Thomas Shepard (minister): Difference between revisions
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'''Thomas Shepard''' ([[November 5]], [[1605]] – [[August 25]], [[1649]]) was an [[British North America|American]] [[Puritan]] minister and a significant figure in early colonial [[New England]]. |
'''Thomas Shepard''' ([[November 5]], [[1605]] – [[August 25]], [[1649]]) was an [[British North America|American]] [[Puritan]] minister and a significant figure in early colonial [[New England]]. |
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Shepard was |
Shepard was born in Towcester, [[Northamptonshire]]. His devout mother died when he was four and he lived a difficult life under his stepmother. His father died when he reached ten, at which point he lived with his grandparents and later an older brother, whom he held in high and grateful regard. A schoolmaster ignited in him a scholarly interest, which ultimately led to entry into [[Emmanuel College]] in [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] at the age of fifteen. He accounts in his autobiography that he lived a dissatisfied and dissolute life, which led him to pray out in a nearby field, at which point he underwent the beginnings of a conversion experience. |
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In 1627 he became assistant schoolmaster at [[Earls Colne Grammar School]] in [[Earls Colne]], [[Essex]]. He became a minister whose sermons and Puritan ways drew the ire of [[Church of England]] [[William Laud|Archbishop William Laud]], and he was forbidden to preach. Following the death of his eldest son, he left England in 1635 with wife and younger son on a difficult voyage for [[Massachusetts]] in colonial [[United States|America]]. His wife died thereafter, as did his second wife and other children, though he framed these experiences, if not without difficulty, into the perspective of his theology. |
In 1627 he became assistant schoolmaster at [[Earls Colne Grammar School]] in [[Earls Colne]], [[Essex]]. He became a minister whose sermons and Puritan ways drew the ire of [[Church of England]] [[William Laud|Archbishop William Laud]], and he was forbidden to preach. Following the death of his eldest son, he left England in 1635 with wife and younger son on a difficult voyage for [[Massachusetts]] in colonial [[United States|America]]. His wife died thereafter, as did his second wife and other children, though he framed these experiences, if not without difficulty, into the perspective of his theology. |
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Shepard was regarded as one of the foremost Puritan ministers of his day, esteemed in the company of individuals like [[Richard Mather]] and [[John Cotton]]. He took special interest in Puritan ministry to the Massachusetts [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. His written legacy includes an autobiography and numerous sermons, which in some measure of contrast with others of his day, tended to accent [[God]] as an accessible and welcoming figure in the individual life. Today a plaque at [[Harvard University]], in the words of [[Cotton Mather]], records that it was in consideration of the salutary effect of Shepard's ministry that the [[New College|College]] ultimately came to be placed in "Newtowne", known today as [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]]. |
Shepard was regarded as one of the foremost Puritan ministers of his day, esteemed in the company of individuals like [[Richard Mather]] and [[John Cotton]]. He took special interest in Puritan ministry to the Massachusetts [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. His written legacy includes an autobiography and numerous sermons, which in some measure of contrast with others of his day, tended to accent [[God]] as an accessible and welcoming figure in the individual life. Today a plaque at [[Harvard University]], in the words of [[Cotton Mather]], records that it was in consideration of the salutary effect of Shepard's ministry that the [[New College|College]] ultimately came to be placed in "Newtowne", known today as [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]]. |
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Three of Shepard's sons followed him into the ministry; [[Thomas Shepard II]], [[Samuel Shepard]], and [[Jeremiah Shepard]]. |
Three of Shepard's sons followed him into the ministry; [[Thomas Shepard II]], [[Samuel Shepard]], and [[Jeremiah Shepard]]. |
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Shepard died from [[Quinsy]], a [[Peritonsillar abscess]], which is a complication of [[tonsillitis]] at the age of 44. |
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===Print references=== |
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==Sources== |
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* [http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/chistory/section63shepard.htm ''The History of Cambridge''] |
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* [http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4053 ''The Literary Encyclopedia''] |
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==References== |
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* ''God's Plot: Puritan Spirituality in Thomas Shepard's Cambridge'' (McGiffert, Ed.) ISBN 0-87023-926-0 |
* ''God's Plot: Puritan Spirituality in Thomas Shepard's Cambridge'' (McGiffert, Ed.) ISBN 0-87023-926-0 |
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==External links== |
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===Web Pages about Thomas Shepard=== |
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[http://www.thomasshepard.org The Writings of Thomas Shepard] |
[http://www.thomasshepard.org The Writings of Thomas Shepard] |
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[[Category:Puritanism|Shepard, Thomas]] |
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[[Category:1605 births|Shepard, Thomas]] |
[[Category:1605 births|Shepard, Thomas]] |
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[[Category:1649 deaths|Shepard, Thomas]] |
[[Category:1649 deaths|Shepard, Thomas]] |
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Revision as of 16:25, 21 December 2006
Thomas Shepard (November 5, 1605 – August 25, 1649) was an American Puritan minister and a significant figure in early colonial New England.
Shepard was born in Towcester, Northamptonshire. His devout mother died when he was four and he lived a difficult life under his stepmother. His father died when he reached ten, at which point he lived with his grandparents and later an older brother, whom he held in high and grateful regard. A schoolmaster ignited in him a scholarly interest, which ultimately led to entry into Emmanuel College in Cambridge University at the age of fifteen. He accounts in his autobiography that he lived a dissatisfied and dissolute life, which led him to pray out in a nearby field, at which point he underwent the beginnings of a conversion experience.
In 1627 he became assistant schoolmaster at Earls Colne Grammar School in Earls Colne, Essex. He became a minister whose sermons and Puritan ways drew the ire of Church of England Archbishop William Laud, and he was forbidden to preach. Following the death of his eldest son, he left England in 1635 with wife and younger son on a difficult voyage for Massachusetts in colonial America. His wife died thereafter, as did his second wife and other children, though he framed these experiences, if not without difficulty, into the perspective of his theology.
Shepard was regarded as one of the foremost Puritan ministers of his day, esteemed in the company of individuals like Richard Mather and John Cotton. He took special interest in Puritan ministry to the Massachusetts Native Americans. His written legacy includes an autobiography and numerous sermons, which in some measure of contrast with others of his day, tended to accent God as an accessible and welcoming figure in the individual life. Today a plaque at Harvard University, in the words of Cotton Mather, records that it was in consideration of the salutary effect of Shepard's ministry that the College ultimately came to be placed in "Newtowne", known today as Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Three of Shepard's sons followed him into the ministry; Thomas Shepard II, Samuel Shepard, and Jeremiah Shepard.
Shepard died from Quinsy, a Peritonsillar abscess, which is a complication of tonsillitis at the age of 44.
Sources
References
- God's Plot: Puritan Spirituality in Thomas Shepard's Cambridge (McGiffert, Ed.) ISBN 0-87023-926-0