Asa and Lucy Goodale Thurston
Encyclopedia
Asa Thurston and Lucy Goodale Thurston (1795–1876) were in the first company of American Christian Missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands
.
College in 1816 and Andover Theological Seminary in 1819.
He worked as a missionary for forty years, returning to New England only for the period 1840 to 1842, and went once to California in 1863.
He built churches, schools, and had a following among the people. He was one of the first translators of the Bible into the Hawaiian language
.
He explored the islands with English missionary William Ellis, including viewing the volcano Kilauea
.
The Thurston lava tube
in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
is named for his family.
He suffered a series of strokes, and began speaking in a strange mixture of English, Hawaiian, and Latin. He moved to Honolulu and died on March 11, 1868.
. She graduated from Bradford Academy and became a school teacher.
The Thurstons, unlike most missionary couples, spent most of the rest of their lives in the islands. Lucy compiled her letters and other writings (completed by her daughter Persis Goodale Taylor) into one of the most vivid accounts of the early mission days. She died on October 13, 1876 in Honolulu.
to send a company to Hawaii.
Thurston and Hiram Bingham I
,
with whom he was ordained, were selected as leaders of the group which included a farmer, physician, three teachers, and a few native Hawaiian assistants. On October 12, 1819 he married Lucy Goodale, a cousin of a classmate. They set sail a few weeks later on October 23, 1819 from Boston for a five month voyage on the small merchant ship Thaddeus.
After landing at Kawaihae
harbor on March 30, 1820 the Thurstons went first to Kailua-Kona, where they consulted with the British sailor John Young
who was an advisor King Kamehameha I
. They found the Hawaiian Religion
in turmoil, due to the death of Kamehameha I, and the ending of the Kapu system by Queen Kaahumanu and King Kamehameha II
.
They then traveled to Maui
, then to Oahu
, and finally back to Kailua-Kona in 1823. With the blessing of Royal Governor John Adams Kuakini
, he set up his congregation in a series of thatched huts. From about 1835 to 1837, he supervised the construction of the Mokuaikaua Church
, made from stone, which still stands today. The Thurstons with five children began a family prominent in the history of the islands up to the present: Persis Goodale born September 28, 1821, Lucy Goodale born April 25, 1823, Asa Goodale born August 1, 1827, Mary Howe born June 3, 1831, and Thomas Gairdner born May 9, 1836.
(1821-1906) was a Hawaiian-born painter and sketch artist. Their grandson Lorrin A. Thurston
(1857–1931) was son of Asa Goodale and Sarah Andrews, daughter of missionary Lorrin Andrews
of Maui
. He was a leader of the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Their great-great grandson is Thurston Twigg-Smith
.
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
.
Asa Thurston
Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, on October 12, 1796, Asa Thurston worked as a scythe maker until he was 22 years old. His father was Thomas Thurston and mother was Lydia Davis. He then attended and graduated from YaleYALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
College in 1816 and Andover Theological Seminary in 1819.
He worked as a missionary for forty years, returning to New England only for the period 1840 to 1842, and went once to California in 1863.
He built churches, schools, and had a following among the people. He was one of the first translators of the Bible into the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
.
He explored the islands with English missionary William Ellis, including viewing the volcano Kilauea
Kilauea
Kīlauea is a volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, and one of five shield volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. Kīlauea means "spewing" or "much spreading" in the Hawaiian language, referring to its frequent outpouring of lava. The Puu Ōō cone has been continuously erupting in the eastern...
.
The Thurston lava tube
Lava tube
Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow, expelled by a volcano during an eruption. They can be actively draining lava from a source, or can be extinct, meaning the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long, cave-like...
in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a United States National Park located in the U.S. State of Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. It encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's most massive volcano...
is named for his family.
He suffered a series of strokes, and began speaking in a strange mixture of English, Hawaiian, and Latin. He moved to Honolulu and died on March 11, 1868.
Lucy Goodale Thurston
Lucy Goodale was born on October 29, 1795, daughter of Abner Goodale, a Deacon in Marlborough, MassachusettsMarlborough, Massachusetts
Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 38,499 at the 2010 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the late 20th century after the construction of the...
. She graduated from Bradford Academy and became a school teacher.
