Jeremiah Shepard
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Shepard was an American
Puritan
minister and the youngest son of Thomas Shepard, a major figure in the founding generation of Puritan New England
. He was an early graduate of Harvard University
, in the class of 1669.
Shepard replaced his brother Samuel Shepard at the church in Rowley, Massachusetts
and served at the church in Chebacco, later renamed Essex, Massachusetts
, and at the church in Lynn, Massachusetts
.
Like many ministers of his generation, Jeremiah Shepard encountered significant conflicts with his congregations. He was invited to give a monthly lecture at the church in Rowley, but after the election
of several town Selectmen who opposed his appointment, the town government refused to pay his salary
. Shepard later sued and a compromise was struck. Accepting a call to the church at Chebacco
in 1678, Shepard encountered further opposition. The residents of Chebacco, who tired of the long trip to the church at Ipswich, Massachusetts
attempted to withdraw from that church, but the members in Ipswich were unwilling that such a break be made. Shepard found himself caught in the middle and accepted a call at the church in Lynn
in 1680.
The Journal of Obadiah Turner described Shepard thus, "Ye new minister, Mr. Shepard, we find sound in doctrine and strong in speech; but wonderful grave and solemn, wch, after Mr. Whiting, seemeth like clouds after sunshine. Wee doubt not hjs pietie; but pieitie recommended by gloom cometh with but a poor recommend. However, he is mch of a stranger wth vs as yet. He dresseth in black clothes and weareth black gloves in ye pulpit, wch he must needes cut off at ye finger ends, ye wch is done to enable hjm to turne over ye book leaves." The Journal goes on to describe Shepard's conflicts with the church at Lynn when he attempted to remove all music
from the service and replace it with more preaching.
Shepard was accused of wizardry
during the excitement surrounding the Salem witch trials
and was vehemently opposed to the governorship of Sir Edmund Andros.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Puritan
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 and the youngest son of Thomas Shepard, a major figure in the founding generation of Puritan 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...
. He was an early graduate of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, in the class of 1669.
Shepard replaced his brother Samuel Shepard at the church in Rowley, Massachusetts
Rowley, Massachusetts
Rowley is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,500 at the 2000 census.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Rowley.-History:...
and served at the church in Chebacco, later renamed Essex, Massachusetts
Essex, Massachusetts
Essex is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, north of Boston. The population was 3,504 at the 2010 census.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Essex.- History :...
, and at the church in Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
.
Like many ministers of his generation, Jeremiah Shepard encountered significant conflicts with his congregations. He was invited to give a monthly lecture at the church in Rowley, but after the election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
of several town Selectmen who opposed his appointment, the town government refused to pay his salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
. Shepard later sued and a compromise was struck. Accepting a call to the church at Chebacco
Chebacco Parish
Chebacco Parish was the southeastern-most part of the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts that later became the separate municipality of Essex. The name comes from Chebacco Lake, part of which is in the town of Essex....
in 1678, Shepard encountered further opposition. The residents of Chebacco, who tired of the long trip to the church at Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
attempted to withdraw from that church, but the members in Ipswich were unwilling that such a break be made. Shepard found himself caught in the middle and accepted a call at the church in Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
in 1680.
The Journal of Obadiah Turner described Shepard thus, "Ye new minister, Mr. Shepard, we find sound in doctrine and strong in speech; but wonderful grave and solemn, wch, after Mr. Whiting, seemeth like clouds after sunshine. Wee doubt not hjs pietie; but pieitie recommended by gloom cometh with but a poor recommend. However, he is mch of a stranger wth vs as yet. He dresseth in black clothes and weareth black gloves in ye pulpit, wch he must needes cut off at ye finger ends, ye wch is done to enable hjm to turne over ye book leaves." The Journal goes on to describe Shepard's conflicts with the church at Lynn when he attempted to remove all music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
from the service and replace it with more preaching.
Shepard was accused of wizardry
Wizardry
Wizardry is a series of computer role-playing games, developed by Sir-Tech, which were highly influential in the development of modern console and computer role playing games. The original Wizardry was a significant influence to early console RPGs, such as Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy. ...
during the excitement surrounding the Salem witch trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
and was vehemently opposed to the governorship of Sir Edmund Andros.