John Wise (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
John Wise was a Congregationalist
reverend and political leader in Massachusetts
during the American colonial period
. Wise was noted for his political activism, specifically his protests against British taxation, for which he was once jailed As the pastor
of the Chebacco Parish
from 1680 to his death in 1725, Wise lived in Ipswich, Massachusetts
, often called "the birthplace of American independence."
, the son of Joseph Mary (Thompson) Wise. Mary was daughter of Alice Freeman Thompson Parke
.
He attended the Roxbury Latin School
, in West Roxbury, Massachusetts
, graduating in 1669. He then was admitted to Harvard College
(now Harvard University). After graduating from Harvard in 1673, he began studying theology
, and preached in at Branford
, Connecticut
and Hatfield
, Massachusetts. On August 12, 1683, Wise was ordained as the pastor
of the newly organized Chebacco Parish
, a new parish
formed out of Ipswich.
In 1688, Wise led Ipswich citizens in a protest against royal governor, Edmund Andros
and colonialtaxation.
Calvin Coolidge
referred to him as one of the inspirations for the Declaration of Independence
. John Wise Avenue, a section of Route 133 in Massachusetts, is named after him. Liberty ship
, launched on June 14, 1942 and scrapped in 1971, was also named after him.
Through his wife, Rev John was a great-uncle of President John Adams
.
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
reverend and political leader in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
during the American colonial period
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
. Wise was noted for his political activism, specifically his protests against British taxation, for which he was once jailed As the pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the Chebacco Parish
Chebacco Parish
Chebacco Parish was the southeastern-most part of the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts that later became the separate municipality of Essex. The name comes from Chebacco Lake, part of which is in the town of Essex....
from 1680 to his death in 1725, Wise lived in Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
, often called "the birthplace of American independence."
Life
Wise was born in Roxbury, MassachusettsRoxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
, the son of Joseph Mary (Thompson) Wise. Mary was daughter of Alice Freeman Thompson Parke
Colonials and the peerage
One group of the immigrants who fled the turmoils of England had other than commoner ancestry. Some of these had ties to royal families in their ancestry...
.
He attended the Roxbury Latin School
Roxbury Latin School
The Roxbury Latin School is the oldest school in continuous operation in North America. The school was founded in Roxbury, Massachusetts by the Rev. John Eliot under a charter received from King Charles I of England. Since its founding in 1645, it has educated boys on a continuous basis.Located...
, in West Roxbury, Massachusetts
West Roxbury, Massachusetts
West Roxbury is a neighborhood in Boston bordered by Roslindale to the north, the Town of Dedham to the east and south, the Town of Brookline and the City of Newton to the west. Many people mistakenly confuse West Roxbury with Roxbury, but the two are not connected. West Roxbury is separated from...
, graduating in 1669. He then was admitted to Harvard College
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(now Harvard University). After graduating from Harvard in 1673, he began studying theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, and preached in at Branford
Branford, Connecticut
-Landmarks and attractions:Branford has six historic districts that are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places . These include buildings in Federal, Arts and Crafts, and Queen Anne styles of architecture...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Hatfield
Hatfield, Massachusetts
Hatfield is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,249 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Massachusetts. On August 12, 1683, Wise was ordained as the pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the newly organized Chebacco Parish
Chebacco Parish
Chebacco Parish was the southeastern-most part of the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts that later became the separate municipality of Essex. The name comes from Chebacco Lake, part of which is in the town of Essex....
, a new parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
formed out of Ipswich.
In 1688, Wise led Ipswich citizens in a protest against royal governor, Edmund Andros
Edmund Andros
Sir Edmund Andros was an English colonial administrator in North America. Andros was known most notably for his governorship of the Dominion of New England during most of its three-year existence. He also governed at various times the provinces of New York, East and West Jersey, Virginia, and...
and colonialtaxation.
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
referred to him as one of the inspirations for the Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
. John Wise Avenue, a section of Route 133 in Massachusetts, is named after him. Liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
, launched on June 14, 1942 and scrapped in 1971, was also named after him.
Family
On December 5, 1678 he married Abigail Gardner, granddaughter of Thomas Gardner (Roxbury). They had seven children:- Rev Jeremiah Wise (November 2, 1679 – January 20, 1756) married Mary Shipway
- Lucy Wise (born c. 1681 – March 5, 1727) married John White
- John Wise (born c. 1683 – August 31, 1762) married Mary Rogers
- Mary Wise (May 12, 1685 – March 23, 1735/36)
- Joseph Wise (February 16, 1686 – September 23, 1745) married Martha Appleton
- Amni Ruhami Wise (born c. 1688 – July 6, 1749) married Mary Ringe
- Henry Wise (born c. 1697 – November 12, 1775) married Mary Wade
Through his wife, Rev John was a great-uncle of President John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
.