Nathaniel Hewit (1788-1867) was an American clergyman.
Early life and education
Hewit, the son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Avery) Hewit, was born in
New London, Conn., on August 28, 1788.
He graduated from
Yale College
Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...
in 1808.
He commenced a course of legal studies in the office of Hon.
Lyman Law, of New London, but soon altered his plans. He then taught in the Academy at
Plainfield, Conn., and there studied theology with Rev. Joel Benedict, D. D.
Career
He was licensed to preach by the New London County Association, Sept. 24, 1811, and supplied several congregations in Vermont and elsewhere. After about six months at the
Andover Theological Seminary
Andover Theological Seminary (1807–1965) was a Congregationalist seminary founded in 1807 and originally located in Andover, Massachusetts on the campus of Phillips Academy.
From 1908 to 1931, it was located at Harvard University in Cambrid ...
, in the class of 1814, he was ordained Pastor of the
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
Church in
Plattsburg, N. Y., July 5, 1815, and dismissed Oct. 2,1817, being driven southward by the severity of the climate. In Jan. 1818. he was installed over the First
Congregational
Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christianity, Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice Congregationalist polity, congregational ...
Church in
Fairfield, Conn., as successor of Rev. Dr.
Heman Humphrey. While in this charge, he became prominent as an able
Temperance advocate, and in 1827 he labored extensively in behalf of the
American Temperance Society, formed the year before in Boston. In Nov., he was appointed to a three years mission for this Society, and was accordingly dismissed from his pastorate, Dec. 18. His successful efforts during this time, well entitled him to be called the "
Luther of the early Temperance Reformation." Dec. 1, 1830, he was installed over the Second Congregational Church in
Bridgeport, Conn., a parish adjacent to his former one. The summer of 1831 was spent in England, on the errand of the Temperance Reform.
In 1833, Dr. Hewit (he received the degree of D. D. from
Amherst in 1830) was prominent among the founders of the East Windsor Theological Institute, now the
Hartford Seminary
The Hartford International University for Religion and Peace (formerly Hartford Seminary) is a private theological university in Hartford, Connecticut.
History
Hartford Seminary's origins date back to 1833 when the Pastoral Union of Connecti ...
. In 1853, a difference in his Society, in regard to the course to be taken in procuring assistance for the pastor, resulted in his withdrawal, and the formation of an
Old School
Old school, Old School, or Old Skool may refer to:
Computers and gaming
*Old school gaming or retrogaming, playing and collecting obsolete computer, video, and arcade games
* Old School Renaissance, a trend in tabletop gaming
*''Old School RuneS ...
Presbyterian Church over which he was installed Oct. 31. Here he continued preaching until a colleague was settled, about five years ago.
Personal life
His first wife, Rebecca Woolsey, daughter of Hon.
James Hillhouse, of
New Haven
New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...
, died Jan. 4, 1831, after 14 years of marriage; ten months later he married his second wife, Miss Susan Eliot, daughter of Rev.
Andrew Eliot
Andrew Eliot (1718 – 1778) was a prominent Boston Congregational minister of the New North Church (now St. Stephen's in Boston's North End). He graduated from Harvard University in 1737 and received his masters in 1740. During the Siege of Bost ...
, of Fairfield.
She died May 1, 1857. Of seven children, two sons and a daughter by his first wife survived him.
He died in
Bridgeport, Conn. on February 3, 1867, aged 78 years.
The discourse preached at his funeral, by
Prof. Lyman H. Atwater, D. D., was published.
His letters are held at the New Haven Colony Historical Society.
References
External links
University of Pennsylvania website, ''List of Books by Hewit, Nathaniel, 1788-1867''''The life and character of Nathaniel Hewit, D.D. : a discourse preached at his funeral, in the Presbyterian Church, Bridgeport, Conn., February 6, 1867''*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hewit, Nathaniel
1788 births
1867 deaths
Yale College alumni
People from New London, Connecticut
Andover Newton Theological School alumni
American Presbyterian ministers
American Congregationalist ministers