Transcript:Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts:Hobart, Jeremiah, 1650

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JEREMIAH HOBART.

Born about 1631, died 1715, aged 84.

REV. JEREMIAH HOBART, M. A., of Topsfield, in Massachusetts, of Hempstead, on Long Island, and of Haddam, in Connecticut, has already received some notice on page 212, in the account of his brother and classmate, Joshua Hobart, with whom he came to New England.

After preaching some time at Bass River, now Beverly, and at other places, he was ordained, 2 October, 1672, at Topsfield, Massachusetts, where the Reverend Thomas Gilbert had been preaching; the church in Rowley, "for several reasons," declining to take part in the ordination: one reason being, "that they had prosecuted their late pastor, Mr. Gilbert, at Court"; and another, "that it was too soon to settle Mr. Hobart, who had been among them 'scarcely a year.' "

Hobart's ministry "was far from being a smooth one. His people accused him of immoralities, and withheld his pay. He, in his turn, sued the people, and obtained judgment." He was dismissed 21 September, 1680, and was succeeded in 16S4 by Joseph Capen, H. U. 1677.

April 26, 1683, "Vpon Representation made by the Constable and Overseers in the Behalfe of the Towne of Hempsted [Long Island] that Mr Jeremiah hubbart was and is by the Major Parte of the Inhabitants of the said Towne Chosen and Appointed to be Minister there," Major Anthony Brockolls, the "Commander in Chiefe," signified his assent. May 6, 1683, he received a call to be formally settled, on a salary of sixty-six pounds fourteen shillings payable in corn and cattle, besides "a three acre (home) lot, where it should be most conven-


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ient, and fifty acres of woodland, to be taken up where he thought proper — his cattle to have liberty of commons, and himself to have the use of all the parsonage land and meadows, as long as he should continue their minister." There was also a vote to build a parsonage house, thirty-six feet by eighteen, with "10 feet between the joints," to revert to the town when he should leave it.

He was installed 17 October, 1683, "and so satisfactory were his labors, that the town made him a further donation of 100 acres of land; but the process of collecting his salary of £70, by voluntary contributions, was so ineffectual," that, 9 December, 1686, he petitioned Governor Dongan and Council for relief; stating that he "hath for allmost five years since been lawfully called, and after that legally approved by … Brockolls, to be minister of sayd Hempst'd, yet allthough a full agreemt was mutually had … as to house building & comfortable finishing, & as to annuall Sallary &c, neither is by the parish performed to my great damage and almost insupportable inconvenience."

July 3, 1691, he writes to Governor Henry Sloughter, that, "haueing for these last eight years, & upwards," labored in Hempstead, and being "much afflicted for want of that Stipend annually promised, and not duly payd, whereby" he and his "family sustaynes great sufferings & wants," he craves his "Excellencys Succour & Relief"; whereupon the Governor issues an order "for ye Collection & paymt of what is Due" to him.

August 24, 1691, "the proprietors and inhabitants of Haddam, Connecticut, 'taking into consideration the good providence of the Lord in sending Mr. Jeremy Hobbard, Minister of the gospel, to this Town, in some hopes to settle him as their pastor, make him these proposals: a salary of sixty pounds in provision pay," his firewood, the use of the parsonage improved land on


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both sides of the river, and a town grant of four acres and a half with an orchard, on which a dwelling-house, forty feet by eighteen, should be built for him "with all convenient diligence." If he removes from Haddam, the house and lot are to revert to the town; but to belong to him and his heirs, if he remains. September 1 ("or on the first week"), 1691, Hobart, being then in Haddam, accepts the proposals, declares his "intent and purpose to come with [his] family before winter,"and wishes a vessel to be sent by the town for their transportation. "Before him," says B. Trumbull. "Nicholas Noyes, H. U. 1667, preached thirteen years in the town; but during this time no church was formed."

Edwards says, Hobart "removed from Hempstead (by Reason of Numbers turning Quakers, and many others being so Irreligious, that they would do nothing towards the support of the Ministry) and came and settled in the Work of the Ministry at Haddam."

December 28, 1691, at a town "meting it was uoated that thees men under righten doe ingage to cutt heaw and frame a dwelling hows for mr huburt acording to the tounes a Grement and to haue the frame rady to raies by the middle of March next."

"Janeury th: 25. 1692 [1692-3], Jt was voatted att a Lawfulle towne meetting that Mr Hubertt should bee paid his whole years Ratte"; also that "he was Lawfuly calld to bee ouer Pastor and a free Jnhabitant of our towne acording to ouer Call on the 24 of August: 91; and the agreement between the towne acording to theire Propositions one 24 of Augt aforesd and Mr. Hubrts answer to the townes comite one the beginne of Sept folowing Stand good and are binding to boath Parties for futer to trew Jntents, and Purposes what soe euer and that Jt be fourth wth Recorded."

October 25, 1692, Hobart appears to have had an


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invitation to Jamaica, Long Island, with an offer of sixty pounds a year, and one load of wood from "every inhabitant within the township."

December 8, 1693, Haddam granted him ten acres of land, and "agreed to cutt seauenty load of wood for Mr hubert for this year."

