| Notes |
- From the book "History of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1887" by Rev. A.K. Teele, 3/3/1884. page 5.
Labors for the indians. A deep interest and real enthusiasm was awakened in
the hearts of the colonists for the native inhabitants. They were brought into
daily connection with them as laborers on the farm and as helpers in the
family; and great efforts were made to teach them the arts of civilization and
the truth of christianity. Some of the people of Unquity then living on Milton
Hill devoted much time, year after year, in teaching them to read. There was an
ernest and heartfelt concern for their moral and spiritual welfare. Plans were
devised for their education and enlightenment, by creating an indian department
in Harvard college, and erecting a building for this purpose. Excellent men and
women gave their thoughts and devoted their lives to this service.
Rev. John Elliot; First and foremost of all was Rev. John Eliot of Roxbury.
He attained a knowledge of the dialect, and began to preach to the indians as
early as 1646. His labors were confined to no locality. We find him at
Dorchester, Nonantum, Natick, Plymouth, on the Cape, and wherever the tribes
were scattered. "He made a missionarey tour every fortnight, planted churches,
and visited all the indians in Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies, even as far
as Cape Cod." And he was rewarded with wonderful success in his work.
Opposition only increased his zeal, obstacles but fired him with fresh energy.
He says in a letter: "I have not been dry, night or day, from the third day of
the week unto the sixth; but so traveled and at night pulled off my boots, rung
my stockings and on with them and so continue. But God steps in and helps."
He translated the bible into the indian language; it was printed at
Cambridge in 1663, and a second edition in 1685. The following is the
title-page: --
"Mamusse Wunneetupanatamwe Up Biblum God. Naneeswe NUKKONE TESTAMENT Kah
Wonk Wusku Testament."
This was the first bible printed in this country, and it is believed that
there is but one man living who can read it. Mr. Eliot often labored with the
Neponset Indians. Gookin says he preached to the Indians at Stoughton's Mill.
Tradition has fixed these meetings in Vose's grove, and on the Milton side at
the wigwam of Kitchamakin.
-----------------------------
A GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF THE CLARK AND WORTH FAMILIES AND OTHER PURITAN SETTLERS IN THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY By CAROL CLARK JOHNSON Privately Printed 1970
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG
CARD NUMBER 78-140140
John Eliot, Rev1., celebrated "Apostle to the Indians", was bp. August 5,1604, at Widford, England, andeducated at Cambridge, matriculating at Jesus College March 20, 1619; taking his M. A. there in 1623 at the age of nineteen.
Influenced by Rev. Thomas Hooker, he became a nonconformist and Nov. 4, 1631, arrived in Boston on the Lyon, becoming a freeman Mar. 6, 1632. For a time he assisted at First Church in Boston, then in 1632 became the minister at Roxbury. After learning the Indian dialect, he first preached before the Indians without an interpreter at Nonantum, now Newton, in 1646. He organized the Indians of Massachusetts into 16 settlements that flourished until they were broken up by Philip's War in 1675. Eliot's "Primer" or "Catechism" (1654) was the first book printed in the Indian language. Among his other books were an "Indian Grammar Begun" (1666) and an "Indian Primer" (1669). John
Eliot possessed an influence over the Indians greater than any other, and it is believed that the English colonists may have been saved from extinction by the aid received from friendly Indians. Mr. Eliot made futile attempts to prevent the selling of Indian captives into slavery, and also was the first to lift his voice against the treatment of black people in New England and asked that he be allowed to teach them once a week. His book favoring a republic and modification of laws against Quakers aroused controversy. He was the founder and principal promoter of the grammar school in Roxbury and zealous
his efforts for the establishment of common schools throughout the Colony. In his will he bequeathed a valuable estate for the support of the Eliot School at Jamaica Plain. For a sermon by Rev. Eliot, see Emerson's "Descendants of John Eliot".
On Sept. 4, 1632, he married Hannah Montford to whom he had been betrothed in England the previous year and who rejoined him here. A charitable, frugal and temperate man, he drank only water and ate simple food. His wife treated the sick, being "skilled in physic and chirurgery", and dispensed medicine to the sick and needy. She also managed the private affairs of her husband whose charities far exceeded his means. On one occasion, to prevent Mr. Eliot from giving away his salary before reaching home, the parish clerk tied up the money in Eliot's pocket handkerchief with many knots. However, the kindly minister stopped at the home of a poor family and finding himself unable to untie the knots, gave the handkerchief with all its contents to the family, saying, "I believe the Lord designs it all for you." Hannah died March 22, 1687, and Eliot May 21, 1690, aet 86. It is said that had he been a Roman Catholic he would surely have been canonized.
