Nehemiah Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nehemiah Adams
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| Born | February 19, 1806 Salem, Massachusetts
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| Died | October 6, 1878 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Harvard University, Andover Theological Seminary |
| Occupation | clergyman |
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Nehemiah Adams (born February 19, 1806 – died October 6, 1878) was an American clergyman and writer. A clergyman is a religious leader, often a minister or priest. Adams was known for his strong opinions and the books he wrote during his lifetime.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Nehemiah Adams was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1806. His parents were Nehemiah Adams and Mehitabel Torrey Adams.
He was a very good student. He graduated from Harvard University in 1826. After that, he continued his studies at Andover Theological Seminary, finishing in 1829. This prepared him to become a religious leader.
Career as a Clergyman
In 1829, Adams became a co-pastor at the First Congregational Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He worked alongside another pastor named Abiel Holmes.
A few years later, in 1834, Adams moved to Boston, Massachusetts. There, he became the main pastor of the Union Congregational Church. He stayed in this important role for many years, until he passed away in 1878.
Family Life
Nehemiah Adams married Martha Hooper in 1832. Later, in 1850, he married again to Sarah Brackett. He had nine children.
Views on Slavery and Public Debate
In 1854, Nehemiah Adams traveled to the southern parts of the United States. After his trip, he wrote a book called A South-Side View of Slavery. This book was published in Boston that same year.
Controversial Ideas
In his book, Adams shared his thoughts on slavery. He wrote that he believed slavery was helpful for the religious growth of Black people. This idea was very controversial at the time.
The book caused a huge stir and received a lot of strong criticism. Many people disagreed with his views. Abolitionists, who were people fighting to end slavery, strongly attacked his book. For example, the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator called it "a very bad work" that tried to defend "the worst of all evils."
Responding to Critics
In 1861, Adams wrote another book to answer his critics. It was titled The Sable Cloud, a Southern tale with Northern Comments. However, this book also received a similar negative response from the public.
Other Writings and Activities
Besides his books on slavery, Nehemiah Adams wrote several other works. These included:
- The Cross in the Cell
- Scriptural Argument for Endless Punishment
- Broadcast
- At Eventide
- A book about the life of John Eliot, a famous missionary.
Adams was also an active member of important organizations. He belonged to the American Tract Society, which published religious writings. He was also part of the American Board for Foreign Missions, which supported missionaries in other countries.
Later Life and World Travel
By 1869, Nehemiah Adams's health began to fail. Because of this, his church arranged for another pastor to help him. They also gave Adams a long break from his duties.
During this time, he went on an amazing voyage around the world. He later wrote about his travels in a book called Under the Mizzenmast, published in 1871.
Nehemiah Adams passed away in 1878 at the age of 72.
