Samuel Danforth II
Samuel Danforth II was an influential figure in 17th-century New England, known for his diverse contributions as a pastor, educator, and community leader. Born in 1663, he attended Harvard University, graduating in 1683, and followed in his family's footsteps by entering the ministry. In 1688, he became the pastor of a church in Taunton, Massachusetts, where he also made significant impacts outside the pulpit. Danforth was dedicated to improving his community through various initiatives, including operating a gristmill and educating Native American children.
He authored an unofficial dictionary while working with Indigenous peoples, showcasing his engagement with different cultures. A man of many talents, Danforth combined his theological interests with scientific inquiry, particularly in astronomy, evident in his first almanac. He was also known for his writings, which often included elegies for friends and reflections on moral issues, particularly concerning alcoholism. Samuel Danforth II passed away in 1727, leaving behind a legacy that continued through his children in the Taunton community.
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Subject Terms
Samuel Danforth II
Writer
- Born: December 18, 1666
- Birthplace: Roxbury, Massachusetts
- Died: November 14, 1727
- Place of death: Taunton, Massachusetts
Biography
Born six years after his older brother John, Samuel Danforth II followed in the family tradition by attending Harvard University, where he earned a degree in 1683. Additionally, he entered into ministry as his father and brother had done, becoming a pastor in Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1688. That very same year he married Hannah Allen of Boston, with whom he had a total of fourteen children.
While in Taunton, Danforth bettered his community in a number of ways, operating a gristmill, educating Native American children, and serving as a local legal and medical authority. In the course of dealing with the Indians, he even wrote an unofficial dictionary that was never published. Like his brother John, Samuel Danforth II was well acquainted with numerous sciences, and his first almanac reflected both his theological and astronomical expertise in deciphering the signs God was sending throughout the universe. Other writings by Danforth were primarily elegies of close friends of his, particularly Thomas Leonard, who had shared his interests in medicine and law. As a preacher, he was famed for his piety and efforts to curtail drunkenness, even writing at times on the dangers of alcoholism and the biblical evidence against it. He passed away in 1727 at the age of sixty, leaving behind ten of his fourteen still-living children in Taunton, where he had spent nearly his whole adult life.