User:WilyD/William Case/William Case

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William Case

William Case with Eliza Barnes Case.

William Case (August 27, 1780 - October 19, 1855) was a Methodist missionary and teacher.

Born in Swansea, Massachusetts to farmers of modest means, Case's boyhood is not well recorded.[1] His family moved to central New York at some point during his childhood. Case converted to Methodism in February 1803.[2] He was active in the church, as an exhorter, then local preacher, and was recommended for membership in the New York Conference in 1805 and taken on trial for the ministry. Case volunteered to be circuit rider for the Bay of Quinte circuit.[3] He rode the circuit with Nathan Bangs. In 1805, there was little Methodist presence in the Circuit. No Methodist society existed in Kingston, and they were forced to preach in the market. Case proved a popular preacher here, especially with young people. His good looks, wit and friendly manner endeared him to residents. Both he and Bangs were talented singers, a talent which they put to great use in the preaching. Whenever they rode into a town, they would gather a crowd by walking through the streets singing hymns, before preaching and exhorting.[4] During Case's time in the Bay of Quinte, the first camp meeting in Canada was held there, near Adolphustown. Other preachers present at the meeting were Nathan Bangs, Henry Ryan, Daniel Pickett, Sylvanus Keeler and Thomas Madden.[5] More than 2500 people attended the camp meeting.[6] That year, owing in large part to the successful camp meeting, 187 people in Upper Canada converted to Methodism, with 146 in the Bay of Quinte Circuit, increasing the total number of Methodists in Canada to approximately 2375.[7]

In 1806 he was transferred to the Oswegatchie circuit, where he laboured under Gershom Pearse.[8] At the 1807 conference near Albany, New York, Case was ordained a deacon.[9] After two years in the wilderness of Upper Canada, Case requested an easier assignment, hoping to be assigned to a city. He was instead assigned to Ulster County, New York, to his dismay. His experience there was positive, however, as he was mentored by Elias Vanderlip, and he would later recall the appointment positively. The 1808 conference assigned case back to Upper Canada, as he rode the circuit of Ancaster.[10] Case was assigned the circuit of Detroit in 1809.[11] After five years old riding circuits, Case was promoted to Presiding Elder of the Cayuga district, covering New York.[12] He stayed on for two years, the spent two years as Presiding Elder of the Oneida district, and one as Presiding Elder of the Chenango district.[13] In 1810, a letter from Case to Bishop Francis Asbury was published in the Methodist Magazine. At this point, Case abandoned his journal, and began writing regular reports on the progress of Methodists in Upper Canada and the north-west United States.[14]

After the conclusion of the War, the 1815 conference assigned Case to Canada once again.[15] Having risen in the Methodist ranks, he was named the Presiding Elder for Upper Canada. The following year, he switched jobs with Henry Ryan, Presiding Elder of Lower Canada.[16] He kept that position after the 1817 conference.[17]

Case was made superintendent of Indian schools and missions in Upper Canada in 1828.

In 1837, he was made head of the Wesleyan industrial school for Indians in Alnwic, Ontario. He stayed in that position until 1851.[18]

Contemporaries

  1. William Losee
    1. Links needed to Elder Garrettson; who is this? And Darius Dunham.

James Aikens

James Aikens was a Methodist circuit rider.

Aikens was born in Ireland in 1778, and came to the United States in 1792. Aikens' family settled in Pennsylvania, where he converted to Methodism in 1795. He was accepted on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1801, and assigned to the Oswegotchie Circuit. In successive years, he worked the following circuits: Northumberland, Northampton, St. Martins, Accomack, Milford, Cambridge, Somerset, Bristol, Cecil, Talbot, Accomack, Milford, New-Mills, Freehold, Asbury, Trenton, Freebond, Hamburg, Salem and Bergin. Bergin was the circuit in rode in 1823. He died at the house of John Theel, on 1823.[19]

William Anson

William Anson was a Methodist circuit rider.

Anson was born in the United States, but after being received on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1800, his first assignment was to Canada, where he rode the Bay of Quinte Circuit. His senior colleage on the circuit was Sylvanus Keeler. He remained in Canada the next year, but was moved to the Oswegotchie Circuit, with James Aikens as his assistant. In 1802 he was assigned to Grand Isle, in the American part of Lake Champlain. In 1803 he was moved to Vergennes Circuit.[20] He returned to Canada in 1805, riding the Home District.[21] He returned to his native United States in 1806, riding the Pitsfield Circuit. Following this, he rode the South Britain Circuit in 1807. At the 1808 conference, he was made Presiding Elder of the Ashgrove District, a position he remained in through 1811. He spent 1812 and 1813 as Presiding Elder of the Rhinebeck District. He bounced around as a superintendent after this, in the circuits of Duchess, Rhinebeck, Saratoga, Pittstown, Chatham, Hudson and Pittsfield through 1822. [22]

Anson was declared a supernumerary in 1823, but was placed in charge of Ballstown Spa and Saratoga Springs. These were light duties, and Anson had another supernumerary preacher as a colleage. He remained in this position through 1838. He was superannuated in 1839, and died in 1848.[22]

Nathan Bangs

Nathan Bangs was a Methodist circuit rider.

