The Cogswells in America - citizen hylbom blog

iJi'oflra4Jl}ical.
William Couswell rt-ceived !ii> caily etlucation in the Acadeni}' of his
native town and graduated in the class of iSii from Dartmoiitii College. N. H.
While a member of college he taught school in Chebacco Parish, Ipswich, Mass._
and was the early instructor of Hon. Rufus Choate, then a lad commencing the
study of the ancient classics. Viif. p. 82. After graduating, ]\Ir. Cogswell for
two years was a teacher in .Atkinson and Hampton Academies. N. H He
pursued his professional studies with Rev. Josiah Webster, of Hampton, N. H.,
Rev. Daniel Dana, D. D., of New^buryport, and Rev. Dr. Samuel Worcester,
of Salem, Mass. An interesting episode in his course of theological study
was a home-missionary tour through Northern New Hampshire, partly to
regain his health, and partly to win souls to Christ. In bolh objects he was
successful As the result of his labors in the town of Sandwich, N. H., there
was awakened a deep religious intere>i. ,ind a church of thirteen niemlx-rs
organized. Of these original members were Hon. Paul Wentworth and his
wife, parents of Hon. John Wentworth. LL. D., and Dr. Asa Crosby, who was
chosen the first deacon, the father of a distin-uislicd family of ^'ins, viz. : Hon.
Nathan, Dr. Di.xi, Prof. Alpheus. and Dr. 'i'homas Crosby. Mr. Cogswell
returned in health and completed his studies, and was ordained to the Gospel
ministry and installed, April 26. 1S15. Pastor of the South (^.hurch in Dedham,
Mass.. where lie fulfilled a useful ministry of some fourteen years, and resigned,
much to the regret of his people, Dec. 15, 1829. He had already been chosen
the General Agent of the .American Education Society, and soon after, Jan. 25,
1832, became its Secretary, which ofifice he filled with great acceptance for
nearly ten years. In 1S33 he received the degree of D. D. from Williams
College, and in 1837 ^^''"^s chosen a Trustee of Andover Theological Seminary.
Rev. Dr. Cogswell was elected, Jan. 12, 184.1, to the Professorship of National
Education and History in Dartmouth College, N. H.. and resigned the Secre
taryship of the .American Education Society to enter u]5on the duties of this
new position, which, however, he resigned Jan. 11, 1S44, and accepted the
Presidency and Chair of Christian Theology in Gilmanton Theological Semi-
nary, N. H. In 1S46 he terminated his connectirm with tlie Seminary and
devoted himself to editorial labors. Beside^ accomplishing a large amount of
literary work. Dr. Cogswell preached on the Sabbath. su[)plying the pulpits in
Gilmanton Old Parish, and other pl.ices. His published work.s were some-
what numerous, and many of them in\ol\-ed large patience and labor, being of
a statistical character. L'ntler his editorship was issued, in 1847, the Fiust
A'uLUME OK THK NeW ENGLAND HlsTORICAL A.NH G LN'EALOGICAL Rei ,lSTl;l-t
'I'he last work of liis life was to edit tiie Sixth Volume ok the New Hamk-
SHiRK Historical Collections, a book of more than three hundred pages,
which mostly came under his revision during his last illness. The final proof-
sheets of this work were sent to the piinler on the Monday preceding his
death, which occurred Thursday, April 18, 1S50.
Ri'\. Dr. Cogswell was gre.ith interested in all nialtcis uf hi^imy and
.