MAGLHeJackson
HENRY JACKSON 1798-1863
- MM 1821, King Solomon's
- Grand Chaplain 1828
BIOGRAPHY
From Proceedings, Page 1873-277:
REV. HENRY JACKSON, D.D., CHARLESTOWN, Baptist, 1828.
REV. HENRY JACKSON, D.D., of Newport, R. I. This gentleman, who was one of the early correspondents of the Historical Magazine, was the son of the Hon. Richard Jackson, of Providence, R. I., in which town he was born, June 16th, 1798. After a successful course of study at Brown University he was graduated in 1817. While at college, in 1815, he became a member of the First Baptist Church, at Providence, then under the faithful ministry of Rev. Stephen Gano, D.D., whose daughter, Miss Maria F. Gano, he subsequently married. After completing his theological studies, he commenced preaching, October 6th, 1822, at Charlestown, Mass., and was ordained as pastor of the Baptist Church there, on the 27th of November following. His labors there, which closed October 19th, 1836, were crowned with success. During his pastorate he was instrumental in founding the Charlestown Female Seminary there.
In 1836 he was settled as pastor of the First Baptist Church, of Hartford, Ct., succeeding in that office his intimate friend, Rev. Dr. Davis. From Hartford he removed to New Bedford, Mass., where he was installed January 1st, 1839. His ministry, at the latter place, lasted till October 19th, 1845. On the 7th of January, 1847, the Central Baptist Church, of Newport, R. I., was organized; and, on the 17th of that month, Rev. Mr. Jackson, having measurably recovered from a sickness of more than a year's duration, preached to the society. On the 24th he was unanimously invited to become its first pastor, which invitation he accepted. This office he held till his death, March 2d, 1863. He died suddenly, in one of the cars of the Shore Line Railroad, while passing from Providence to Greenwich. He left his house in Newport, early that morning, in his accustomed health; and it was noticed in Providence by his friends, during his brief stay of two and a half hours, that he exhibited his usual cheerfulness and exuberance of spirit. "He died while on a journey of love; died with his harness on, laboring for the good of others, without a hope of worldly recompense." The evening before his death, which was the Sabbath, he handed his wife some verses, which were prophetic of the close of his earthly pilgrimage.
These verses were sung at his funeral. At the time of his death he was a trustee of Brown University, having held the office since 1828. From this institution, in 1854, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In 1854 he published An Account of the Churches of Rhode Island, 8vo, pp. 134; and an anniversary discourse before the Central Baptist Church, of Newport, 8vo, pp. 72. His widow is now [1868] at Providence, R. I .
— Historical Magazine, December, 1868.
