Septimus Tustin
Encyclopedia
Septimus Tustin was a Presbyterian clergyman who served as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
in 1837 and as Chaplain of the United States Senate
1841-1846.
, the son of Septimus and Elizabeth Paul Tustin. His father died when he was quite young, and having been raised by his mother, he was greatly influenced by her piety and her involvement in the First Presbyterian Church in the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia.
He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania
and the Seminary of the Associate Reformed Church.
Following service as a licensed preacher, in Washington, D.C.
and in Philadelphia, Tustin was ordained on October 7, 1824 in First Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C. This was the first ordination performed by the newly constituted Presbytery of the District of Columbia.
, Presbyterian Church in 1825-1826. According to church historians at the Leesburg Presbyterian Church, Reverend Septimus Tustin was described by one church historian as "a promising young man" but "during his ministration (on account of some internal dissensions) the church lost several of its most valuable members and did not recover from the evil effects for several years."
Following Leesburg, Tustin was called to be pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Charlestown, Virginia (now West Virginia
). Then, he served as Chaplain of the University of Virginia
, in Charlottesville, after which he served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church Warrenton, Virginia
."
. This necessitated his taking a year’s leave of absence from his congregation, and when invited to serve a second years’ term by the House, his congregation declined to permit his continuing leave.
As a result of a vacancy in the post of Chaplain of the Senate, Tustin was invited to serve; a post he then held from 1841 to 1846. In order to accept, he also became associate pastor of the F Street Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C., an anticendent of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, during the pastorate of James Laurie (pastor 1803-1853). The two pastors alternated preaching responsibilities at the church; on the Sundays he was not at F Street, Tustin preached at the Senate. Tustin was one of fourteen Presbyterian ministers to serve as Chaplain of the Senate, to date.
and First Presbyterian Church of Germantown, Pennsylvania
, near Philadelphia (October, 1850, to June, 1852). He thereafter was pastor at Havre de Grace, Maryland
, following which he served the Presbyterian church in Aberdeen, Mississippi
, a position he resigned upon the secession of Mississippi from the Union at the outbreak of the American Civil War
. Thereafter he served in an appointed government position in Washington D.C. until the time of his death, as well as stated supply pastor of the Fifteenth Street Colored Presbyterian Church.
Tustin served as a trustee of Lafayette College
. He also worked hard to effect a reunion of the Presbyterian denominations.
, during his pastorate in Leesburg. They were the parents of James P. Tustin who became a lawyer in Washington, D.C. Some of Rev. Tustin’s letters may be found among the papers of President John Tyler
. The Rev. Dr. Tustin died on October 28, 1871.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1837 and as Chaplain of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
1841-1846.
Early life
Septimus Tustin was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, the son of Septimus and Elizabeth Paul Tustin. His father died when he was quite young, and having been raised by his mother, he was greatly influenced by her piety and her involvement in the First Presbyterian Church in the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia.
He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and the Seminary of the Associate Reformed Church.
Following service as a licensed preacher, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and in Philadelphia, Tustin was ordained on October 7, 1824 in First Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C. This was the first ordination performed by the newly constituted Presbytery of the District of Columbia.
Ordained Ministry
Following his ordination, Tustin was called to be pastor of the Leesburg, VirginiaLeesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
, Presbyterian Church in 1825-1826. According to church historians at the Leesburg Presbyterian Church, Reverend Septimus Tustin was described by one church historian as "a promising young man" but "during his ministration (on account of some internal dissensions) the church lost several of its most valuable members and did not recover from the evil effects for several years."
Following Leesburg, Tustin was called to be pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Charlestown, Virginia (now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
). Then, he served as Chaplain of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, in Charlottesville, after which he served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton is a town in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and 14,634 at the 2010 estimate. It is the county seat of Fauquier County. Public schools in the town include Fauquier High School, Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and two...
."
Chaplain of the House – Chaplain of the Senate
While at Warrenton, he was elected to serve as chaplain of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. This necessitated his taking a year’s leave of absence from his congregation, and when invited to serve a second years’ term by the House, his congregation declined to permit his continuing leave.
As a result of a vacancy in the post of Chaplain of the Senate, Tustin was invited to serve; a post he then held from 1841 to 1846. In order to accept, he also became associate pastor of the F Street Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C., an anticendent of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, during the pastorate of James Laurie (pastor 1803-1853). The two pastors alternated preaching responsibilities at the church; on the Sundays he was not at F Street, Tustin preached at the Senate. Tustin was one of fourteen Presbyterian ministers to serve as Chaplain of the Senate, to date.
Additional service
Following his time in Washington, Tustin served the Presbyterian Church in Hagerstown, MarylandHagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
and First Presbyterian Church of Germantown, Pennsylvania
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
, near Philadelphia (October, 1850, to June, 1852). He thereafter was pastor at Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, which was first named Le Havre de Grâce, meaning in French "Harbor of Grace." As...
, following which he served the Presbyterian church in Aberdeen, Mississippi
Aberdeen, Mississippi
Aberdeen is a city in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County....
, a position he resigned upon the secession of Mississippi from the Union at the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Thereafter he served in an appointed government position in Washington D.C. until the time of his death, as well as stated supply pastor of the Fifteenth Street Colored Presbyterian Church.
Tustin served as a trustee of Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
. He also worked hard to effect a reunion of the Presbyterian denominations.
Personal life
Septimus Tustin was married to Eliza Maria Balch (born 1802), daughter of Rev. Stephen B. Balch, in her father’s church in GeorgetownGeorgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
, during his pastorate in Leesburg. They were the parents of James P. Tustin who became a lawyer in Washington, D.C. Some of Rev. Tustin’s letters may be found among the papers of President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
. The Rev. Dr. Tustin died on October 28, 1871.