Bangs was born in New England in 1779 and was educated at a common-school. His father attempted to give Bangs a classical education himself, but this did not take. His father subsequently taught him surveying. Around 1792 the family moved to the Delaware River valley area of New York. There he was exposed to travelling Methodist preachers, and he converted to Methodism, along with his mother and siblings. Three of his brothers would become Methodist preachers.[23]

Bangs left New York on May 9, 1799, travelling to Upper Canada. There he intended to find work as a surveyor, as there was much demand for surveying in Upper Canada. Bangs travelled with his sister and her husband. He settled around Niagara, where he became a class leader in the local Methodist class. In 1801, he worked as an assistant to Joseph Sawyer, a local circuit rider.[24] Bangs was received on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1802.[23] The former Niagara district was split in two that year, with Bangs assigned to the new Long Point circuit. The 1803 conference assigned him to Bay of Quinte and the Home district. He travelled to the 1804 conference in New York City where he was ordained a Deacon and an Elder, and taken into full connexion. He was assigned to River la French. He wandered as far as Detroit, preaching not only to Christians, but also unconverted Indians and white settlers who had never heard a sermon.[25]

Luthar Bishop

Luthar Bishop was a Methodist circuit rider.

His place of birth is unknown. Bishop was received on trial in 1803, and assigned to the Oswegotchie circuit as assistant to Vannest. In 1804 he was assigned to be Daniel Pickett's assistant, riding the Niagara and Long Point circuits. In 1805 he rode the Long Point circuit, this time alone.[26] He was moved to Smith's Creek in 1806.[27]

Michael Coate

Michael Coate was a Methodist circuit rider.

Coate was born in Burlington County, New Jersey in 1767.[28] His family were Quakers, but converted to Methodism in his youth, being the first family in their area to do so. His brother Samuel was received on trial in 1794, and that year Michael began exhorting. Michael was received on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1795, and was made a circuit rider on the Columbia Circuit of New York. He stayed on that circuit in 1796. In 1797, he was put on the Middletown Circuit of Connecticut. In 1798, he was volunteered to ride in Upper Canada, after being encouraged by his brother, and was assigned to the Niagara Circuit.[29]

At the 1799 annual conference, Coate was ordained an Elder, and appointed to New York City. He rode the Pittsfield and Whitingham Circuit in Massechusetts in 1800. He was assigned to New York City again at the 1801 conference. He rode the New London Circuit in Connecticut in 1802. He was returned to New York City in 1803 and 1804. While in New York, he married Mehetabel Briggs. He was moved to Philidelphia in 1805, and remained there in 1806. In both 1807 and 1808 he was assigned to Baltimore, and Philidelphia again in 1809. He last year of circuit riding was 1810, when he rode the Burlington Circuit around his New Jersey birthplace.[29]

In 1811, Coate was made Presiding Elder of the West Jersey District. He remained in that position through 1814.[29] Around the time of the 1814 annual conference, Coate took ill. He died August 1, 1814.[30]

Samuel Coate

Samuel Coate was a Methodist preacher.

Born in Burlington, New Jersey to Quaker parents, Coate's family converted to Methodism in his youth. Coate was received on trial as a circuit rider in 1794, and rode the Flanders tract. The next year he was stationed in Albany, New York. In 1796, he was assigned to circuits in Canada, where he remained for four years. There he was remarkably successful. In 1800 he was assigned to Burlington, New Jersey. His circuit for 1801 was Philidelphia. In 1802 he was assigned to Baltimore. He stayed there until a return to Canada in 1804. Here he was married to a Miss Dulmage, possibly previously.[31]

James Coleman

James Coleman was a Methodist preacher.

