The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

175. XI. Susannah,^ b. in 1773; died unmarried.
176. XII. Oliver,^ b. in 1775; said to have married and went to N. Y. State.
177. XIII. Julia,'^ b. in 1777; m. Asa Church.
17S. XIV. Eusebia^; m. Josiah Mead.
179. XV. Jonas'" (Deacon), b. 11 Apr., 1780; m. (i) Caroline Dixon; m. (2) Meliitable
Rodgers. Family 27.
FAISIILY 17.
180. Rev. James' Humphrey, [92] (Jonas,'' Hopeslin,^ Eider James," /oncfs'jwzs hom
in Dorchester, 20 Mch., 1722. He "graduated at Ilurvard College in 1744, and taught school
in Dorchester in 1748, and was ordained first minister of Pequoiag (now Athol), 7 Nov., 1750.
On 9 Nov., 1 75 1, he married Esther VViswall, of Dorchester, a lady of high respectability and
much energy of character, who lived to an advanced age, respected and beloved by the people of
Athol. Mr. Humphrey commenced his labors at that place, under very trying circumstances.
Being a frontier town, it was greatly exposed to the incursions of the Indians. It was necessary
to station sentinels at the entrance of the church on the Sabbath, to avoid surprise from these
devouring enemies, while others were worshiping God within. For three successive years did the
first minister of Pequoiag carry his weapons of defence into his pulpit and preach with his gun
by his side. After having served the church and people of Athol faithfully upwards of thirty-one
years, at his own request he was dismissed 13 Feb., 1782. He remained, however, in the town
till the time of his decease, which took place 8 May, 1796, in the 75th year of his age." Mrs.
Esther (Wiswall) Humphrey died 8 Mch., 1882, tc. 94 years.
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86
Hist. Dorchester; Chron ct Topog.
Account 0/ Dorchester, p. 189, vol. ix, Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. ; Allen's Biog. Diet., 455.
iSi.
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