouse yet, but they agreed to pay him £40 for per year for his services. The deal also came with a house on 10 acres of land “comfortably finished with the accommodations belonging to it.” If he stayed in Billerica for the rest of his life, his heirs would inherit the property. His salary increased to £50 the third year, and eventually to £70.
When Samuel came of age, he set his sights on becoming a minister like his father. In about 1649, he entered Harvard College, earning a degree in 1653. In the early days of Harvard, the school was primarily for training young men to enter the clergy. The handful of graduates each year supplied the surrounding towns with ministers. After graduating, Samuel continued at Harvard for another year and began his career in 1656. That same year, he got married. His wife was Dorcas Chester, a 19-year-old woman from Wethersfield, Connecticut, where the wedding took place on November 12th. Between 1660 and 1682, Samuel and Dorcas had eleven children, but the youngest four died as infants.
In about 1658, Samuel moved his family to Billerica, Massachusetts, likely because the new community had a need for a minister. The town had no meetinghouse yet, but they agreed to pay him £40 for per year for his services. The deal also came with a house on 10 acres of land “comfortably finished with the accommodations belonging to it.” If he stayed in Billerica for the rest of his life, his heirs would inherit the property. His salary increased to £50 the third year, and eventually to £70.
Plaque at the site of Billerica's first meetinghouse.
On 11 Nov 1663, when Billerica’s church was properly established, Samuel was ordained as its first minister. He remained in that role for almost 50 years. The first meetinghouse was built in 1660, and was 30’ by 40’ with a thatched roof. A larger one was constructed in 1694. As a member of the clergy, Samuel gained respect amongst his peers in Massachusetts. Cotton Mather once said he was “a reverend, holy, and faithful minister of the gospel.”
Cotton Mather
During the late 1660s, Samuel became one of 17 ministers in New England who opposed the appointment of Reverend John Davenport to be the leader of the First Church in Boston. Davenport was an advocate of strict requirements for membership into the church. Ministers like Samuel saw the need to loosen up the rules so that congregations kept a strong influence in the colony.
Samuel served his community in other ways. During King Philip’s War, his house was used as a garrison, and was considered the most important of the 12 garrisons in Billerica. And town records show that in 1675, it was ordered that every child age 8 and older would be given religious lessons by Samuel.
Two records give clear indication that Samuel owned a slave, a fairly common practice in parts of colonial New England. The man was called Simon Negro, and he was Simon’s “servant” from the age of 9 until he was 40. To his credit, Simon did grant him his freedom on October 30, 1693, but the former slave would not have any resources or place to go. Sixteen years later, Simon gave him 17 acres of land, but shortly thereafter, the man died, and he willed the land to the children of Simon “in consideration of the respect I have and do bear to my Master’s family.” While this does suggest Simon treated his slave decently, there is also the sad fact that being enslaved and isolated for most of his life left the man with no one else to leave his estate.
Samuel continued in his duties into his old age, but in 1703, a young minister was appointed to help him. Another minister was formally assigned to work side-by-side with him in 1707, and presumably, Samuel cut back his work around that time. His wife Dorcas died just 13 days before he did (they had been married 57 years). Samuel was said to have died “an hour before sunset” on February 28, 1713. Samuel’s descendants include Calvin Coolidge and Bette Davis.
Samuel's death record.
Children:
1. Elizabeth Whiting — B. 6 Oct 1660, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Thomas Clark (1652-1704), 15 Dec 1700, Lexington, Massachusetts
2. Samuel Whiting – B. 19 Jan 1662, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 8 Mar 1715, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Elizabeth Patten
3. John Whiting – B. 1 Aug 1664, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 11 Sep 1697, Hartford, Connecticut; M. Alice Cooke (1674-1714)
4. Oliver Whiting — B. 8 Nov 1665, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 22 Dec 1736, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Anna Danforth (1667-1737), 22 Jan 1690, Billerica, Massachusetts
5. Mary Whiting — B. 28 Apr 1667, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 13 Nov 1740, Lexington, Massachusetts; M. John Henry Burchstead (1657-1721)
6. Dorothy Whiting — B. 23 Aug 1668, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 10 Jan 1740, Billerica, Massachusetts
7. Joseph Whiting — B. 7 Feb 1670, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 6 Aug 1701, Billerica, Massachusetts
8. James Whiting — B. 1671, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 1 Sep 1671, Billerica, Massachusetts
9. Eunice Whiting — B. 6 Sep 1672, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 20 Sep 1672, Billerica, Massachusetts
10. Benjamin Whiting — B. 26 Sep 1675, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. before 5 Nov 1682, Billerica, Massachusetts
11. Benjamin Whiting — B. 5 Nov 1682, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 20 Nov 1682, Billerica, Massachusetts
Sources:
Memoir of Rev. Samuel Whiting, D.D., and of his wife Elizabeth St. John, William Whiting, 1873
Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University, Volume 1, Charles William Sever, 1873
Samuel Whiting Jr. (Wikipedia article)
Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America, David Hackett Fischer, 1989
“The Lost History of Slaves and Slave Owners in Billerica,” Christopher M. Spraker, Historical Journal of Massachusetts Volume 42, No. 1, 2014
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