John Bailey (minister)
Encyclopedia
John Bailey or Baily was an English dissenting minister, later in life in New England
.
, who preached his funeral sermon, born near Blackburn in Lancashire
on 24 February 1643-4.' He was the son of Thomas Bailey, member of the congregation of the Rev. Thomas Jolly at Altham
, and later at Wymond House. Probably the former was the birthplace. Both are near Blackburn (Lancashire). His father was dissolute but his wife was pious. By his twelfth year John conducted family worship.
He attended at first the Queen Elizabeth grammar school of Blackburn. The master was then Charles Sagar. Later he was placed under the theological tuition of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Harrison, nonconformist minister at Chester. He began to preach in his twenty-second year, but was not ordained until 1670. Being an Independent or congregationalist, he was exposed to malicious reports. He was arrested and imprisoned in Lancaster
gaol for nonconformity.
. There he had as a regular hearer a member of the ducal family of Ormond; the Protestant Bishop of Limerick
lodged a complaint with James Butler, Duke of Ormond, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
. The duke's friend did not abandon Bailey, but so represented his case and worth that Ormond made offer first of a deanery, and then of the first bishopric that fell vacant, if Mr. Bailey would conform. But the bribe was declined without a moment's hesitation. He was again imprisoned in the public gaol. Petitions were presented to the judges at the court of assize in his behalf, but in vain. When arraigned, he dared to address the bench thus: 'If I had been drinking, gaming and carousing at a tavern, with company, my lords, I presume that I would not have procured my being thus treated as an offender. Must prayers to God and preaching Christ with a company of Christians who are peaceable, inoffensive, and serviceable to his majesty and the government, as any of his subjects — must this be considered a greater crime?' The recorder answered, 'We will have you know that it is a greater crime.' At length intimation was secretly sent him that he would be allowed out on condition that within a limited specified time he left the country. To this he reluctantly and sorrowfully agreed. He was not allowed to meet his flock or preach a farewell sermon. In the place of the sermon Bailey printed a letter-address.
in 1683; and his name occurs in church matters there in 1684. He arrived first of all in Boston
, and in 1684 was appointed assistant to Samuel Willard
of the old South church. Early in 1685 he was in correspondence with the Independent congregation at Watertown, Connecticut
, with the result that on 6 October 1686 he succeeded the Rev. John Sherman at Watertown. Judge Samuel Sewall
's Diary records that Bailey, holding to the validity of his original ordination, refused to be inducted with the laying on of hands
— an innovation in Independent church ways that was something of a scandal for the moment.
Within a month or so of his move to Watertown, a younger brother, Thomas, was appointed his assistant, but Thomas died 21 January 1689 and another assistant was appointed. In 1692, he resigned his charge at Watertown, and returned to Boston. In 1693 he accepted the post of assistant-pastor to the Rev. Mr. Allen, of the First Church in Boston
.
He had another brother named Henry living at Manchester in 1688, where his mother was also still living.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Early life
Bailey was, according to Cotton MatherCotton Mather
Cotton Mather, FRS was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer; he is often remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials...
, who preached his funeral sermon, born near Blackburn in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
on 24 February 1643-4.' He was the son of Thomas Bailey, member of the congregation of the Rev. Thomas Jolly at Altham
Altham
Altham may refer to:*Altham , an American automobile manufactured from 1896 to 1899*Altham, Lancashire, a village and a civil parish in the Hyndburn district of Lancashire, England*Baron Altham, a title in the Peerage of Ireland...
, and later at Wymond House. Probably the former was the birthplace. Both are near Blackburn (Lancashire). His father was dissolute but his wife was pious. By his twelfth year John conducted family worship.
He attended at first the Queen Elizabeth grammar school of Blackburn. The master was then Charles Sagar. Later he was placed under the theological tuition of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Harrison, nonconformist minister at Chester. He began to preach in his twenty-second year, but was not ordained until 1670. Being an Independent or congregationalist, he was exposed to malicious reports. He was arrested and imprisoned in Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
gaol for nonconformity.
