Ebenezer Burgess facts for kids

Ebenezer Burgess (born April 1, 1790 – died December 5, 1870) was an important minister in Dedham, Massachusetts. He led the Allin Congregational Church for many years. He was also involved in education and a group that helped formerly enslaved people move to Africa.

About Ebenezer Burgess

Ebenezer Burgess was born in Wareham, Massachusetts, on April 1, 1790. He went to Brown University and graduated in 1809. Later, he studied at the Andover Theological Seminary. In 1835, he earned a special degree called a doctorate in divinity from Middlebury College.

On May 22, 1823, Burgess married Abigail Bromfield Phillips. Her father was Lt. Governor William Phillips Jr.. Ebenezer and Abigail lived with their family at the Broad Oak estate in Dedham. In 1839, Burgess built a new large house on the property. He also ran a large cattle farm there.

They had four children who lived to adulthood: Miriam Mason, Ebenezer Prince, Edward Phillips, and Martha Crowell. Burgess was known for being very kind. He was an ancestor of John K. Burgess. He was also the uncle of Samuel H. Walley through his wife, Abigail.

In 1862, he became a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Ebenezer Burgess passed away on December 5, 1870, in Dedham. He is buried in the Old Village Cemetery. His gravestone has many interesting details about his life.

Helping the American Colonization Society

Ebenezer Burgess traveled to Africa with Rev. Samuel J. Mills. They were working for the American Colonization Society. This group helped formerly enslaved people move to Africa to create a new colony called Liberia.

They sailed from Philadelphia on November 1, 1817. Burgess returned home on October 22, 1818. Sadly, Samuel Mills became sick on the way back and died at sea. Burgess continued to work with the American Colonization Society throughout his time as a minister.

His Career and Work

Before becoming a minister, Burgess taught at a high school in Providence, Rhode Island. He was also a tutor at Brown University from 1811 to 1813. From 1811 to 1817, he was a professor of mathematics and science at the University of Vermont.

He also helped start the Dedham Institution for Savings. He was its first president.

His Ministry in Dedham

After a big disagreement at the First Church and Parish in Dedham, Ebenezer Burgess became the pastor of the Allin Congregational Church. He officially started his duties on March 14, 1821.

During the time leading up to the Civil War, Burgess had different views on slavery than some people. He did not support the anti-slavery movement. The church also had separate seating for people of different races. This was a common practice at the time, but it is not acceptable today.

Sometimes, he invited visiting ministers from the southern United States to preach. Their sermons sometimes upset some church members. However, when President Joseph Jenkins Roberts of Liberia visited the United States, he often preached from the Allin Church pulpit.

William Jenks, another pastor, would spend summers in Dedham. Burgess would invite him to help lead the long prayer during services.

Burgess believed strongly in his faith. His sermons were known for being broad and covering many topics. He was very loyal to his own church group. He did not often work with other ministers in town. Unlike many others, he did not serve on the Dedham School Committee.

Ebenezer Burgess stopped his active duties as pastor on March 13, 1861.

Books He Wrote

In 1840, Ebenezer Burgess published a book called The Dedham Pulpit. It was a large book of about 500 pages. In 1860, he published the Burgess Genealogy. This book was about 200 pages long and traced the family history of Thomas Burgess from Plymouth Colony.

His Legacy

A schoolhouse in Dedham was named after Ebenezer Burgess. It was called the Burgess Schoolhouse, or District Number 11. This simple one-story building had red shutters. A new school building, also named in honor of Burgess, was built around 1840. It was later sold in 1899.