April 22, 1695, controversies and dissatisfaction having arisen, the town unanimously voted, that "they doe not esteame and acompt themselves under his charge as pastore." "At the same meting it was uoated and the towne hath agreed: with the consent and apribation of naighboring chourches to imbody in chourch way"; and 9 May permission was granted by the General Assembly.

The difficulties appear to have originated in part from the desire of the inhabitants on the east side of the river to become a separate parish. In consequence of an appeal to the General Court, a committee, consisting of ministers and laymen, was appointed "to inquire into the cause of the divisions and controversies between the people of Haddum, and to indevour a friendly aggreement and accomodation between them if it can be obteined." Field says, they met at Haddam, 25 November, 1698, and, "after passing various resolves with a view to the restoration of harmony, declared upon deliberate consideration, that the agreement between [Hobart and] them, was, both in point of law and equity, valid and binding to each party, and they advised the people to call Mr. Hobart to the full execution of the office of pastor among them."

At the May session in 1700 the General Court adopted, as a final settlement of the disputes, a report, signed by "Abraha Pierson. T. Woodbridg. G. Saltonstall." "that if the town of Haddum shall unanimously raise one hundred pounds annually for the maintenance of the ministrye in the said town fiftie of it for the mainte-


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nance of the Reverent Mr Hobart on the west side of the river, and fiftie of it for the maintenance of the minister on the east side and also if the said Mr Hobart shall release the said town of the aggreement formerly made with him, the said town confirming and making good to the said Mr Hobart the house and land in said town formerly given unto him, and the town on the west side finding the said Mr Hobart with his wood annually it will be a hopeful expedient to issue the unhappy differences that have been and still remain in said town."

This decision seems to have been acquiesced in; for in June it was voted to call a council, and 14 November, 1700, when Hobart was in the seventieth year of his age, he was installed.

His salary of fifty pounds and firewood being insufficient for his maintenance, and not regularly paid, in May, 1702, he petitioned the General Court for relief to "an ancient, dejected, and despised minister … now in the 72d year" of his age. The petition is long and somewhat curious. The extent of his salary was now forty pounds a year. His work was more and his income less, and he was unable to support himself. The people had not complied with the recommendation of the committee in 1698, and he trusts, as "this case is still depending upon [the Court's] issue and healing," God may assist them "to find out theraputicks, I mean healing expedients more sovereign than those" formerly recommended.

In September, 1714, Phineas Fisk, Y. C. 1704, was settled as his colleague.

Field says: Of Hobart's "talents and character very little is known. He became the subject of infirmities some years before his death, and was unable to perform official services. Nov. 6, 1715, being the Lord's day,


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he attended public worship in the forenoon, and received the sacrament; and during the intermission expired, sitting in his chair."

The inventory of his estate is dated 22 November, 1715.

April 6, 1659, he married Dorothy, daughter of the Reverend Samuel Whiting, of Lynn, Massachusetts. January 31, 1682-3, a "Lycence of Marriage was Granted to Jeremiah Hubbard of Jemeca on Long Island and Rebecca Brush of Huntington." Yet his wife Elizabeth witnessed a deed in Haddam, 19 September, 1698; and further, 22 January, 1716-7, Elizabeth Hobart, formerly of Haddam, now of Hartford, deeded the lot of her deceased husband, Jeremiah Hobart, to her "loving son," Hezekiah Brainerd, who married Dorothy Hobart, and was father of the eminent missionary, David Brainerd. One of Hobart's daughters married Hezekiah Wyllis, Secretary of Connecticut; and an only son, "a freeman," was residing at Boston in August, 1686.


AUTHORITIES

N. Cleaveland, Address at Topsfield Celebration, 33. Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut, 400. S. G. Drake, History of Boston, 363. J. Edwards, Life of D. Brainerd, 1. J. Farmer, in American Quarterly Register, viii. 336. J. B. Felt, Ecclesiastical History of New England, ii. 499; and American Quart Reg., vii. 255, 256, 261. D. D. Field, Statistical Account of the County of Middlesex, Conn., 69, 72; and MS. Letter, 1861, January 14. Harvard College Steward's Account-Books, i. 25,26. E. C. Herrick, MS. Letters, 1855, May 4, 17. C. J. Hoadley, Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, iv. 278, 326, 389, 426. A Lewis, History of Lynn, 165. S. Lincoln, History of Hingham, 113. Massachusetts Historical Society, Collections, xxvii. 256; xxxviii. 661. E. B. O'Callaghan, Documentary History of New York, iii. 120, 124. D. W. Patterson, MS. Letters to J. H. Trumbull, 1861, January 10, February 18; and East Haddam Journal, 1861, February 2, 9, etc. N. S. Prime, History of Long Island, 281, 313. J. Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, ii. 434. E. M. Stone, History of Beverly, 204. B. Trumbull, History of Connecticut, i. 492; ii. 528. J. H. Trumbull, MS. Letters, 1861, January 11, February 13. B. F. Thompson, History of Long Island, ii. 22-24, 102. S. Wood, Sketch of the First Settlement of Long Island, 15, 33, 40.