Coleman was born October 30, 1766 in Black River township, New Jersey. His parents were Presbyterians, and he was raised in that religion.[32] In 1777, the family moved across the Allegheny Mountains to Monongahela. Here Coleman was exposed to little religion, beyong "some vague notions of the providence of God". During the 1780s, Methodist circuit riders began to frequent the area, and Coleman eagerly attended sermons. Sometime in the 1780s, Coleman was drafted into military service for ongoing conflicts with local Indians. He refused to comply, and obtained a preaching licence. He told his captain of this, who told him if he wanted to preach, he would have to do so in the army. An officer and two or three other men were sent to seize him, but after hearing him preach, declined to do so.[33]

In 1791, Coleman was received on trial for the Methodist itinerary. That year he was assigned as a rider on the Redstone circuit. In 1792, he was assigned to the Litchfield circuit, in New York.[33] In 1793, he was assigned to ride the Fairfield circuit in New York. In 1794, he was moved to the Upper Upper Canada circuit. In 1795, he was moved to the Oswegotchie circuit, covering the eastern part of Upper Canada. The record of his assignment in 1796 has been lost, but in 1797 he was assigned to the Niagara circuit, where Michael Coate was his assistant. In 1798 he rode the Niagara circuit alone.[34] He returned to New York, where he served as a circuit rider until 1824, when poor health resulted in him being declared superannuated at the annual conference.[35]

Coleman died February 5, 1842 in Ridgefield, Connecticut.[36]

Seth Crowell

Seth Crowell was a Methodist circuit rider.

Crowell was born in Toland, Connecticut in 1781. His family moved to Chatham, Connecticut in 1783, where Crowell was raised. He converted to Methodism in 1797. He began exhorting at some point, then in 1801 was accepted on trial for the Methodist itinerary. He volunteered to be sent to Canada, and was assigned to the Niagara Circuit in 1801. In 1802 he was assigned to the Oswegotchie and Ottawa Circuit, but during the year some re-arrangements took place, and he spent some time around the Bay of Quinte. There, with his short stature and boyish looks he acquired the nickname Little Crowell.[37] In 1803 he was ordained a Deacon and made an Elder, then assigned to the Fletcher Circuit. In 1804, he was assigned to the Brandon Circuit. In 1805, he was assigned to the Albany Circuit, and in 1806 to the City of New York. He spent 1807 has a missionary in the New York Conference, and in 1808 he was stationed in Schenectday. In 1809 he was declared supernumerary, and the same the next year. He returned to work in 1811, as Presiding Elder of Chatham. He was moved to the Reading Circuit in 1812. Still in ill health, he was declared superannuated in 1813. He returned to work in 1816, however, as a missionary in the New York Conference. He spent 1817 and 1818 as a circuit rider in New York City, and was located there in 1819. He stayed then in New York City until his death on July 6, 1824.[38]

Samuel Draper

Samuel Draper was a Methodist circuit rider.

Draper was accepted on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1801. He was assigned to the Bay of Quinte Circuit. After one year riding in Canada, he returned to the New York conference, where he rode circuits until his death in 1824. He rode the Cambridge Circuit from 1819 - 1823.[39]

Darius Dunham

Darius Dunham was a Methodist circuit rider. His blunt style earnt him the nickname "Scolding Dunham". Dunham was known as a pious and witty man, too. On one occasion he was chastised by a new magistrate for riding a fine horse when his predecessor had ridden a donkey. Dunham agreed with the magistrate's assessment, and that he would ride a donkey, but that the task of finding one was difficult as the "government having made up all the asses into magistrates!"[40]

Dunham received an education in sciences, but decided to pursue a career in the priesthood instead. In 1788 he was received on trial, and assigned the newly created Shoreham circuit to ride. In 1789 he rode the Cambridge circuit, and in 1790 he was ordained a deacon. He remained on the Cambridge circuit that year.[41] He rode the Columbia circuit in 1791. He was ordained a deacon in 1792, and was assigned to ride the Cataraqui circuit, centred on Kingston.[42] Both he and William Losee, another circuit rider on the neighbouring Oswegotchie circuit courted Elizabeth Detlor of Fredericksburgh. Detlor married Dunham, and the grief drove Losee out of the service.[43] Dunham was not assigned any circuits in 1793-1794. In 1794-1795, Dunham was made the presiding Elder of the Lower Canada circuit, with one other circuit rider under him, James Coleman.[44] He was bounced around various Upper Canada and Lower Canada circuits until 1800.

At the New York conference in 1800, Dunham was "located", after 12 years of circuit riding.[45]He settled near Napanee, Upper Canada.[46]

Reuben Harris

Reuben Harris was a Methodist circuit rider.

Harris was born in Canterbury, Connecticut in 1776. Harris converted to Methodism in 1800. Upon his conversion, he began to study its teachings quite diligently, and was licensed as a local preacher on November 26, 1802.[47] He was accepted on trial for the Methodist itinerary at the 1803 conference and volunteered to ride a circuit in Upper Canada. The 1804 conference returned him to Upper Canada. At the 1805 conference, he was received into full connexion, and ordained a deacon. He was assigned to the Brandon Circuit in Vermont. He rode the Fletcher Circuit in 1806. He was ordained a Elder at the 1807 conference, and assigned to the Middletown Circuit in Connecticut.[48]

Harris continued circuit riding in New York and New England through 1823. That year he was declared supernumerary at the Methodists' annual conference. He returned to active service in 1829, and was again declared supernumerary in 1834. He was superannuated in 1839, and moved to Chardon, Ohio, where he did odd preaching as his health permitted. He died February 15, 1844.[48]

James Herron

James Herron was a Methodist circuit rider.

