The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

the Episcopal Church, and ministered for a time (1812) to the congregation in Gardiner, Me. lie
next became the first minister of the Church at Quaker's Farm (a small village in the western part
of Oxford, originally in the north-western part of Derby), to which he went from Gardiner, Me.,
in the fall of 1S14, the house of worship having been previously finished. In the spring of 1816,
he accepted the charge of St. Peter's, of Oxford, in connection with Christ Church, at Quaker's
Farm, which was then denominated a chapel, when he made his residence at Oxford, and in this
relation he continued until 1819, when he accepted the appointment by the Diocesan Convention,
of Itinerant Missionary, in New Haven County. The Church of Quaker's Farm was fconsecrated
by Bishop Hobart, Sept. 3, 1817.
He was afterwards rector of St. Luke's, Lanesboro', in 1820-30, when he removed to the
diocese of New York, and for some years served the parishes of Waddington and Ogdcnsburgh.
He then organized a parish at Beloit, Wis., and labored there until age compelled him to rest,
after more than fifty years of ministerial work. He was much respected, and died at Beloit, Wis.,
10 Oct., 1S5S, IV. 88 years.
Conn.; app. 7S5.
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905
Cros/y's Ann. Obit. Koikes, 1S58; Hist. Union, Me.; Hist. Derby,
(P. 880.) Henry Benjamin' Humphrey [569] was bom in Boston, Mass., 16 Oct.,
1809. He was cilucated at the " JMayhew Grammar School," under the charge of masters Mulliken
and Holt, and on the organization of the "English Classical," afterwards changed to the "English
High School," under the charge of Master George B. Emerson, he was a member of the first
class who entered that school. On leaving this school, he commenced his mercantile apprentice-
ship with Messrs. Tappan & Mansfield, importers and dry goods merchants, in Boston, and con-
tinued with them until the dissolution of their co-partnership, and then continued with Mr. Isaac
Mansfield, a cousin of his mother, until the time of his coming of age. After a short vacation,
with the assistance of his father, he formed a mercantile co-partnership with the late John H.
Pearson & Co., on Commercial Street, Boston, and after a very prosperous business career, was
enabled to retire from active business, and gratify his long and ardently cherished desire of making
an extended tour of Europe. He remained abroad four years, in travelling, visiting all places
and objects of interest, crossing the Desert from Alexandria and Cairo to Palestine, and through
the Holy Land and Europe. After this he travelled in this country, spending much time in
Washington, and finally settled down at Thomaston, Me , where he married Pastora Elizabeth
Mason, of that town.
Mr. Humphrey was nominated by President Polk, of the United States, and confirmed by
the Senate, as Consul for Alexandria, Egypt, but declined to accept the appointment, as the
promise made to him, of the ofi'ice being raised to the rank of "Consul General," was not fulfilled.
It has since been done.
With the ample fortune inherited from his father, and with a most decided taste for
intellectual pursuits, Mr. Humphrey spent his time in collecting a private library at Thomaston,
where he resided, which, for rare editions, elegant type and bindings, also variety of subjects, has
never been surpassed, if equalled, in this country; it contained some 10,000 volumes. His letters
to his brother, Mr. Francis Josiah Humphrey, from Jerusalem and Beyrout, giving a full and
very interesting account of his sojourn in Egypt and Palestine, were published in the columns of
the "Boston Post" at the time of their reception, and attracted much attention; in fact, so great
was the demand for them, that the publishers were obliged to issue an extra edition of the paper.
He very early took great interest in politics, often sitting up late at night, writing ballots,
before printed ones were authorized. He was for many years an active and faithful member of
the Volunteer Fire Department, as well as of the Military Volunteer Associiilionsj
Mr. Humphrey was appi.intcd a Commissioner to the late "Paris Exposition," for the
State of Maine, and as a further mark of confidence and respect on the part of Governor