Family:Caleb Rich and Electa Doolittle (1)
Parents: Elisha Rich and Mary Davis
Caleb Rich
b. 1 Aug 1750 Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
d. 18 Oct 1821 New Haven, Addison, Vermont, United States
Parents: Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha Smith
Electa Doolittle
b. 12 Aug 1760 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
d. 1 Apr 1822 New Haven, Addison, Vermont, United States
m. 22 Jan 1778 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
Facts and Events
Marriage[1][2] 22 Jan 1778 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
Children
BirthDeath
1.
Electa Rich
14 Apr 1781 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
 
2.
Tirzah Rich
31 Dec 1782 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
10 Mar 1859 New Haven, Addison, Vermont, United States
3.
Ruby Rich
4 Dec 1784 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
 
4.
Caleb Rich
5 Sep 1786 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
 
5.
Fanny Rich
19 Oct 1789 Warwick, MA
6.
Betty Rich
6 May 1791 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
 
7.
Martha Rich
17 May 1793 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
 
8.
Jerusha Rich
18 Nov 1795 Warwick, MA
9.
Hiram Rich
20 Apr 1799 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
 
10.
Marilla Rich
15 Dec 1801 Warwick, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
 
11.
Rosina Rich
16 Nov 1805
Add child

The following is excerpted from the two sources listed below:

In 1771, when he turned 21, Caleb Rich left home for Warwick... During the journey, he had a conversion experience... which convinced him to join the Baptist congregation which began holding meetings nearby soon after his arrival...
Caleb RICH was usually called upon to lead the Baptist meetings when no preacher was available. He took these opportunities to express his difficulties in reconciling the Calvinist doctrines being preached with the simple language of the bible. As a result of these discussions, he and several others came to believe that sin "originated in the flesh, and ended with the same," and that all men had been saved by Jesus Christ.
...
As soon as they began to attract attention with their new doctrine, steps were taken to prevent its spread. Caleb RICH, his brother Nathaniel and Joseph GOODELL were brought before a church meeting where they were disowned as heretics and forbidden to have contact with believers.
...
In 1773, they organized legally as a new religious society under a colonial law which allowed dissenters to avoid being taxed to support a church in which they did not believe... They held meetings in private homes on Sundays until the start of the Revolutionary War.
About this time, he developed an attachment for a young woman who came from a respectable Baptist family. She, her parents and her older siblings were opposed to him as a heretic who had been thrown out of the church. He converted the entire family and married in January, 1778.

The "respectable Baptist family" was that of Amzi and Jerusha (SMITH) DOOLITTLE. Electa was their oldest daughter; she married Caleb RICH in Warwick, MA on 22 January 1778.

[edit]

Sources

  1. Chris Anderle, "Caleb Rich and the Founding of the Universalist Church in America," 1998. [This link appears defunct?]
  2. Peter Hughes, "Caleb Rich," Unitarian Universalist Association. [Possibly now found here?]
References
  1. ↑ Warwick (Massachusetts). Town Clerk. Vital records, 1739-1900
    Vol. 1, p. 107.

    Marrage is Intended Between Caleb rich and Electa Doolittle Both of this town October the 11 = 1777.

  2. ↑ Doolittle, William F.; Louise Smylie Brown; and Mary Malissa Raison Doolittle. The Doolittle Family in America. (Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland: National Printing (1901), 1901-1967)
    Part 3, p. 277.

    Electa Doolittle [#488] m. Warwick 22 Jan 1779 Rev. Caleb Rich.
    [Note: marriage record apparently not found in Warwick records.]

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