"History of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1887" by Rev. A.K.
Teele, 3/3/1884. page 5.
Labors for the indians. A deep interest and real enthusiasm was awakened in
the hearts of the colonists for the native inhabitants. They were brought into
daily connection with them as laborers on the farm and as helpers in the
family; and great efforts were made to teach them the arts of civilization and
the truth of christianity. Some of the people of Unquity then living on Milton
Hill devoted much time, year after year, in teaching them to read. There was an
ernest and heartfelt concern for their moral and spiritual welfare. Plans were
devised for their education and enlightenment, by creating an indian department
in Harvard college, and erecting a building for this purpose. Excellent men and
women gave their thoughts and devoted their lives to this service.
Rev. John Elliot; First and foremost of all was Rev. John Eliot of Roxbury.
He attained a knowledge of the dialect, and began to preach to the indians as
early as 1646. His labors were confined to no locality. We find him at
Dorchester, Nonantum, Natick, Plymouth, on the Cape, and wherever the tribes
were scattered. "He made a missionarey tour every fortnight, planted churches,
and visited all the indians in Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies, even as far
as Cape Cod." And he was rewarded with wonderful success in his work.
Opposition only increased his zeal, obstacles but fired him with fresh energy.
He says in a letter: "I have not been dry, night or day, from the third day of
the week unto the sixth; but so traveled and at night pulled off my boots, rung
my stockings and on with them and so continue. But God steps in and helps."
He translated the bible into the indian language; it was printed at
Cambridge in 1663, and a second edition in 1685. The following is the
title-page: --
"Mamusse Wunneetupanatamwe Up Biblum God. Naneeswe NUKKONE TESTAMENT Kah
Wonk Wusku Testament."
This was the first bible printed in this country, and it is believed that
there is but one man living who can read it. Mr. Eliot often labored with the
Neponset Indians. Gookin says he preached to the Indians at Stoughton's Mill.
Tradition has fixed these meetings in Vose's grove, and on the Milton side at
the wigwam of Kitchamakin.
From the Great Migration Begins
JOHN ELIOT
ORIGIN: Nazeing, Essex
MIGRATION: Arrived 2 November 1631 on Lyon [ WJ 1:76]
FIRST RESIDENCE: Boston
REMOVES: Roxbury 1632
OCCUPATION: Minister.
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admitted to Boston church as member #110, which would be early in 1632 [ BChR 14]. "Mr. John Eliot" was admitted to Roxbury church as member #49: "He came to N.E. in the 9th month, 1631. He left his intended wife in England, to come the next year; he adjoined to the Church at Boston, & there exercised in the absence of Mr. Wilson the pastor of that church, who was gone back to England for his wife & family. The next summer Mr. Wilson returned, & by that time the church at Boston was intended to call him to office; his friends were come & settled at Rocksbrough, to whom he was fore engaged, that if he were not called to office before they came, he was to join with them, whereupon the church at Rocksbrough called him to be teacher in the end of the summer & soon after he was ordained to that office in the church. Also his wife came along with the rest of his friends the same time, & soon after their coming they were married, viz: in the 8th month, 1632" [ RChR 76].
FREEMAN: 6 March 1631/2 [ MBCR 1:367].
EDUCATION: Matriculated at Cambridge 20 March 1618/9 from Jesus College, B.A. [ Venn 2:94; Morison 378].
ESTATE: In the Roxbury land inventory of about 1652 "Mr. John Eliot" held nine parcels, the first seven of which had been granted to him: dwelling house, orchard and barn, and the houselot, two acres and a half at the west end of the training field; Great Lot, twenty-one acres; nineteen acres of land; six acres of fresh meadow; nine acres of salt marsh; fifty-five and a quarter acres, the twelfth lot in the second allotment of the last division; thirty-nine acres in the thousand acres at Dedham; thirteen acres and twenty poles, the tenth lot in the Nooks next Dorchester, bought of Phillip Meadowes; and seven acres of woodland, lately the land of Robert Pepper [ RBOP 13].
