Benjamin Randall

February 7, 1749 (age 59)

New Castle, New Hampshire, United States

Interested in religion, he heard Whitefield preach on September 24, 25, and 28, 1770; on his way to hear him again two days later, he learned of the preacher's sudden death. He considered his conversion, which he dated from October 15, 1770, as in part a fruit of Whitefield's preaching. In 1772 he united with the Congregational church at New Castle, but soon became dissatisfied with its spiritual condition and in May 1775 separated from that body, associating himself with a small group of similarly minded persons who were essentially New Lights. The following year he and others of the group adopted believer's immersion, and with three companions all of whom later became ministers, he was baptized by William Hooper of Medbury. Although feeling called to preach and occasionally doing so, he hesitated to enter the ministry. Stopping to preach at New Durham when passing through the place, he was called there and on March 26, 1778, settled in what was to be his future home. He revolted not only against the cold formality of much of the conventional religious life around him, but also against the current doctrine of election, asserting categorically, "I do not believe in it. " On April 5, 1780, he was publicly ordained at New Durham "to the work of an evangelist. " His supporters there signed a covenant which at their request he drew up, and what became known as the Freewill Baptist, later the Free Baptist, denomination thus had its beginning. The whole movement, in its general character, emphases, and methods, may be viewed as a renewal of the Great Awakening. For over twenty-five years Randall traveled eastward and westward, confining his journeys primarily to Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, preaching, baptizing (in winter through holes cut in the ice), and establishing churches. Some of these became the most influential in their communities, while many were in villages or rural regions where previously there had been no church. Against much opposition he continued his endeavors, averaging probably over a thousand miles of itinerancy each year, at the same time retaining his pastorate at New Durham. As the number of churches increased he devised a system of quarterly meetings (1783) and a yearly meeting (June 1792), with a type of polity blending the Meetings of the Friends and the Association of the Baptists. In the local church, the polity was definitely congregational. Without formal ecclesiastical distinction, Randall moved among the Free Will Baptists as their actual leader, persisting in his active labors even after his health had been broken.

Benjamin Randall Edit Profile

founder

Background

Benjamin Randall was a descendant in the fourth generation from William Randall, who came from England to Rhode Island in 1636, removing soon to Marshfield, and by 1640 to Scituate in the Old Colony. Benjamin, the eldest of nine children, was the third of that name in succession; his mother was Margaret Mordantt. For some reason of his own, he alone of the family usually wrote his name Randal. Born in New Castle, New Hampshire, the son of a sea-captain, the lad accompanied his father to sea rather constantly.

Education

Despite a lack of formal schooling, he was later considered an educated man. For three years before attaining his majority, he was apprentice to a sailmaker at Portsmouth, from whom he also learned the tailor's trade, knowledge which he subsequently used as a means of income and to repay hospitality received during his travels.

Career

Interested in religion, he heard Whitefield preach on September 24, 25, and 28, 1770; on his way to hear him again two days later, he learned of the preacher's sudden death. He considered his conversion, which he dated from October 15, 1770, as in part a fruit of Whitefield's preaching.

In 1772 he united with the Congregational church at New Castle, but soon became dissatisfied with its spiritual condition and in May 1775 separated from that body, associating himself with a small group of similarly minded persons who were essentially New Lights. The following year he and others of the group adopted believer's immersion, and with three companions all of whom later became ministers, he was baptized by William Hooper of Medbury.

Although feeling called to preach and occasionally doing so, he hesitated to enter the ministry. Stopping to preach at New Durham when passing through the place, he was called there and on March 26, 1778, settled in what was to be his future home. He revolted not only against the cold formality of much of the conventional religious life around him, but also against the current doctrine of election, asserting categorically, "I do not believe in it. "

On April 5, 1780, he was publicly ordained at New Durham "to the work of an evangelist. " His supporters there signed a covenant which at their request he drew up, and what became known as the Freewill Baptist, later the Free Baptist, denomination thus had its beginning.

The whole movement, in its general character, emphases, and methods, may be viewed as a renewal of the Great Awakening. For over twenty-five years Randall traveled eastward and westward, confining his journeys primarily to Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, preaching, baptizing (in winter through holes cut in the ice), and establishing churches. Some of these became the most influential in their communities, while many were in villages or rural regions where previously there had been no church.

Against much opposition he continued his endeavors, averaging probably over a thousand miles of itinerancy each year, at the same time retaining his pastorate at New Durham. As the number of churches increased he devised a system of quarterly meetings (1783) and a yearly meeting (June 1792), with a type of polity blending the Meetings of the Friends and the Association of the Baptists. In the local church, the polity was definitely congregational. Without formal ecclesiastical distinction, Randall moved among the Free Will Baptists as their actual leader, persisting in his active labors even after his health had been broken.

Achievements

Benjamin Randall has been listed as a noteworthy religious leader by Marquis Who's Who.

Religion

Randall's doctrine was based upon the notion that human beings had minds which provided them the free will to act and that God was ready to fully forgive behavioral errors resulting from that free volition. Complete atonement for sin was available to all based upon genuine repentance, which was a requirement of God. The duty of religious exhortation to make known that free salvation was available for any to embrace were fundamental pillars of Randall's belief.

Personality

His deep religious conviction often led him into controversy, yet he was of well-balanced judgment, of irenic temperament, and of recognized honesty.

Connections

On November 28, 1771, he married Joanna Oram of Kittery, Maine, by whom he had four sons and five daughters.

Father:: Benjamin Randall
Mother:: Margaret Mordantt
Spouse:: Joanna Oram

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