Background
Enos Hitchcock was born on March 7, 1744 in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. He was a great-grandson of Luke Hitchcock who took the freeman's oath in New Haven in 1644 and a son of Peletiah and Sarah (Parsons) Hitchcock.
(This volume contains the diary of Enos Hitchcock, who was...)
This volume contains the diary of Enos Hitchcock, who was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1744 and kept this diary while he served as a Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army during the American Revolution.
https://www.amazon.com/Diary-Enos-Hitchcock-D-D-Revolutionary/dp/1492190896?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1492190896
Enos Hitchcock was born on March 7, 1744 in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. He was a great-grandson of Luke Hitchcock who took the freeman's oath in New Haven in 1644 and a son of Peletiah and Sarah (Parsons) Hitchcock.
Hitchcock graduated from Harvard in 1767, engaged in theological studies soon after, and on May 1, 1771, was ordained as colleague of the superannuated pastor of the Second Church in Beverly, Massachussets, a connection which he retained until April 6, 1780, although from 1776 he was absent on service as chaplain with the Revolutionary army for a long period each year.
During the winter of 1780-1781 Hitchcock preached occasionally in Providence, Rhode Island; and on October 1, 1783, was installed as pastor of the Benevolent Congregational Church there, remaining until his death.
He was inoculated against smallpox, shared the discomforts of the retreat from Ticonderoga and the triumph of Burgoyne's surrender, witnessed the execution of André. At West Point, in 1779, he dined frequently with Kosciuszko, preached to the Society of Free Masons on the Feast of St. John, with Washington present, and was invited to Washington's headquarters to dine and preach. He wrote often to "Reverend Willard, " and lodged with Ezra Stiles, president of Yale, when passing through New Haven.
He simplified the catechism in Catechetical Instructions and Forms of Devotion for Children and Youth (1798), published a plain and rational interpretation of the observance of the Lord's Supper (1795), established open communion, healed a breach of forty years with another church, and worked for friendliness and candor among the different denominations. His own teaching aimed to instil a sense of dependence upon God and a love of universal goodness and benevolence; the orthodox doctrines of election, original sin, and imputed righteousness found no place in his sermons, which were methodical and well-digested, calculated "to improve the understanding and amend the heart. "
Hitchcock furthered his own ardent hopes for the success of the American government by untiring labors for the cultivation of public virtue and the education of youth. His Fourth of July orations to the Society of the Cincinnati (1786 and 1793), Discourse on the Dignity and Excellence of the Human Character, Illustrated in the Life of General George Washington (1800), Discourse on Education (1785) advocating free public schools, and his two books, Memoirs of the Bloomsgrove Family, containing Sentiments on a Mode of Domestic Education (1790), and The Farmer's Friend, or The History of Mr. Charles Worthy (1793), all have these ends in view, together with the teaching of sound political and economic doctrine.
(This volume contains the diary of Enos Hitchcock, who was...)
As a Congregationalist minister, Hitchcock was distinctly on the way to Unitarianism.
Hitchcock believed that religion aids government, that well-supported churches make prosperous and happy communities, and that attendance at public worship is "the best school of good manners. "
Hitchcock's portrait shows a full face, thin lips, observant eyes, and a look of placid dignity. He was a practical, useful, agreeable man, not greatly gifted, but so firm in principle and consistent in practice, and withal so benevolent and public spirited, that he exerted a strong influence wherever he was. His diaries reveal a well-ordered life, a steady sense of duty, and a sane enjoyment of physical comforts and social pleasures.
Hitchcock's wife, whom he married January 13, 1771, was Achsah (Upham) Jordan of Truro, Massachussets, the daughter of Caleb and Priscilla (Allen) Upham. She died before him, as did also a daughter Achsah; an adopted daughter survived him.