David Avery papers, 1794.

Collection

Identifier: MS4869

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a manuscript volume prepared by Rev. David Avery, and sent to David Howell, Esq. "for his judgment & advice," about the strife that had grown between Avery and his congregation. The base of the disagreement was how matters of church discipline should be addressed; While Avery adhered strictly to the procedure set out in the book of Matthew, a group of members wanted a more flexible system. In this manuscript, Avery details a series of conversations and interventions that the led to his eventual break with the church.

Dates

1794

Creator

Avery, David, 1746-1818 (Person)

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Biographical Note

Rev. David Avery (1746-1817) was born in Franklin, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale in 1769, studied theology at Dartmouth College, and was ordained as a missionary to the Native Americans in 1771. After serving as an army chaplain during the Revolutionary War, he was installed as the pastor in Bennington, Vermont in 1780. He moved to Wrentham, Massachusetts in 1783 to replace the minister of the First Church in Wrentham, who had died in office. While at Wrentham, Rev. Avery had an increasing number of difficulties with his parishioners, largely over his strict adherence to disciplinary rules, and he was eventually dismissed from his service in Wrentham in 1794. From there he moved back to Connecticut and served the church in Union for a few years before resuming his missionary work. He died of typhus fever at age 71.

Extent

1 Volume

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Rev. David Avery was born in Franklin, Connecticut, in 1746. He graduated from Yale in 1769, studied theology at Dartmouth College, and was ordained as a missionary to the Native Americans in 1771. In 1783 he became the minister of the First Church in Wrentham. Due to theological differences over church discipline, he was dismissed in 1794. He died in 1817. This collection contains a manuscript volume prepared by Rev. David Avery about the strife that had grown between Avery and his congregation.

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