Lineage Society Commemorates Colonial Clergy

Early Church Leaders Were Community Founders

Apr 3, 2009

Jonathan Edwards, Colonial Theologian, Public Domain

A lineage society commemorates colonial clergy for their roles as founders and leaders of the first American communities.

The first clergy in America led bands of followers across the Atlantic and remained leaders in every area of life until communities organized the structures of local government. Clergy served in varying roles—as educators, judges and heads of government—during America’s formative years.

Descendants Form Society in 1933

The Society of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy was incorporated in 1933 to cherish and maintain the memory of America’s first clergy. This organization continues to perpetuate the spirit of the religious freedom they sought.

The society also keeps track of churches they served and observes anniversaries of churches and events that date back to this group of founding fathers.

Publications

In addition, this society of their descendants collects and preserves documents, histories and biographical sketches relating to both the colonial clergy and the churches they served, as well as the genealogical data presented in the lineages papers of applicants for membership.

One of the society’s largest projects was a series of books on the colonial clergy written by the late Frederick Lewis Weiss. It has also published Pedigrees of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, which is updated at intervals.

Membership Requirements

Applicants must have a proven and lawful lineal descent from a regularly ordained clergyman whose church was within the limits of the thirteen colonies prior to July 4, 1776. Acceptance to membership is by the society’s National Council.

Persons who feel they meet these requirements may write to the Society of the Descendants of Colonial Clergy, 17 Lowell Mason Rd., Medfield, MA 02052-1709.

References

The following books, which list colonial clergy and pedigrees of their descendants, are recommended for people considering society membership:

Meade, (Bishop) William, Old Churches and Families of Virginia, 2 vols. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1995 reprint)
Weis, Frederick Lewis, The Colonial Clergy and the Colonial Churches of New England (Lancaster, MA: Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, 1936)
Weis, Frederick Lewis, The Colonial Clergy of Maryland, Delaware and Georgia (Lancaster, MA: Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, 1950)
Weis, Frederick Lewis, The Colonial Clergy of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina (Boston, MA: Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, 1955)
Weis, Frederick Lewis, The Colonial Clergy of the Middle Colonies: New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, 1628-1776. (Baltimore: Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, 1978)
Townsend, Dr. Leah, South Carolina Baptists, 1670-1805) (Baltimore: Clearfield Co., 1978; reprint)
Pedigrees of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy. Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, 1976.
1978 Supplement to the Pedigrees of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy (Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, 1978)
Pedigrees of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy (Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, 1987)

(Companion articles present lines of descent from two colonial clergymen: Rev. Peter Bulkley and Rev. Peter Prudden.)

The copyright of the article Lineage Society Commemorates Colonial Clergy in Genealogy is owned by Rosemary E. Bachelor. Permission to republish Lineage Society Commemorates Colonial Clergy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.