On 26 January 1685/6 "Mr. John Eliot, teacher of the church of Christ at Roxbury," exchanged land with Edward Morris Sr. of Roxbury, Eliot receiving "the moiety or one-half of a lot containing fourteen acres" and Morris receiving "the like quantity of fourteen acres of land ... being within the northermost part of a lot of the said Mr. Eliot being and lying in the second allotment of the last division of lands in Roxbury" [ SLR 13:466-67].
John Eliot did not leave a will, nor was his estate administered.
BIRTH: Baptized Widford, Hertfordshire, 5 August 1604, son of Bennett and Lettice (Agar) Eliot [ Eliot Gen 3].
DEATH: Roxbury 21 May 1690 [ Sewall 259]
MARRIAGE: Roxbury 4 September 1632 Ann Mountford [ RVR MS 128]. (As Savage notes this date cannot be correct, as it predated the arrival of the bride in New England; Eliot himself places the marriage in October.) "Anne the wife of John Eliott" admitted to Boston church as member #148, just before the dismissal in early October 1632 of those forming the Charlestown church [ BChR 15]; "Mris Ann Eliot, the wife of Mr. John Eliot," admitted to Roxbury church as member #50 [ RChR 76]. She died at Roxbury 22 March 1686/7 [ Sewall 135].
CHILDREN:
i HANNAH, b. 17 September 1633 [ RVR MS 1; RChR 76]; m. Boston 4 May 1653 Habakkuk Glover [ BVR 43].
ii JOHN, b. 31 August 1636 [ RVR MS 1; RChR 76 ]; Harvard 1656 [ Sibley 1:476-80]; m. (1) by 1662 Sarah Willet (only child bp. Roxbury 21 September 1662 [ RChR 124]), daughter of THOMAS WILLET ; m. (2) Cambridge 23 May 1666 Elizabeth Gookin, daughter of Daniel Gookin.
iii JOSEPH, b. 20 December 1638 [ RVR MS 2; RChR 76]; Harvard 1658 [ Sibley 1:530-33, 2:533]; m. (1) by 1676 Sarah Brenton (eldest child b. Guilford 6 October 1676), daughter of WILLIAM BRENTON ; m. (2) by 1685 Mary Willis (eldest child b. Guilford 7 November 1685), daughter of Samuel Willis.
iv SAMUEL, b. 22 or 27 June 1641 [ RVR MS 3; RChR 76]; Harvard 1660 [ Sibley 2:60-61]; did not marry.
v AARON, b. 19 February 1643[/4] [ RVR MS 4; RChR 76]; bp. 3 March 1643/4 [ RChR 115]; d. Roxbury 19 November 1655 [ RChR 176].
vi BENJAMIN, b. 29 January 1646[/7] [ RVR MS 5; RChR 76]; Harvard 1665 [ Sibley 2:164-66]; did not marry.
ASSOCIATIONS: Brother of JACOB ELIOT of Boston, Philip Eliot, Lydia (Eliot) Penniman, wife of JAMES PENNIMAN of Boston [ Eliot Gen 3-8].
COMMENTS: John Eliot's many activities in New England, among which the most distinctive are his proselytizing work among the Indians, are detailed in the various items listed below. We emphasize here only his importance in promoting migration to New England in the 1630s. In the late 1620s he had been junior partner with THOMAS HOOKER in keeping a school at Little Baddow, Essex. In this capacity, and merely by his connections in the nearby Nazeing area, he became the focal point around which many other families gathered, coming in from a number of parishes in southwest Essex and in neighboring parts of Hertfordshire. As a result, when John Eliot decided to migrate to New England, he was accompanied by many of these families, and followed by many more.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: John Eliot's career is well-illustrated in a wide variety of publications. He is one of that limited group of persons who merit an entry in both the DNB and the DAB (the former being three times the length of the latter).
The first biography of John Eliot was that published by Cotton Mather as part of his Magnalia Christi Americana [pp. 526-83].
The Eliot family has received sound treatment in two different places. In 1901 a committee of the Eliot family association published a full-length genealogy, with a revised edition in 1905 [Genealogy of the Descendants of John Eliot, "Apostle to the Indians," 1598-1905 (n.p. 1905), cited herein as Eliot Gen]. Pages three through twelve contain information on the parents and siblings of John Eliot, with evidence from English records. The genealogy also includes an exhaustive chronology of the life of John Eliot [pp. 214-50].
A briefer presentation of John Eliot and his family was also published in 1905 ["Eliot of Roxbury and Boston," The Genealogical Magazine 1:37-44].
|
Abt 1604 - 1690 (~ 86 years)
[1, 4]