John Higginson (Puritan)
Encyclopedia
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
. With Giles Firmin
he was employed by the magistrates and ministers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
to take down in short-hand the proceedings of the synod of 1637. He was chaplain of the fort at Saybrook Colony
for about four years. In 1641, he went to Guilford, Connecticut
as assistant to Henry Whitfeld or Whitfield (1597-1687), whose daughter Sarah (1620-1875) he married. In 1643, he was one of the “seven pillars” of the church there.
He sailed for England with his family in 1659, but the vessel put into Salem harbor on account of the weather, and he accepted an invitation to preach there for a year, finally settling as regular pastor of the church that his father had planted. He was ordained in August 1660, and continued there till his death. He was an active opponent of the Quakers, but subsequently regretted his zeal, and took no part in the witchcraft prosecutions of 1692
. He was one of the most popular divines in New England, and at his death had been seventy-two years in the ministry. He published various sermons, the most well-known of which is his "Election Sermon" of 1663, "The Cause of God and His People in New-England," see http://www.classicapologetics.com/h/higgicause.pdf. He was the author of the “Attestation” to Cotton Mather
's Magnalia
, which was prefixed to the first book of that work.
Francis Higginson
Francis Higginson was an early Puritan minister in Colonial New England, and the first minister of Salem, Massachusetts.-Biography:...
. After his father's death, he assisted in the support of his mother, Anne Herbert Higginson, and brothers by teaching in Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. With Giles Firmin
Giles Firmin
Giles Firmin was an English minister and physician, deacon in the first church in Massachusetts of John Cotton, and ejected minister in 1662.-Life:...
he was employed by the magistrates and ministers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
to take down in short-hand the proceedings of the synod of 1637. He was chaplain of the fort at Saybrook Colony
Saybrook Colony
The Saybrook Colony was established in late 1635 at the mouth of the Connecticut River in present day Old Saybrook, Connecticut by John Winthrop, the Younger, son of John Winthrop, the Governor of Massachusetts. The former was designated Governor by the original settlers which included Colonel...
for about four years. In 1641, he went to 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...
as assistant to Henry Whitfeld or Whitfield (1597-1687), whose daughter Sarah (1620-1875) he married. In 1643, he was one of the “seven pillars” of the church there.
He sailed for England with his family in 1659, but the vessel put into Salem harbor on account of the weather, and he accepted an invitation to preach there for a year, finally settling as regular pastor of the church that his father had planted. He was ordained in August 1660, and continued there till his death. He was an active opponent of the Quakers, but subsequently regretted his zeal, and took no part in the witchcraft prosecutions of 1692
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...
. He was one of the most popular divines in New England, and at his death had been seventy-two years in the ministry. He published various sermons, the most well-known of which is his "Election Sermon" of 1663, "The Cause of God and His People in New-England," see http://www.classicapologetics.com/h/higgicause.pdf. He was the author of the “Attestation” to Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather, FRS was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer; he is often remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials...
's Magnalia
Magnalia Christi Americana
Magnalia Christi Americana is a book published in 1702 by Cotton Mather . Its title is in Latin, but its subtitle is in English: The Ecclesiastical History of New England...
, which was prefixed to the first book of that work.