The Thurstons, unlike most missionary couples, spent most of the rest of their lives in the islands. Lucy compiled her letters and other writings (completed by her daughter Persis Goodale Taylor) into one of the most vivid accounts of the early mission days. She died on October 13, 1876 in Honolulu.
Work
A native Hawaiian named Opukahaia, orphaned by the islands' wars, traveled to New England in 1809 (there is a monument to him in Punaluu) and learned to speak English. In 1818 his stories (along with a few other companions) about the islands convinced the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign MissionsAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
to send a company to Hawaii.
Thurston and Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham, formally Hiram Bingham I , was leader of the first group of Protestant missionaries to introduce Christianity to the Hawaiian islands.-Life:...
,
with whom he was ordained, were selected as leaders of the group which included a farmer, physician, three teachers, and a few native Hawaiian assistants. On October 12, 1819 he married Lucy Goodale, a cousin of a classmate. They set sail a few weeks later on October 23, 1819 from Boston for a five month voyage on the small merchant ship Thaddeus.
After landing at Kawaihae
Kawaihae
Kawaihae is an unincorporated community on the west side of the island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii, north of Kailua-Kona. Its harbor includes a fuel depot, shipping terminal and military landing site. Outside of the man-made breakwall of the harbor is a popular surf spot and the Pua...
harbor on March 30, 1820 the Thurstons went first to Kailua-Kona, where they consulted with the British sailor John Young
John Young (Hawaii)
John Young was a British subject who became an important military advisor to Kamehameha I during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was left behind by Simon Metcalfe, captain of the American ship Eleanora, and along with a Welshmen Isaac Davis became a friend and advisor to Kamehameha...
who was an advisor King Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
. They found the Hawaiian Religion
Hawaiian religion
Hawaiian religion is the term used to describe the folk religious beliefs and practises of the Hawaiian people. It is unrelated to, though commonly confused with, the philosophy of Huna....
in turmoil, due to the death of Kamehameha I, and the ending of the Kapu system by Queen Kaahumanu and King Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
.
They then traveled to Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, then to Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, and finally back to Kailua-Kona in 1823. With the blessing of Royal Governor John Adams Kuakini
John Adams Kuakini
John Adams Kiiapalaoku Kuakini was an important adviser to Kamehameha I in the early stages of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was responsible for much building and other changes in the Kona District during this era.-Family life:...
, he set up his congregation in a series of thatched huts. From about 1835 to 1837, he supervised the construction of the Mokuaikaua Church
Mokuaikaua Church
Mokuaikaua Church is the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands.Its address is 75-5713 Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona, coordinates .-History:...
, made from stone, which still stands today. The Thurstons with five children began a family prominent in the history of the islands up to the present: Persis Goodale born September 28, 1821, Lucy Goodale born April 25, 1823, Asa Goodale born August 1, 1827, Mary Howe born June 3, 1831, and Thomas Gairdner born May 9, 1836.
Family
Their daughter Persis Goodale Thurston TaylorPersis Goodale Thurston Taylor
Persis Goodale Thurston Taylor was a painter and sketch artist who was born in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on September 28, 1821. Her parents, Reverend Asa Thurston and Lucy Goodale Thurston , were in the first company of American Christian missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands...
(1821-1906) was a Hawaiian-born painter and sketch artist. Their grandson Lorrin A. Thurston
Lorrin A. Thurston
Lorrin Andrews Thurston was a lawyer, politician, and businessman born and raised in the Kingdom of Hawaii. The grandson of two of the first Christian missionaries to Hawaii, Thurston played a prominent role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom that replaced Queen Liliuokalani with the...
(1857–1931) was son of Asa Goodale and Sarah Andrews, daughter of missionary Lorrin Andrews
Lorrin Andrews
Lorrin Andrews was an early American missionary to Hawaii and judge. He opened the first post-secondary school for Hawaiians called Lahainaluna Seminary, prepared a Hawaiian dictionary and several works on the literature and antiquities of the Hawaiians. His students published the first newspaper,...
of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. He was a leader of the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Their great-great grandson is Thurston Twigg-Smith
Thurston Twigg-Smith
-Biography:Twigg-Smith is a fifth generation Hawaii resident. He was born in 1921 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is the son of William and Margaret Thurston Twigg-Smith , making him the great-great grandson of Asa and Lucy Goodale Thurston as well as Lorrin Andrews — who were pioneer missionaries to the...
.