Herron was received on trial in 1799, and assigned to the Chester and Strasbourgh Circuit in the Philidelphia District. He was assigned to the Oswegotchie Circuit in 1800, as the assistant to Joseph Jewell. Jewell suffered some malady of his leg, and in 1801 was sent to the Dorchester Circuit, where the travel would be less stressful. He rode other circuits within the Delaware and Eastern Shore District through 1805. When the Philidelphia Conference was organized in 1805, Herron was transferred to it, but generally rode the same area he had previously, riding circuits in Newburgh, New Jersey Tioga, Annamessex, Duck Creek, Accomack, Dorchester, Somersett, Annamessex, Milford and Accomack, in order. He was appointed Presiding Elder of the Susquehanna District in 1808. He was located in 1814, likely having married about this time.[49]

Samuel Howe

Samuel Howe was a Methodist circuit rider.

Born in Belcher, Massechusetts in 1781, Howe moved with his family to Decatur, New York in 1798. He soon became involved with the Methodist church there. Showing a talent for public speaking, he began exhorting soon after his conversion. Excelling at this, he was licensed to preach as a local preacher. He was received on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1802, and assigned to western New York. The next year he was assigned to the Long Point and Niagara Circuit of Upper Canada. At the 1804 conference, he was ordained a deacon and assigned to the Ottawa Circuit. He returned to the United States the next year, riding the Fletcher Circuit in Vermont. He was ordained an Elder in 1806, and remained on the Fletcher Circuit. He moved to the Scenectady Circuit in 1807, the Albany Circuit in 1808, the Mongomery Circuit in 1809, the Cambridge Circuit in 1810 and the Brandon Circuit in 1811. Due to family troubles, he was returned superannuated in 1812, but resumed circuit riding in 1813, on the Middlebury Circuit.[50] In 1814, he rode the Pitstown Circuit. After this, Saratoga in 1815; Middlebury in 1816; New York City in 1817 and 1818; Rhinebeck in 1819 and 1820; Montgomery in 1821; Saratoga in 1822 and 1823; Cambridge in 1824 and 1825; Chatham in 1826 and 1827; Pitstown in 1828 and 1829 and the Lee Circuit in 1830. He was superannuated in 1831, unable to continue riding circuits. He died February 16, 1858 at the funeral of an old friend.[51]

Joseph Jewell

Joseph Jewell was a Methodist circuit rider.

Jewell was born in Ireland, but immigrated to the United States as a child. His family settled in Pennsylvania, where he converted to Methodism. He was received on trial as a circuit rider in 1795. His first circuit was the Dover Circuit. Records are lost of his activives in 1796-1798, but at the 1799 conference he was made an Elder. He was assigned to be Presiding Elder of the Canada District, where he remained through 1803. He returned to the United States, being stationed on the Lewiston Circuit in 1804, and appointed the superintendent of the Genesee District from 1805 - 1809. He organized the first camp-meeting in New York, which took place in his district in 1805.[52] Jewell was declared superannuated in 1808 and located in 1810.[53]

Sylvanus Keeler

Sylvanus Keeler was a Methodist preacher.

He converted to Methodism while living in Elizabethtown, Upper Canada. From a poor family, Keeler received no schooling, and was barely literate when he began preaching. He dedicated himself to learning to read and write. A shy speaker at first, with practice his speaking voice became clear and strong with practice. He was received on trial in 1795, and assigned the Bay of Quinte circuit to ride. For unknown reasons, he retired from the church after one year. However, it may have related to a marriage and the beginnings of his family. He was again received on trial in 1800, and stationed again on the Bay of Quinte circuit, where he was assigned again in 1801.[54] That year, he was received into full connexion. In 1802 he was assigned to the Oswagotchie and Ottawa circuits. These circuits were also ridden by Seth Crowell and Nehemiah U. Tomkins. In 1803, he rode the Long Point and Niagara circuits. In 1804 he rode Quinte again, and in 1805 Oswagotchie, by then free of Ottawa.[55] In 1806 he returned to the United States, riding the St. Lawrence Circuit in New York.[27]

Thomas Madden

Thomas Madden was a Methodist circuit rider.

