Francis Higginson
Encyclopedia
Francis Higginson was an early Puritan
minister in Colonial New England
, and the first minister of Salem, Massachusetts
.
, in 1610 and his M.A. in 1613. About 1615, he became minister at Claybrooke, one of the parishes of Leicester
, and acquired great influence as a preacher. Through his acquaintance with Arthur Hildersham
and Thomas Hooker
, he became disenchanted with the church of England
and began to associate himself with Puritan congregations. Puritans in England were persecuted for their beliefs and practices. Higginson left his parish, although he continued to preach occasionally in the pulpits of the church of England. He refused offers of many excellent livings on account of his opinions, and was supporting himself by preparing young men for the university, when, in 1628, he was invited by the Massachusetts Bay Company to accompany its expedition to New England
. Higginson joined, and in 1629 the Company obtained a Royal Charter
to form a plantation in New England.
Higginson led a group of 300 settlers (including many of his own congregation) on five ships from England to New England. These were the first of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the main body who would come the next year on the Winthrop Fleet
. The Higginson Fleet set sail on the first of May, 1629, arriving in Salem harbor on the 24th of June. The ships in the fleet were:
Higginson's fleet was greeted in Salem by a small group of settlers, led by John Endecott
. There were five houses besides Endecott's. They had no trained minister, however, so Higginson and Samuel Skelton began those duties immediately. Higginson drew up a confession of faith, which was assented to, on 6 August, by thirty persons. In the following winter, in the general sickness that ravaged the colony, he was attacked by a fever, which disabled him, and finally caused his death at the age of 43, leaving behind a widow and eight children.
He had married Anne Herbert (died in or before 1640) on 8 January 1616 at St Peter's, Nottingham. Their eldest son, John
(1616–1708), also trained for the ministry. He succeeded his father-in-law Henry Whitfeld or Whitfield (1597-1687) as minister at Guilford, Connecticut
, and served as pastor of Salem from 1659. Another son, Francis Higginson (1618–1673), returned to England and became vicar of Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland, where he lived until his death.
A portion of his diary was published in 1630 under the title, New Englands Plantation, or a Short and True Description of the Commodities and Discommodities of that Country. He also wrote an account of his voyage, which is preserved in Hutchinson
's collection of papers.
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
minister in Colonial New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and the first minister of Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
.
Biography
The son of a minister, Francis Higginson received his B.A. degree from Jesus College, CambridgeJesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
, in 1610 and his M.A. in 1613. About 1615, he became minister at Claybrooke, one of the parishes of Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, and acquired great influence as a preacher. Through his acquaintance with Arthur Hildersham
Arthur Hildersham
Arthur Hildersham was an English clergyman, a Puritan and nonconforming preacher.-Life:Arthur Hildersham was born at Stetchworth, and brought up as a Roman Catholic. He was educated in Saffron Walden and at Christ's College, Cambridge. Through the patronage of Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of...
and Thomas Hooker
Thomas Hooker
Thomas Hooker was a prominent Puritan colonial leader, who founded the Colony of Connecticut after dissenting with Puritan leaders in Massachusetts...
, he became disenchanted with the church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and began to associate himself with Puritan congregations. Puritans in England were persecuted for their beliefs and practices. Higginson left his parish, although he continued to preach occasionally in the pulpits of the church of England. He refused offers of many excellent livings on account of his opinions, and was supporting himself by preparing young men for the university, when, in 1628, he was invited by the Massachusetts Bay Company to accompany its expedition to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Higginson joined, and in 1629 the Company obtained a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
to form a plantation in New England.
Higginson led a group of 300 settlers (including many of his own congregation) on five ships from England to New England. These were the first of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the main body who would come the next year on the Winthrop Fleet
Winthrop Fleet
The Winthrop Fleet was a group of eleven sailing ships under the leadership of John Winthrop that carried approximately 700 Puritans plus livestock and provisions from England to New England over the summer of 1630.-Motivation:...
. The Higginson Fleet set sail on the first of May, 1629, arriving in Salem harbor on the 24th of June. The ships in the fleet were:
- Talbot
- George Bonaventure
- Lyon's WhelpLyon's WhelpIn 1628, the very wealthy Duke of Buckingham built a private fleet of 10 three masted, armed pinnaces each of which carried the name Lion's Whelp. At least one Lion's Whelp participated in the English attempt to relieve the Huguenot citadel of La Rochelle during the Anglo-French War...
, carried only provisions - Four Sisters
- Mayflower (A different ship than that of the Pilgrims)
Higginson's fleet was greeted in Salem by a small group of settlers, led by John Endecott
John Endecott
John Endecott was an English colonial magistrate, soldier and the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During all of his years in the colony but one, he held some form of civil, judicial, or military high office...
. There were five houses besides Endecott's. They had no trained minister, however, so Higginson and Samuel Skelton began those duties immediately. Higginson drew up a confession of faith, which was assented to, on 6 August, by thirty persons. In the following winter, in the general sickness that ravaged the colony, he was attacked by a fever, which disabled him, and finally caused his death at the age of 43, leaving behind a widow and eight children.
He had married Anne Herbert (died in or before 1640) on 8 January 1616 at St Peter's, Nottingham. Their eldest son, John
John Higginson (Puritan)
John Higginson was a clergyman. He came to this country with his father, Francis Higginson. After his father's death, he assisted in the support of his mother, Anne Herbert Higginson, and brothers by teaching in Hartford...
(1616–1708), also trained for the ministry. He succeeded his father-in-law Henry Whitfeld or Whitfield (1597-1687) as minister at Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Branford, North Branford and Durham, and is situated on I-95 and the coast. The population was 21,398 at the 2000 census...
, and served as pastor of Salem from 1659. Another son, Francis Higginson (1618–1673), returned to England and became vicar of Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland, where he lived until his death.
A portion of his diary was published in 1630 under the title, New Englands Plantation, or a Short and True Description of the Commodities and Discommodities of that Country. He also wrote an account of his voyage, which is preserved in Hutchinson
Hutchinson (surname)
Hutchinson is a surname, and may refer to:* Hutchinson Family Singers, 19th-century American singing group* Alain Hutchinson, Belgian politician* Allen Hutchinson , English sculptor* Anne Hutchinson , Puritan preacher in New England...
's collection of papers.