Reverend Benjamin Brigham

1741 - 1799  (58 years)  Submit Photo / Document

• Name	Benjamin Brigham
  Title	Reverend
  Born	11 Mar 1741	Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  		Marlborough Births 36. "Vital records of Marlborough, Massachusetts to the Year End 1849" Published by Franklin P. Rice Publishing, Worcester, Massachusetts 1908. Page 36.
  Gender	Male
  Biographical Information	In 1764 He graduated from Harvard College, A. B., In 1770 he received an urgent call from the church in Fitzwilliam to become its pastor. He was to receive two lots of land of 100 acres each, and two other lots were to be reserved for the use of the minister. He was to receive eighty pounds in money and an annual salary of £53 6s. 8d., from time of acceptance for three years, then an additional sum yearly until it had reached £66 13s. 4d. He accepted, and spent the rest of his life in charge of this church. He was a man of fine character and a minister who preserved harmony in his parish. Several of his manuscript sermons are extant. He was Representative to Exeter Provincial Congress, 1775. He was interred in the central part of the old graveyard in Fitzwilliam, and in 1809 the town appropriated $20 to buy gravestones for him. Gazetteer of Cheshire County, New Hampshire 1736-1885. p. 163 The Orthodox Congregational church, located at Fitzwilliam village, was organized in 1771. During the autumn and winter of 1768, Rev. Nehemiah Parker supplied the people of Fitzwilliam with preaching. In November, 1770, Rev. Benjamin Brigham, of Marlboro, Mass., who had graduated at Harvard, in 1764, received an invitation to settle here, and in January of the following year, gave an affirmative answer to the call. March 27, 1771, was appointed for his ordination, and on that day the Congregational church was organized, with six members, viz.: Benjamin Brigham, Benjamin Bigelow, John Fassitt, Nathaniel Wilder, Caleb Winch, and James Reed. These services were held at the public house, the church building being in an unfinished state, and thus unfit for the purpose. This building, a wooden structure, stood opposite the present cemetery. A second building was put up in 1816, and was struck by lightning and burned on the night of January 17th, of that year. The next building was put up in 1817, a fourth in 1832, which was burned in January, 1857, and was succeeded by the present edifice. It is a neat structure, capable of seating 400 persons, cost $4,000.00, and is valued, including grounds, etc., a $6,000.00. The society now has 132 members, and a Sabbath-school of 120 pupils, with Rev. John Colby, pastor. Mr. Colby was born in York, Me., October 1, 1821, pursued a course at Gilmanton academy, graduated from Dartmouth in 1852, and from Andover in 1855. Before entering college he learned and followed for some years the printer's trade, and was connected with the Morning Star, a Freewill Baptist publication, at Dover, His first pastorate was at Hampton, N. H., in 1855, and he has been located here since 1873. He was school commissioner in Rockingham county, in 1862, '63 and '64, and is Fitzwilliam's representative for 1885'86. He married Helen L. Barden, of Dover, May 14, 1856, and has two daughters, Annie L., a teacher, who graduated at Wellesley in 1880, and Helen R.
  Library book: History of the Brigham Family	121
  Occupation	Reverend, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire
  		Rev Benjamin Franklin Brigham. The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 by Rev. John F Norton and Joel Whittemore, Burr Printing House, New York, 1888.
  Died	5 Jun 1799	Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire
  		Benjamin Franklin Brigham Death. The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 by Rev. John F Norton and Joel Whittemore, Burr Printing House, New York, 1888.
  Buried	14 Jun 1799	Fitzwilliam Village Cemetery, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States
  Siblings	7 siblings
  1. Caleb Brigham,   b. 20 Nov 1743, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 13 Sep 1829
  2. Benajah Brigham,   b. 15 Mar 1745, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 7 Dec 1822
  3. Hannah Brigham,   b. 1 May 1748, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 14 Jan 1815
  4. Gershom Brigham,   b. 27 Jun 1750, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 22 Oct 1817, Fayston, Washington, Vermont
  5. Warren Brigham,   b. 16 Nov 1753, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 10 Jan 1840
  6. Lydia Brigham,   b. 28 Feb 1758, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 12 Aug 1763
  7. Levinah Brigham,   b. 2 Sep 1760, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I187	Nagel
  Last Modified	27 Dec 2017

  
  

  Father	Benjamin Brigham,   b. 19 Feb 1714, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Hannah Merril,   b. 29 Jan 1715, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts
  Relationship	Birth
  Married	9 Mar 1740	Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
  Family ID	F68	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Lucy Morse,   b. 25 Apr 1740, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire ,   d. 22 Apr 1793, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire  (Age 52 years)
  Married	6 Jun 1771	Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  		Benjamin Brigham-Lucy Morse Marriage. Benjamin Brigham-Lucy Morse Marriage. Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts records.
  Children	1. Lucinda Brigham,   c. 22 Mar 1772  [Birth]   2. Lucy Brigham,   c. 13 Jun 1773   3. Benjamin Franklin Brigham,   b. 1775, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire ,   d. 13 Oct 1801, Colchester, Chittenden, Vermont  (Age 26 years)  [Birth]   4. Elisha Brigham,   c. 1 Aug 1779, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire  [Birth]
  Family ID	F65	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Puah Fisher,   b. 14 Dec 1744, Medway, Norfolk, Massachusetts ,   d. 4 Feb 1821, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire  (Age 76 years)
  Family ID	F67	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 11 Mar 1741 - Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts Married - 6 Jun 1771 - Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts Died - 5 Jun 1799 - Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire Buried - 14 Jun 1799 - Fitzwilliam Village Cemetery, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set