Born in 1780 in Cambridge, New York, Madden's family moved to Earnestown, Upper Canada in 1789. During a visit to his hometown of Cambridge in 1797, to visit old friends, he was exposed to Methodist preachers. While there, he converted, becoming deeply pious. Returning to Upper Canada, he began exhorting, then preaching locally, before being accepted on trial by the New York conference in 1802. That year, he was assigned to ride the Long Point circuit, with Nathan Bangs.[56] In 1803 he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte circuit. At the 1804 conference he was ordained a Deacon and an Elder, and assigned to the Oswegotchie circuit. At the 1805 conference, a new circuit was creaked around Smith's Creek, and Elder William Case assigned Madden to it.[57] In 1806, he was moved to the Long Point Circuit.[27]

Samuel Merwin

Samuel Merwin was a Methodist circuit rider.

After working as a local preacher for several years, Merwin was accepted on trial by the New York Conference in 1800. He was assigned to ride the Long Island Circuit. In 1801, he was assigned to the Redding Circuit, and in 1802 the Adams Circuit. In 1803 he volunteered to ride in Canada and was assigned to Montreal. He remained in Montreal in 1804, but had little success in converting its inhabitants to Methodism.[58] He transfered to New York City in 1805, and rode circuits in the New York District, the Baltimore District, the Philidelphia District and the New England District until his death on January 13, 1839. In administrative tasks, he showed a great talent for resolving disputes and differences among the members of the church.[59]

Caleb Morris

Caleb Morris was a Methodist circuit rider.

Morris was received on trial in 1800, and assigned to the Herkimer Circuit, where he served as the assistant to Anthony Turk. The next year he was assigned to the Ottawa Circuit with John Robinson, his only forray into Canada. In 1802, he rode the Greenwich and Warren Circuit, and in 1803 he rode the Litchfield Circuit. He was ordained an Elder in 1804, and stationed at Cape May in the Philidelphia Conference. In 1805, he served as assistant to James Herron on the Dutch Creek Circuit. He spent 1807 as Presiding Elder on the St. Martins Circuit, and was located in 1808.[49]

George Neal

George Neal (ca. 1748 - ca. 1839) was a Methodist circuit rider.

Neal was born in the Southern United States in an Irish family. During the American Revolution, he fought as a loyalist, joining the cavalry as a major. After the revolution, he converted to Methodist and soon began working as a local preacher. He expressed interest in working as a travelling preacher, but ill health prvented this. In 1787 he travelled to Canada, preaching in the Niagara region. Neal received a poor welcome there, on occasion being assaulted by locals offended by his preaching against their behaviours. Despite the hostility, he begain laying the groundwork for future Methodist circuit riders to travel in Upper Canada.[60] Neal remained in Upper Canada, mostly in the Niagara region and the Long Point region until his death in 1839.[61]

Gersham Pearse

Gersham Pearse was a Methodist circuit rider.

Pearse's place of birth is unknown, but he grew up near New York City. He was received on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1803, and assigned to the Plattsburgh circuit. There he served as assistant to Henry Ryan. In 1804 he was assigned to the Fletcher circuit, as assistant to Samuel Draper. In 1805 he was given his own circuit to ride, Niagara.[57]

Robert Perry

Robert Perry was a Methodist circuit rider.

Born in Upper Canada in the Bay of Quinte area to United Empire Loyalist parents, Perry was received on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1805, and assigned to ride the Glengarry circuit, near Ottawa.[62] In 1806, he was moved to the Niagara Circuit.[63]

Andrew Prindle

Andrew Prindle was a Methodist circuit rider.

Prindle was born in the Prince Edward District of Upper Canada, on April 3, 1780. He received his education there. As one of the first white kids born in the province, there were no schools and no books. He began attending Methodist Churchs at age 16, but did not convert until age 18.[64] He was accepted on trial as a circuit rider in 1806, and assigned to the Ottawa Circuit.[65]

Daniel Pickett

Pickett was born and raised in the Canadas.

Pickett was received on trial as a circuit rider in 1800. He was assigned the Grand River circuit. In 1801 he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte circuit as assistant to Sylvanus Keeler. In 1802, he was assigned to the Niagara circuit, where he was the assistant to John Robinson. In 1803 he again rode the Grand River circuit, and in 1804 he was back on the Niagara circuit, which by then included Long Point. Luther Bishop was assignd to be his assistant during his second tour of Niagara.[66] In 1805, Pickett was a circuit rider on the Yonge Street circuit, under Elder Samuel Coate.[31] He remained on the Yonge Street Circuit in 1806.[8]

John Robinson

John Robinson was a Methodist circuit rider.