In Ireland
He moved to Ireland, being in Dublin temporarily, and moving on to LimerickLimerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
. There he had as a regular hearer a member of the ducal family of Ormond; the Protestant Bishop of Limerick
Bishop of Limerick
The Bishop of Limerick is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Limerick in the Province of Munster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it still continues as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of...
lodged a complaint with James Butler, Duke of Ormond, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. The duke's friend did not abandon Bailey, but so represented his case and worth that Ormond made offer first of a deanery, and then of the first bishopric that fell vacant, if Mr. Bailey would conform. But the bribe was declined without a moment's hesitation. He was again imprisoned in the public gaol. Petitions were presented to the judges at the court of assize in his behalf, but in vain. When arraigned, he dared to address the bench thus: 'If I had been drinking, gaming and carousing at a tavern, with company, my lords, I presume that I would not have procured my being thus treated as an offender. Must prayers to God and preaching Christ with a company of Christians who are peaceable, inoffensive, and serviceable to his majesty and the government, as any of his subjects — must this be considered a greater crime?' The recorder answered, 'We will have you know that it is a greater crime.' At length intimation was secretly sent him that he would be allowed out on condition that within a limited specified time he left the country. To this he reluctantly and sorrowfully agreed. He was not allowed to meet his flock or preach a farewell sermon. In the place of the sermon Bailey printed a letter-address.
In New England
He emigrated to New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
in 1683; and his name occurs in church matters there in 1684. He arrived first of all in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and in 1684 was appointed assistant to Samuel Willard
Samuel Willard
Reverend Samuel Willard was a Colonial clergyman. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts; graduated at Harvard in 1659; and was minister at Groton from 1663 to 1676, whence he was driven by the Indians during King Philip's War. The Reverend Willard was pastor of the Third Church, Boston, from...
of the old South church. Early in 1685 he was in correspondence with the Independent congregation at Watertown, Connecticut
Watertown, Connecticut
Watertown is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 21,661 at the 2000 census. The zip code for Watertown is 06795. It is a suburb of Waterbury. It borders the towns of Woodbury, Middlebury, Litchfield, Plymouth, Bethlehem, and Thomaston.-Founding History:More...
, with the result that on 6 October 1686 he succeeded the Rev. John Sherman at Watertown. Judge Samuel Sewall
Samuel Sewall
Samuel Sewall was a Massachusetts judge, best known for his involvement in the Salem witch trials, for which he later apologized, and his essay The Selling of Joseph , which criticized slavery.-Biography:...
's Diary records that Bailey, holding to the validity of his original ordination, refused to be inducted with the laying on of hands
Laying on of hands
The laying on of hands is a religious ritual that accompanies certain religious practices, which are found throughout the world in varying forms....
— an innovation in Independent church ways that was something of a scandal for the moment.
Within a month or so of his move to Watertown, a younger brother, Thomas, was appointed his assistant, but Thomas died 21 January 1689 and another assistant was appointed. In 1692, he resigned his charge at Watertown, and returned to Boston. In 1693 he accepted the post of assistant-pastor to the Rev. Mr. Allen, of the First Church in Boston
First Church in Boston
First Church in Boston is a Unitarian Universalist Church founded in 1630 by John Winthrop's original Puritan settlement in Boston, Massachusetts. The current building is on 66 Marlborough Street in Boston.-History:...
.
Death
He died on Sunday, 12 December 1697, and Cotton Mather preached his funeral sermon, which was published. He chose for its text the words 'Into Thy hands I commit my spirit,' on which Mr. Bailey had prepared a sermon — never delivered — under a presentiment that it would be his last.Works
A short book by him was published by friends, 'Man's Chief End to Glorify God, or Some Brief Sermon-notes on 1 Corinthians x. 31;' to which is added his letter-address to his 'dearly beloved Christian friends in and about Limerick,' 1689. A portrait of him (in oils) was in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society, in whose archives were also some manuscripts of his brother Thomas.Family
He had married in England a lady whose Christian name was Lydia. She died at Watertown, 12 April 1690. She bore him no children. His second wife was named Susannah, by whom he had female issue — still represented in New England. His widow married after his death the Rev. Peter Thatcher.He had another brother named Henry living at Manchester in 1688, where his mother was also still living.