Nathaniel Thayer
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Thayer was a congregational
Unitarian
minister.
He was born in Hampton, New Hampshire
to Ebenezer Thayer and Martha Olivia Cotton. His maternal grandfather was John Cotton of Newton, Massachusetts
, who was the great-grandson of John Cotton. He graduated from Harvard College
in 1789 and was ordained junior pastor of a Congregational meeting house in Lancaster, Massachusetts
on October 9, 1793. He received a Doctor of Divinity
degree from Harvard in 1817.
Respected for his "tact and sagacity", Thayer's involvement was often sought to settle ecclesiastical disputes across the state of Massachusetts. As a result, in his 47 years as a minister, he served on more than 150 church councils.
For a number of years, Thayer was involved in a dispute with James G. Carter
, then-Deacon
of Thayer's congregation and later a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
, over the latter's refusal to return funds donated toward the establishment of an instructional academy that failed to materialise. Thayer publicly denounced Carter's actions and called on him to reimburse donors of the failed project. Carter, however, refused and was eventually removed from his position as the church's Deacon
. Messerli (1965) argues that Carter's alienation of Thayer (and, by extension, most of the state's clergy) significantly contributed to his loss to Horace Mann
in the 1837 election for the position of Secretary of the just-established Massachusetts Board of Education
, the first state board of education
in the United States.
Thayer died in Rochester, New York
at age 71 "while journeying for pleasure & improvement of his health, to the falls at Niagara
on a trip for health reasons."
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister.
He was born in Hampton, New Hampshire
Hampton, New Hampshire
Hampton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 14,976 at the 2010 census. Located beside the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton is home to Hampton Beach, a summer tourist destination....
to Ebenezer Thayer and Martha Olivia Cotton. His maternal grandfather was John Cotton of Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, who was the great-grandson of John Cotton. He graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1789 and was ordained junior pastor of a Congregational meeting house in Lancaster, Massachusetts
Lancaster, Massachusetts
Lancaster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. Incorporated in 1653, Lancaster is the oldest town in Worcester County...
on October 9, 1793. He received a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree from Harvard in 1817.
Respected for his "tact and sagacity", Thayer's involvement was often sought to settle ecclesiastical disputes across the state of Massachusetts. As a result, in his 47 years as a minister, he served on more than 150 church councils.
For a number of years, Thayer was involved in a dispute with James G. Carter
James G. Carter
James Gordon Carter , born James Carter, Jr., was a Massachusetts State Legislator and education reformer.He wrote “Influence of an Early Education” in 1826 , and in 1837, as House Chairman of the Committee on Education, contributed to the establishment of the Massachusetts Board of Education, the...
, then-Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
of Thayer's congregation and later a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
, over the latter's refusal to return funds donated toward the establishment of an instructional academy that failed to materialise. Thayer publicly denounced Carter's actions and called on him to reimburse donors of the failed project. Carter, however, refused and was eventually removed from his position as the church's Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. Messerli (1965) argues that Carter's alienation of Thayer (and, by extension, most of the state's clergy) significantly contributed to his loss to Horace Mann
Horace Mann
Horace Mann was an American education reformer, and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1827 to 1833. He served in the Massachusetts Senate from 1834 to 1837. In 1848, after serving as Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education since its creation, he was...
in the 1837 election for the position of Secretary of the just-established Massachusetts Board of Education
Massachusetts Board of Education
The Massachusetts Board of Education is the state education agency responsible for interpreting and implementing laws relevant to public education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Public education in the Commonwealth is organized according to the regulations adopted by the BOE, which are good...
, the first state board of education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
in the United States.
Thayer died in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
at age 71 "while journeying for pleasure & improvement of his health, to the falls at Niagara
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
on a trip for health reasons."
Family life
On October 22, 1795, Thayer married Sarah Parker Toppan, daughter of Christopher Toppan and Sarah Parker, by whom he had eight children.- Sarah "Sally" Toppan Thayer (Aug 21, 1796 - Dec 20, 1831)
- Martha Thayer (Apr 5, 1798 - ?)
- Mary Ann Thayer (Apr 13, 1800 - ?)
- Nathaniel Thayer (1802) died of "fits" at 6 weeks
- John Elliott Thayer (Aug 23, 1803 - Sep 29, 1857)
- Christopher Toppan Thayer (Jun 25, 1805 - ?)
- Nathaniel Thayer Jr (Sep 11, 1808 - Mar 7, 1883)
- Abigail Thayer (Oct 1, 1812 - Dec 11, 1834)