Robinson was born November 26, 1769 in Maryland. He was baptized by George Whitfield. Robinson converted to Methodism when he was nineteen. He was received on trial in 1789, the year after his conversion, but rode only for a single year. He was received on trial again in 1794, and assigned to ride the Freehold Circuit in New Jersey. He spent 1795 riding the Chester and Lancaster Circuit of Pennsylvania. He served as assistant to Solomon Sharpe in 1796, riding the Milford Circuit. He served with Anthony Turk on the Delaware Circuit in 1797, and rode the circuit the next year with William Vredenburg as his assistant. He rode the Dorchester Circuit in 1799, and the Mohawk Circuit in 1800.[67]

In 1801 Robinson volunteered to ride a circuit in Canada, and was assigned to the Ottawa Circuit, with Caleb Morris as his assistant. The next year he was moved to the Niagara Circuit, where Daniel Pickett served as his assistant.[67] Regarded as a talented preacher, Robinson was entrusted as Presiding Elder of the Upper Canada District at the 1803 convention. He was officially located at the 1804 convention. That year, however, his romantic interest fell serious ill, and Robinson neglected his duties to care for her. They married as soon as she was well, and settled on a farm provided by Robinson's father in law. There he preached locally. Robinson died in 1848 in Philidelphia.[68]

Martin Ruter

Martin Ruter was a Methodist circuit rider.

Ruter was born April 3, 1785 to religious parents in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Ruter showed an interest in a career as a preacher from a very young age, and in 1799 he joined the Methodist Church and began religious studies. He received a licence to exhort in the summer of 1800, after being examined by Reverend John Broadhead.[69] He travelled with Broadhead for a few months, exhorting while Broadhead preached, to gain a feeling for the role. He was licensed as a preacher in the fall, and rode the Wetherfeld Circuit in Vermont during the fall and winter of 1800. In June 1801, Ruter was accepted on trial for the Methodist itinerary at the New York Conference's annual meeting. He was assigned to ride the Chesterfield Circuit. In 1802 he was assigned to the Landhoff Circuit in New Hampshire. He was admitted as a Deacon in 1803, and assigned to the Adam Circuit. In 1804 he volunteered to ride a circuit in Canada, and was assigned to Montreal. He was ordained an Elder at the 1805 conference and assigned to the Bridgewater Circuit in New Hampshire. In 1806 he rode the Northfield Circuit. In 1807, he rode the Portsmouth and Nottingham Circuit.[70]

In 1808, Ruter was appointed to the Boston Circuit, and was elected a delegate to the first Delegated General Conference. In 1809 and 1810, he served as Presiding Elder of the New Hampshire District. The next year, he was in Portland, Maine, and in 1812 and 1813 he was located in North Yarmouth. He returned to circuit riding in 1814, on the North Yarmouth and Freeport Circuit. In 1815, he was assigned to Salisbury, Massachusetts. In 1816, he was in Baltimore and in 1817 he was in Philadelphia.[70]

Ruter was award a Master of Arts degree from Asbury College in Baltimore in 1818. The same year he was placed in charge of the New Market Wesleyan Academy. The next year he was assigned to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but remained at the Academy with the blessing of the Presiding Elder.[70]

At the 1820 annual conference, Ruter was elected to conduct the business of the Wesleyan Book Agency, a position he was re-elected to in 1824.[70] He was granted a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Transylvania University of Kentucky in 1822, without his knowledge. He was elected president of Augusta College in Kentucky. In order to remain active as a preacher, he requested and received a transfer to the Pittsburgh Conference, and preached in Pittsburgh in 1833 and 1834. He then went to Meadville, to preside over Alleghany College. He remained in that position through 1837. He resigned the position to take up a new position as the superintendent of a mission in Texas. After several months in Texas, of setting up schools and churches, and preaching and education, he was struck ill and forced to return to Washington, D.C. to find a physician to address his illness. They were unable to do anything for him, and he died May 16, 1838.[71]

Henry Ryan

Henry Ryan was a Methodist preacher.

Ryan was usually though to be of Irish descent, but his place of birth is unknown. His contemporaries referred to him as an Irishman on occasion, and he was probably born in Ireland. His speech was unaccented by American standards, however, and he likely immigrated to the United States while very young. He lived in the Province of New York, either Albany or New York City in his youth.[72]

Before his conversion to Methodism, Ryan was a stage boxer.[72] After his conversion to Methodism, Ryan worked as a local preacher in Duchess County, New York for more then three years before taking up circuit riding.[73]He was received on trial in 1800, and his first assigned circuit was Verginnis Circuit of Vermont, which he rode for two years. He then spent on year on the Fletcher Circuit, also in Vermont, and two on the Plattsburgh Circuit in New York.[74] In 1805, he rode the Bay of Quinte circuit with William Case, under the supervision of Elder Samuel Coate. He remained on the Bay of Quinte Circuit in 1806.[8]

Joseph Sawyer

Joseph Sawyer was a Methodist circuit rider.

