MAGLJEliot
JOHN ELIOT 1754-1813
- Grand Chaplain 1801, 1802
BIOGRAPHY
From Proceedings, Page 1873-196:
REV. JOHN ELIOT, D.D., BOSTON. Unitarian. 1801, 1802.
REV. JOHN ELIOT, D.D., minister in Boston, the son of Dr. Andrew E., was born May 31, 1754, and graduated at Harvard College in 1772. After preaching a few years in different places, he was ordained as the successor of his father, Nov. 3, 1779, pastor of the new North Church in Boston. He died of an affection of the heart, or pericardium, Feb. 14, 1813, aged 58. His wife, Ann Treadwell, daughter of Jacob T., of Portsmouth, survived him. During his ministry of thirty-four years he baptized 1,454 persons; performed the ceremony of marriage 811 times; and admitted 161 to full communion in the church. Dr. Eliot was very mild, courteous, and benevolent; as a preacher he was plain, familiar, and practical, avoiding disputed topics, and always recommending charity and peace. For nine years he was one of the corporation .of Harvard College. With his friend, Dr. Belknap, he co-operated in establishing and sustaining the Massachusetts Historical Society, to the publications of which he contributed many writings. His attention was much devoted to biographical and historical researches.
He published a sermon to Freemasons, 1782; a charge to the same, 1783; a Thanksgiving sermon, 1794; at the ordination of J. McKean, 1797; of H. Edes, 1805; on public worship, 1800; on the completion of a house of worship, 1804; a New England biographical dictionary, 8vo, 1809; and in the historical collections the following articles: accounts of burials in Boston; description of New Bedford, IV.; notice of W. Whittingham, and narrative of newspapers, V.; sketch of Dr. Belknap, VI.; ecclesiastical history of Massachusetts and Plymouth, VII. , IX., X., and two sermons, L ; account of John Eliot; account of Marblehead; memoirs of Dr. Thacher, VIII . ; memoirs of A. Eliot and T. Pemberton, X.
— 2 Hist. Coll. I., 211-248. The American Biographical Dictionary, by William Allen. D.D.
