Benjamin Holloway Bailey (July 5, 1829 – April 22, 1919) was an American Unitarian minister. At the time of his death, he was "one of he Unitarian church'sbest known and best loved as well as one of its oldest ministers."

Personal life

Bailey was born in

Northborough, Massachusetts Northborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The official spelling of the town's name is "Northborough," but the alternative spelling "Northboro" is also used. The population was 15,7 ...

in 1829, to Holloway and Lucy Sawyer Bailey. He grew up in Northborough his father's farm before attending Bridgewater Normal College,

Leicester Academy Leicester Academy was a private, state chartered school in Leicester, Massachusetts. History Leicester Academy was founded on March 23, 1784, when the Act of Incorporation for Leicester Academy was passed by the Massachusetts General Court as a ...

, and

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate education, undergraduate college of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Part of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Scienc ...

, where he graduated in 1854. Then followed a few years of teaching at

Chicopee High School Chicopee High School (CHS) is a public high school located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, United States. It serves students in grades 9 through 12. Its official school colors are maroon and gold. Its mascot is the “pacer”. History Constru ...

and in Providence. He studied law and then was graduated from

Harvard Divinity School Harvard Divinity School (HDS) is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school's mission is to educate its students either in the religious studies, academic study of religion or for leadership role ...

in 1860. While living in Dedham he met his wife, Emily F. Sampson, and they married on June 1, 1864. They had five children, three of whom predeceased him. He spent the last six years of his life in retirement in

Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts Jamaica Plain is a Neighborhoods in Boston, neighborhood of in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Settled by Puritans seeking farmland to the south, it was originally part of Roxbury, Massachusetts, Roxbury. The community seceded from Roxbur ...

. He is buried in

Brookdale Cemetery Brookdale Cemetery is an historic cemetery in Dedham, Massachusetts, United States. More than 28,000 people are buried there. Mother Brook runs behind it. History For nearly 250 years after it was established, Old Village Cemetery was the only c ...

Ministry

Bailey served at the

First Church and Parish in Dedham The First Church and Parish in Dedham is a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Dedham, Massachusetts. It was the 14th church established in Massachusetts. The current minister, Rev. Rali M. Weaver, was called in March 2007, settled in July, and ...

from 1861 to 1867. In Dedham, he presided over the funeral of his predecessor,

Alvan Lamson Alvan Lamson (November 18, 1792 – July 18, 1864) was a minister at First Church and Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts. His ordination led to a split in the church and eventually a lawsuit, '' Baker v. Fales'', that helped disestablish the church ...

and led the service at the 250th anniversary of the church's gathering in 1888 where he delivered an historical discourse. In 1867, he was called to

Portland, Maine Portland is the List of municipalities in Maine, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat, seat of Cumberland County, Maine, Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 at the 2020 census. The Portland metropolit ...

where he remained for five years. He then served in

Marblehead, Massachusetts Marblehead is a coastal New England town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, along the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore. Its population was 20,441 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The town lies on a small peninsu ...

beginning in 1872. A twelve years pastorate there was followed by a slightly longer one at

Malden, Massachusetts Malden is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 66,263 people. History Malden is a hilly woodland area no ...

from 1884 to 1897. For six years, he served on the Malden School Committee. He then ministered in

Westford, Massachusetts Westford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was at 24,643 at the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 Census. History Westford began as 'West Chelmsford,' a villag ...

. While there, he was a member of The Grange. Beginning in Marblehead, he began teaching as well. Boys would either lodge with his family and study under him, or be taught as day students.

Notes

References

Works cited

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Benjamin Holloway 1823 births 1919 deaths Clergy from Dedham, Massachusetts People from Marblehead, Massachusetts People from Westford, Massachusetts People from Jamaica Plain People from Northborough, Massachusetts Clergy from Portland, Maine People from Malden, Massachusetts Bridgewater State University alumni Harvard College alumni Harvard Divinity School alumni Leicester Academy alumni American Unitarian clergy 19th-century Unitarian clergy 20th-century Unitarian clergy National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry Burials at Brookdale Cemetery 20th-century American clergy 19th-century American clergy