Sawyer was born in New York City in 1771. He family was wealthy, and Sawyer received a good education. Sawyer was received on trial for the Methodist itineracy in 1797 and was assigned to the Saratoga Circuit, where he assisted Joel Ketchum. The next year he rode the Pittsfield Circuit. In 1799 his trial status ended and he was assigned to the Vergennes Circuit, where he was an assistant to Joseph Mitchell. On Vergennes, he also took forays into Lower Canada to preach.[75] Sawyer volunteered for an assigned in Canada in 1800, and was assigned to the Niagara Circuit. Preaching there, he converted Nathan Bangs to Methodism, who began serving as his assistant within the year.[75] He remained on the Niagara Circuit in 1801, with Seth Crowell as his assistant.[76] In 1802 he was moved to the Bay of Quinte Circuit, where he remained in 1803. He returned to New York in 1804, riding the Croton Circuit that year, and the New Rochelle Circuit in 1805.[77]

Sawyer was assigned to the role of Presiding Elder of the Lower Canada District in 1806. Being settled into a more permanent role, he married Chloe Bailey, the daughter of prominant Cornwall Methodist John Bailey.[78]

Nehemia U. Tompkins

Nehemia U. Tompkins was a Methodist circuit rider.

Tompkins was received on trial by the New York Conference in 1801. In 1802, he volunteered to ride a circuit in Upper Canada, and was assigned to the Oswegotchie Circuit. He returned to New York in 1803, where he rode circuits until he was located in 1809.[58]

Peter Vannest

Peter Vannest was a Methodist circuit rider.

Vannest was born August 5, 1759 in Bethlehem Township, New Jersey. Vannest moved with his family to Philidelphia in 1771. In Philidelpha, he was "powerfully awakened to a sense of sin", and lived in constant state of guilt. He first became interested in religion in 1780, but it was not until 1788 that he converted to Methodism. Vannest was in Bristol, England, and an acquaintence took him to a Methodist sermon by Thomas Warwick.[79] He began attending class meetings and after three years, he was appointed a class leader of a class in Bedminster. He began preaching locally, and returned to North America in 1796.[80]

When he returned to America, he was received on trial by the Philidelphia Conference, and assigned to the Salem Circuit in New Jersey. He had arrived later in the season, and did not travel the circuit. He did attend the 1797 conference in Duck Creek, and was again received on trial. He was assigned to ride the Middletown Circuit, alongside Michael Coate. He split his time in 1798 on the Middletown and Croton Circuits. In 1799, he rode the newly created Whitingham Circuit. In 1800 he rode the Fletcher Circuit, and in 1801 the New London Circuit. Both these circuits lead him to take occasional trips through Upper Canada. In 1802, he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte Circuit, in Upper Canada, and he was assigned to the Oswegotchie Circuit in 1803.[80] In 1804 he returned to New Jersey, and rode circuits in that district until his retirement in 1818.[81] He remained on the rolls of the superannuated until his death on October 18, 1851.[82]

Thomas Whitehead

Thomas Whitehead was a Methodist circuit rider.

Whitehead was born in 1762 in Duchess County, New York. Whitehead converted to Methodism in 1780, and was working as a local preacher in New York City and Albany by 1783.[63] At some point he was sent as a missionary to Nova Scotia, where his name appears in the Methodist records from 1791. Although records remain sparse from this period, his obituary indicates he remained in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick until 1806, when he moved to the New York Conference. Preachers from the British Conference had been displacing American ones in Nova Scotia. Coming to New York, Whitehead's six children made him a poor candidate for a circuit rider, and Bishop Asbury only accepted him into the conference on the condition that he travel to Upper Canada, to which he agreed. He travelled to the Niagara region of Upper Canada, and located his family in the hamlet of St. David's.[83]

Elijah Woolsey

Elijah Woolsey was a Methodist circuit rider.

Woolsey was accepted on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1793.[36] He rode the Cambridge circuit, in New York, that year. In 1794, he was transfered to the Lower Circuit in Upper Canada, covering the Bay of Quinte, Kingston and much of the surrounding area. The next year, he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte circuit, with Sylvanus Keeler as his assistant. In 1796, he returned to the United States, riding the Redding circuit in Connecticut before locating. He resumes circuit riding in 1800, however, spending a year on the Newburg circuit in New York, then two on the Flanders circuit of New Jersey.[84]

In 1803, Woolsey was appointed presiding Elder of the Albany district. He remained in that position until 1807, when he was moved to Brooklyn. After a year in Brooklyn, he resumed circuit riding, riding the Croton circuit in 1808. In 1809, he rode the Pitsfield Circuit in Massachusetts. After this, he spent 1810 and 1811 on the Duchess Circuit in New York, and 1812 on the Rhinebeck Circuit, also in New York. He returned to New England in 1813, riding the Middletown circuit, followed by the Stratford Circuit in 1814 and the Redding Circuit in 1815. He spent the next eight years riding circuits in New York; the Duchess Circuit, the Courtlandt Circuit, the Newburg Circuit, the Croton Circuit and the New Rochelle Circuit. He returned to New England in 1824, riding the Redding Circuit once again, and again in 1825. From 1826 through 1828 he was in charge of the New Rochelle Circuit in New York.[84]

At the 1829 conference he was declared a Supernumerary. Despite this, he rode circuits intermittenly, the Courtlandt Circuit for five years, then the Rochelle Circuit for four more. At the 1838 conference he was made a Superannuated vetern, and he retired permanently from circuit riding. He died in 1849.[84]

Calvin Wooster

Calvin Wooster was a Methodist circuit rider.

