Freeborn Garrettson
Encyclopedia
Freeborn Garrettson, an American
clergy
man, was born in Maryland
in 1752. died in New York
, September 26, 1827. He entered the Methodist
ministry in 1775, travelled extensively in several states.
to Nova Scotia
. In 1788 he began working in the state of New York. In 1791, he married Catherine Livingston of Rhinebeck
, after which he confined his ministry to New York. During Garrettson's time American Methodism rose from total obscurity to a place of import within American religion.
He was a very popular preacher and at his death he made provision in his will for the perpetual support of a missionary.
In the late 1780s Reverend Garrettson settled in the Village of Rhinebeck, NY to bring Methodism. He married Mrs. Catherine Livingston, and held the first Methodist church services in the Benner House
on Mill Street.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
man, was born in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 1752. died in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, September 26, 1827. He entered the Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
ministry in 1775, travelled extensively in several states.
Role in American Methodism
Kenneth E. Rowe's foreword to the book "American Methodist Pioneer," which presents the journals of Freeborn Garrettson, begins,"Freeborn Garrettson was unquestionably the most competent native born Methodist preacher in the American colonies in the founding period." Early in his career Garrettson served the Delmarva Peninsula. Although he favored the revolutionary cause he would not fight in the war and was placed in jail for a time in Maryland during the Revolutionary War. Most of the Methodist preachers who had come from England before the outbreak of war, returned there once the war began. In 1784 he went as a missionaryMissionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. In 1788 he began working in the state of New York. In 1791, he married Catherine Livingston of Rhinebeck
Rhinebeck (village), New York
Rhinebeck is a village located in the Town of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 2,657 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
, after which he confined his ministry to New York. During Garrettson's time American Methodism rose from total obscurity to a place of import within American religion.
He was a very popular preacher and at his death he made provision in his will for the perpetual support of a missionary.
In the late 1780s Reverend Garrettson settled in the Village of Rhinebeck, NY to bring Methodism. He married Mrs. Catherine Livingston, and held the first Methodist church services in the Benner House
Benner House
The Benner House is located on Mill Street in the village of Rhinebeck, New York, United States, just off US 9. It was built by a German immigrant, Johannes Benner, in the 1730s. It is the oldest house in the Village of Rhinebeck....
on Mill Street.