William Worthington was born in Hartford, Connecticut, December 5, 1695, the eldest child of Willam Worthington, of Hartford, and grandson of Nicholas Worthington, the original emigrant from England, who removed in his last days from Hartford to Hatfield, Massachusetts. His mother was Mehitabel, daughter of Isaac Graves, of Hatfield, and widow of Richard Morton, Junior, of Hartford and Hatfield.
He studied theology, and was married, October 13, 1720, to Elizabeth, elder daughter of Major Samuel Mason, of Stonington, Connecticut.
Soon after this date, February 8, 1720-21, the North Society in Stonington (now the town of North Stonington) voted to employ him to preach until the end of the following May. He continued there until August, 1722, when he was invited to settle as the first pastor over that church. He declined the call and left the society, partly on account of the inadequate salary offered, but mainly on account of party divisions among the people. In June, 1724, he was invited to preach to the people in the western part of Saybrook, who were formed into a distinct parish (known by its Indian name of Pochaug until 1810, and in 1840 incorporated as the town of Westbrook) by the Assembly in the previous month. He began his work in August, i 724. In October, 1725, liberty was given to organize a church, and on the 29th of June, 1726, a church consisting of seven male and eight female members was gathered and Mr. Worthington ordained pastor. In the meantime, the church in North Stonington had unsuccessfully renewed their call, in February, 1726. He continued in office until his death, which occurred at his house in the west parish of Saybrook, November 16, 1756, in his 61st year.
He died of a wound made in an artery by an unskillful physician, who was attempting to let blood for some ailment. The discourse delivered at his funeral, by Dr. Jared Eliot, of Killingworth (now Clinton), his nearest ministerial neighbor, was published. His estate was appraised at about L1350; it included seventy volumes and one hundred pamphlets.
His first wife, who was born May 6, 1697, died January I, 1724-5, in her 28th year.
He married, September 20, 1726, Temperance, daughter of William Gallup, of Stonington. She was born February 1, 1700-01, and survived him, dying at the residence of her daughter, in Durham, Connecticut, in March, 1778, aged 77 years.
By his first marriage he had two daughters, one of whom died in infancy, and the other married Dr. Aaron Eliot, of Killingworth (Clinton), a son of Jared Eliot ( Y. C. 1 706).
By his second marriage he had five daughters and one son ; one of the daughters was the wife of Elnathan Chauncey (Y. C. 1 743), and another the wife of the Rev. Cotton M. Smith (Y. C. 1 751), and mother of Governor John Cotton Smith (Y. C. 1783).
He preached the Election Sermon, May 10, 1744, from Psalm Ixxvii, 20, which was published (N. London, 1 744, 16^, pp. iv, 43), under the title :
The Duty of Rulers and Teachers in Unitedly Leading God's People. [A. C. A. C. H. S. Harv. M. H. S. V. C.
This sermon was delivered when the excitement fanned by Whitefield was at its height; and the author shows (pp. 10, 11, 38) his entire sympathy with the stringent measures of repression which the government had taken.
Dr. Field, in 1819, writes of him, "Mr. Worthington was a man of agreeable and engaging manners, a worthy minister, greatly beloved by his brethren and all who knew him."
His great-grandson. Professor W. C. Fowler, records the family tradition that he was distinguished for great blandness, urbanity, and gracefulness of manners, qualities which he transmitted to his descendants." His funeral sermon also speaks of " his polite Behaviour, conspicuous in his whole Conduct."
AUTHORITIES.
Eliot, Funeral Sermon. Field, Statistical Account of Middlesex County, 97.
Fowler, Chauncey Memorials, 177.
Goodwin, Genealogical Notes, 265.
Judd, Hist, of Hadley, 501.
Morris, Dedication Sermon at North Stonington, 6, 8.
N. E. Geneal. Register, xiii, 343 ; xv, 121.
