Benjamin Williams Whitcher
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Williams Whitcher was born in Rochester, Vermont
on December, 8, 1811. He was the son of Stephen and Esther Emerson Whitcher. His father was a native of Haverhill, Massachusetts
, being one of a large family, of which Thomas Whitcher, who came from England to New England in 1638, was the founder. Benjamin W. Whitcher died December 17, 1891 in Whitestown, New York.
, of Whitesboro, New York
who was distinguished author of the "Widow Bedott Papers," which have been dramatized and accorded a foremost place among humorous writings. She died on January 4, 1852. On September 7, 1853 he married Martha Letetia Ward, of Jefferson county
, who survived him, passing on January 30, 1904.
in 1840 and afterward continued and completed his theological studies at the General Theological Seminary
of the Protestant Episcopal church in New York City
. He was ordained by Bishop DeLancey
in 1844 and settled in Whitestown
, Oneida county
, where he organized and became the first rector of St. John's Church. He was the Rector of Trinity Church
in Elmira, New York
from April 1847 until June 1849. Afterward he officiated at Saratoga Springs and Oswego, and later had charge of the parishes at Theresa
and Redwood, New York
. During his ministry he was earnest and active in urging people to baptism and the sacraments, and was recognized as a high churchman.
Whitcher left the Protestant Episcopal Church at part of the Oxford Movement
and the teachings of Cardinal Newman. In 1850 he was received into the Roman Catholic Church at St. John's Church, Utica, New York
by Bishop McFarland
. Bishop De Lancey
deposed him of his ministry for abandoning "the communion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, by a formal admission into a religious body not in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church, namely the Roman Catholic body" and published that action in local papers.
Rochester, Vermont
Rochester is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,171 at the 2000 census. Rochester is home to the Quarry Hill Creative Center...
on December, 8, 1811. He was the son of Stephen and Esther Emerson Whitcher. His father was a native of Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 60,879 at the 2010 census.Located on the Merrimack River, it began as a farming community that would evolve into an important industrial center, beginning with sawmills and gristmills run by water power. In the...
, being one of a large family, of which Thomas Whitcher, who came from England to New England in 1638, was the founder. Benjamin W. Whitcher died December 17, 1891 in Whitestown, New York.
Family life
On 6 January 1847 he married Frances Miriam BerryFrances Miriam Whitcher
Frances Miriam "Berry" Whitcher was an American humorist, born in Whitestown, New York. Whitcher may have been the first significant woman prose humorist in the United States.-Family life:...
, of Whitesboro, New York
Whitesboro, New York
Whitesboro is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 3,943 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Hugh White, an early settler.The Village of Whitesboro is inside the Town of Whitestown....
who was distinguished author of the "Widow Bedott Papers," which have been dramatized and accorded a foremost place among humorous writings. She died on January 4, 1852. On September 7, 1853 he married Martha Letetia Ward, of Jefferson county
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, who survived him, passing on January 30, 1904.
Ministry
Whitcher was graduated from Geneva CollegeHobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
in 1840 and afterward continued and completed his theological studies at the General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
of the Protestant Episcopal church in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was ordained by Bishop DeLancey
William Heathcote DeLancey
The Right Reverend William Heathcote DeLancey was a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and the sixth Provost of the University of Pennsylvania...
in 1844 and settled in Whitestown
Whitestown, New York
Whitestown is a town in Oneida County, New York, USA. The population was 18,635 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Judge Hugh White, an early settler.The Town of Whitestown is immediately west of Utica, New York...
, Oneida county
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
, where he organized and became the first rector of St. John's Church. He was the Rector of Trinity Church
Trinity Church (Elmira, New York)
The parish of Trinity Church, Elmira, New York was founded in 1833. Trinity Church is a parish of the Chemung District of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, centered in Syracuse, New York. The present structure of Trinity Church is located at 304 North Main Street, Elmira, New York....
in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
from April 1847 until June 1849. Afterward he officiated at Saratoga Springs and Oswego, and later had charge of the parishes at Theresa
Theresa (town), New York
Theresa is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 2,905 at the 2010 census. The town is named after the daughter of an original landowner, Theresa Le Ray.The town of Theresa contains a village also named Theresa...
and Redwood, New York
Redwood, New York
Redwood is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the area population was 584.Redwood is in the eastern part of the Town of Alexandria The community is near the southeast town line.-Geography:...
. During his ministry he was earnest and active in urging people to baptism and the sacraments, and was recognized as a high churchman.
Whitcher left the Protestant Episcopal Church at part of the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
and the teachings of Cardinal Newman. In 1850 he was received into the Roman Catholic Church at St. John's Church, Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
by Bishop McFarland
Francis Patrick McFarland
Francis Patrick McFarland was an American Catholic bishop, the third Bishop of Hartford.-Life:...
. Bishop De Lancey
William Heathcote DeLancey
The Right Reverend William Heathcote DeLancey was a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and the sixth Provost of the University of Pennsylvania...
deposed him of his ministry for abandoning "the communion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, by a formal admission into a religious body not in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church, namely the Roman Catholic body" and published that action in local papers.