(This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
https://www.amazon.com/Memoir-William-Randall-Saxton-Charles/dp/1166289443?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1166289443
(This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Revived-Charles-Turner-Torrey/dp/054889261X?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=054889261X
Charles was born on November 21, 1813 in Scituate, Massachussets, where his ancestor, James Torrey, had settled soon after 1640. His parents, Charles Turner Torrey and Hannah Tolman (Turner), were first cousins, grandchildren of the Rev. Charles Turner; they both died of tuberculosis in their son's infancy, and he was brought up in the home of his maternal grandfather, Charles Turner, Jr. , a substantial citizen and sometime member of Congress.
Torrey was prepared for college at Phillips Academy, graduated at Yale (A. B. , 1833), and after a few months of teaching entered Andover Theological Seminary in 1834. Here he became an abolitionist and organized a students' antislavery society, but because of failing health withdrew from the seminary and completed his theological training at West Medway under the Rev. Jacob Ide.
Torrey was licensed to preach by the Mendon Association, October 25, 1836, and on March 22 following was ordained and installed as pastor of the Richmond Street Congregational Church of Providence, R. I, but was not successful as a minister either here or at the Harvard Street Congregational Church in Salem, where he served from January 1838 to July 1839.
His interest in antislavery politics soon encroached upon his pastoral duties. Sharing in the rising irritation against William Lloyd Garrison and his heresies regarding Sabbath observance, civil government, and the rights of women, Torrey organized the conservative abolitionists of Massachusetts in a revolt against Garrison's leadership. In the fall of 1838, the conservatives founded the Massachusetts Abolitionist, with Torrey as editor, and a few months later they seceded from Garrison's society, organized the Massachusetts Abolition Society, and appointed Torrey as their agent. In this capacity he was not successful. "It was exceedingly difficult for him to labor with others, either as a pastor, a lecturer, or an editor, " remarked a colleague.
He shortly resigned, and in 1841 went to Washington as freelance correspondent. While reporting the notorious "Convention of Slaveholders" at Annapolis, Md. , in January 1842, Torrey was identified as an abolitionist and on Jan. 14 arrested. The case immediately attracted national interest. The antislavery congressmen employed a Boston lawyer to be his counsel, and two Maryland lawyers, T. S. Alexander and Joseph M. Palmer, acted for him without compensation. After four days of widely publicized proceedings, Torrey was freed (Jan. 19).
Made momentarily famous by this episode, he was appointed editor of the Tocsin of Liberty, later the Albany Patriot, but was unsuccessful in this position and after a few months relinquished its editorial care. "An exceedingly vain, trifling man, with no wisdom or stability, " as a fellow abolitionist characterized him, Torrey was unable to sustain these recurrent stresses of notoriety and failure.
Moving to Baltimore, he made grandiose plans to engage in business, and at the same time he helped escaping slaves from Virginia and Maryland across the border. Inevitably he was arrested, and once more figured in a notorious trial (Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 1844). This time, however, although defended by the distinguished Reverdy Johnson, he was convicted and sentenced to six years at hard labor in the Maryland state penitentiary.
Once in the jail, his mind gave way, and tuberculosis, long latent in his constitution, caused his death little more than a year after his imprisonment. His body was removed to Boston, and at a great public funeral.
Charles Turner Torrey was a leading American abolitionist. Although largely lost to historians until recently, Torrey pushed the abolitionist movement to more political and aggressive strategies, including setting up one of the first highly organized lines for the Underground Railroad and personally freeing approximately 400 slaves. Torrey also worked closely with free blacks, thus becoming one of the first to consider them partners. Despite his relatively brief abolitionist career, Torrey made major contributions to the freeing of slaves. He was honored as a martyr to the antislavery cause.
(This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)
(This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)
He co-led the 1839 challenge to William Lloyd Garrison’s leadership, resulting in the permanent schism between Garrison’s “old” and Torrey’s “new” abolitionists. The new group was much more aggressive in their tactics. Garrison and Torrey were hated rivals.
He cofounded the 1840 Liberty Party, whose sole platform was the abolition of slavery.
He established in 1842 the first highly organized Underground Railroad route, running from Washington, DC, to Albany, NY. He was referred to by some at that time as the “father” of the Underground Railroad.
He personally freed about 400 slaves, more than any other abolitionist. By contrast, Harriet Tubman freed about 70 slaves. Torrey took the slaves from the Washington and Baltimore region and specifically recruited slaves owned by Southern members of Congress and other high government officials.
He was one of the first white abolitionists to work closely with black counterparts, staying at their homes and sharing the dangers of their task.
He strongly influenced the aggressive abolitionists who followed him. John Brown, for example, cited Torrey as one of the three abolitionists he looked to as models for his own efforts.
He married Mary, on March 29, 1837. Two children were born of this union.