Born May 20, 1771, Wooster became a born again Christian December 1, 1791.[85] He was accepted on trial for the Methodist itinerary at the 1793 conference, and assigned to ride the Grandville Circuit in Massechussetts. In 1794, he was assigned to the Elizabeth Town Circuit in New Jersey, and in 1795 he was assigned to the Columbia Circuit in New York. In 1796, he volunteered to ride in Upper Canada, and was assigned to the Oswegotchie Circuit.[86] Although Wooster was a preacher of significant faith and fervor, he had a poor constitution, and after circuiting riding in Upper Canada through 1797, he returned to his parent home ill, and died November 6, 1798.[28]

Assignments

Year Lower Canada Presiding Elder Montreal Quebec Ottawa Missionary to the French
1806 Samuel Coate Samuel Coate Nathan Bangs Andrew Prindle William Snyder

Membership

1792 165[42]
1793 345[42]
1794 332[43]
1795 483
1796 474
1797 795
1798 899
1799 869
1800 996
1801 1159
1802 1502
1803 1600
1804 1649
1805 1787

References

  1. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office.
  2. ^ Carroll, volume 1, page 10
  3. ^ Carroll, volume 1, page 18
  4. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 112
  5. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 113
  6. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 115
  7. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 118
  8. ^ a b c Carroll, volume I, page 126 Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P126" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ Carroll, volume 1, page 141
  10. ^ Carroll, volume 1, page 154
  11. ^ Carroll, volume 1, page 180
  12. ^ Carroll, volume 1, page 203
  13. ^ Carroll, volume 1, page 314
  14. ^ "William Case". Stephen Plamondon.
  15. ^ Carroll, volume 2, page 2
  16. ^ Carroll, volume 2, page 36
  17. ^ Carroll, volume 2, page 91
  18. ^ "William Case, Pioneer Methodist Missionary". Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Heritage Community Foundation.
  19. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 63.
  20. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 64.
  21. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 65
  22. ^ a b Carroll, Volume I, page 66
  23. ^ a b Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 27.
  24. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 28
  25. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 29
  26. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 34.
  27. ^ a b c Carroll, volume I, page 125 Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P125" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  28. ^ a b Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 51. Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P51" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  29. ^ a b c Carroll, Volume I, page 52
  30. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 53
  31. ^ a b Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 19. Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P19" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  32. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 40.
  33. ^ a b Carroll, Volume I, page 41
  34. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 42
  35. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 43
  36. ^ a b Carroll, Volume I, page 44 Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P44" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  37. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 61.
  38. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 62
  39. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 59.
  40. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 38
  41. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 36
  42. ^ a b c Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 12.
  43. ^ a b Carroll, Volume I, page 13 Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P13" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  44. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 14
  45. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 15
  46. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 37
  47. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 71.
  48. ^ a b Carroll, Volume I, page 72
  49. ^ a b {{cite book | title = Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855 | last = Carroll | first = John | place = Toronto | publisher = Wesleyan Conference Office | date = 1867 | volume = I | pages = 67} Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P67" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  50. ^ {{cite book | title = Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855 | last = Carroll | first = John | place = Toronto | publisher = Wesleyan Conference Office | date = 1867 | volume = I | pages = 69}
  51. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 70
  52. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 57.
  53. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 58
  54. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 21.
  55. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 22
  56. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 32.
  57. ^ a b Carroll, Volume I, page 33 Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P33" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  58. ^ a b Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 83.
  59. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 84
  60. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 88.
  61. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 91
  62. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 35.
  63. ^ a b Carroll, volume I, page 131 Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P131" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  64. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 133.
  65. ^ Carroll, volume I, page 134
  66. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 26.
  67. ^ a b Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 55.
  68. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 56
  69. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 85.
  70. ^ a b c d Carroll, Volume I, page 86
  71. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 87
  72. ^ a b Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 23.
  73. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 24
  74. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 25
  75. ^ a b Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 119. Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P119" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  76. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 121
  77. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 123
  78. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 124
  79. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 73.
  80. ^ a b Carroll, Volume I, page 74
  81. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 80
  82. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 82
  83. ^ Carroll, volume I, page 132
  84. ^ a b c Carroll, Volume I, page 45
  85. ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 46.
  86. ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 47
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