Rev. Aaron Bancroft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Bancroft

Aaron Bancroft (November 10, 1755 – August 19, 1839) was an American clergyman. He was born in Reading, Massachusetts to Samuel Bancroft and Lydia Parker.

He began his studies during the American Revolution, and served as a minuteman, and was present, at the battles of both Lexington and Bunker Hill. He graduated from Harvard in 1778 and subsequently taught, studied theology and spent three years as a missionary in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. In 1785 he settled in Worcester as pastor of the Congregational church, and remained in the same post until his death. During the middle of his life his theological views leant toward Arminianism and by his advocacy of liberalism he became a noted leader in the early period of the Unitarian schism. He published a eulogy of George Washington in, 1800 and wrote a subsequent biography of Washington in 1807. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1805. Although president of the American Unitarian Association, he adhered to the name and system of Congregationalism until his death in Worcester, Massachusetts.

His son was George Bancroft, American historian, United States Secretary of the Navy and United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Works

Bancroft, Aaron. Life of George Washington Commander in Chief of the American Army Through the Revolutionary War, and the First President of the United States. London: Printed for J. Stockdale, 1808.

Dr. Aaron Bancroft

Birth: Nov. 10, 1755 Reading Middlesex County Massachusetts, USA

Death: Aug. 18, 1839 Worcester Worcester County Massachusetts, USA

From the "Massachusetts Spy," (Worcester, MA), 21 Aug 1839: Died - In this town, on the 19th inst., Aaron Bancroft, D. D., Pastor of the Second (Unitarian) Congregational Church, in the 84th year of his age..... Dr. Bancroft was born at Reading, Mass., on the 10th of Nov. 1755. He graduated at Harvard University in 1778, was settled as pastor of the Second Congregational Church and Society, the first after his organization, was on the 1st of Feb 1785, a station which he filled with uncommon satisfaction to the people, until the time of his death, a period of more than half a century.

Family links: Spouse: Lucretia Chandler Bancroft (____ - 1839)

Children: Eliza Bancroft Davis (1791 - 1872)* George Bancroft (1800 - 1891)* Lucretia Bancroft Farnum (1803 - 1887)*

Note: age 83 years, 9 months, 11 days

Burial: Worcester Rural Cemetery Worcester Worcester County Massachusetts, USA

Find A Grave Memorial# 66031917

GEDCOM Source

@R50316840@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=105978171&pi...