Jonathan Boucher facts for kids
Jonathan Boucher (born March 12, 1738 – died April 27, 1804) was an English clergyman, teacher, and writer. He spent many years in the American colonies before the American Revolution. He was known for his strong beliefs and his skills as a speaker.
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Early Life and Teaching Career
Jonathan Boucher was born in a place called Blencogo in Cumberland, England. He went to school at Wigton Grammar School. After finishing his studies, he became a teacher. He taught at St. Bees School for a while.
In 1759, Jonathan moved to Virginia in America. There, he worked as a private tutor for wealthy families. He was asked to become a vicar (a type of priest) for a local church. Since he wasn't officially trained for this, he went back to England. In March 1762, he was ordained as a priest by the bishop of London.
Life as a Clergyman in America
Jonathan Boucher returned to America on July 12, 1762. He joined the Anglican Church and served as a rector (head priest) in different parishes. These included churches in Caroline County, Virginia, King George County, Virginia, and Annapolis, Maryland. He also served at St. Barnabas Church, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Besides his church duties, he also ran a school. From 1768, one of his students was John Parke Custis. John was the stepson of George Washington, who later became the first U.S. President. Jonathan and George Washington became good friends. In 1766, Jonathan baptized 350 Black adults in his church in Caroline County. He preached to a very large crowd of about 3,000 people that day.
Challenges During the American Revolution
Jonathan Boucher was known as a powerful speaker. His knowledge also earned him the respect of many smart people in the colonies. However, he was a strong Tory. This meant he believed in staying loyal to the British government. He thought that any protests against the government should be done legally.
He did not always agree with British policies. For example, he thought the Stamp Act of 1765 was unfair. He also disagreed with the rule that stopped colonists from moving west. But when the fight between the colonies and Britain began, he stood by the King. He was against using force or breaking laws to protest.
This made many people in his church angry. For several months, he even preached with loaded pistols next to him. In 1775, he gave a final sermon at St. Barnabas Church. A crowd of 200 angry men was there. He bravely said that he would continue to pray for the King. At the end, he held a pistol and walked out safely with the leader of the crowd.
Return to England
As the conflict grew, George Washington had to choose between his friend and the colonists' cause. In the autumn of 1775, Jonathan Boucher returned to England. He went with his wife, Eleanor Addison. Because he was loyal to Britain, he received a government pension.
In 1784, he became the vicar of Epsom in Surrey, England. He stayed there until he passed away on April 27, 1804. He was still known as one of the best preachers of his time. Shortly before his death in 1804, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
His Writings and Family
Jonathan Boucher was a talented writer and scholar. He helped write a book called History of the County of Cumberland. He also published his own book in 1797, called A View of the Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution. This book was dedicated to George Washington. It contained thirteen speeches he had given in America.
He spent the last 14 years of his life studying languages. He worked on a large dictionary of old and regional words called A Glossary of Provincial and Archaic Words. This book was meant to add to Samuel Johnson's famous dictionary. It was never fully published during his lifetime. However, parts of it were later used by the people who created Webster's Dictionary. His memories of being a Loyalist in America were also published later.
Jonathan Boucher was married three times. His first marriage was in America in 1772 to Eleanor Addison. They had a daughter named Eleanor. His second wife was Mary Elizabeth Foreman, who died in 1788. His last marriage was in 1789 to Elizabeth James. They had seven children together. One of their sons was Barton Bouchier, who also became a well-known writer of religious books and songs. His daughter Eleanor married Edward Hawke Locker.
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