DANIEL BOARDMAN, second son of Daniel and Hannah (Wright) Boardman, of Wethersfield, Connecticut, was born in Wethersfield, July 12, 1687. Immediately after graduation, he took charge of the Hopkins Grammar School in Hadley, Massachusetts, where he continued for one session, or eight months. He then studied theology, and when the dozen families which constituted the settlement of New Milford, Connecticut, desired early in 1712 to have regular preaching, he was sent to them, and on March 17, received a call, in accordance with which he remained as their minister. In October, 1713, the General Assembly gave the town liberty to raise money by tax for building him a dwelling-house. It was not, however, until November 21, 1716, that a church (of thirteen members) was gathered, and the pastor ordained. A meeting-house was completed in 1720. In this charge Mr. Boardman continued till his death, from consumption, September 25, 1744, at the age of 57. During his ministry 225 persons were added to the church.
He was married, February 20, 1716, to Hannah Wheeler, of Stratford, who died June 20, 1719, leaving one daughter.
He married again, November 1, 1720, Jerusha, widow of Ebenezer Seelye, of Stratfield (now Bridgeport), and daughter of Deacon David Sherman, of Stratfield. She was born in June, 1693, and died August 30, 1777. Their children were four daughters, and one son. Of the daughters, one married the Rev. Nathaniel Taylor (Y. C. 1745), her father's successor in the pulpit, and another married the Rev. Daniel Farrand (College of N. J. 1750), of Canaan, Connecticut.
Besides the skillful administration of a large parish, Mr. Boardman was eminent for his success in gaining the confidence of the Indians, who made New Milford their principal rendezvous in Litchfield County.
His only appearance in print which I have noticed is in a letter, dated November 16, 1742, detailing the rise of the “new light” enthusiasts in Connecticut, and printed in Dr. Charles Chauncy's Seasonable Thoughts on the State of Religion in New-England (Boston, 1743, 8°),
pages 202–09; his sympathies were with the opposite party.
AUTHORITIES.
Barber, Historical Collections of Conn., 477-8.
Bonar, Memorial Discourse at New Milford, 3, 11, 14.
Cothren, Hist. of Woodbury, i, 105.
Hinman, Catalogue of Puritan Settlers of Conn., 265, 268.
Judd, Hist. of Hadley, 67.
N. E. Hist. and Geneal. Register, viii, 176; xv, 244.
Orcutt, Hist. of New Milford, 36, 40, 43–7, 55–61, 88, 145–6, 150, 655.
Savage, Geneal. Dict, i, 214.
Schroeder, Memoir of Mrs. Mary A. Boardman, 388–93.
R. D. Smyth, College Courant, August 15, 1868, 99.
