Background

Freeborn Hibbard was born on February 22, 1811, in New Rochelle, New York, United States, a descendant of Robert Hibbard who settled in Salem, Massachusetts, sometime between 1635 and 1639, the son of Rev. Billy and Sybil (Russ) Hibbard. His father, a native of Norwich, Connecticut, son of Nathan, tanner and shoemaker, was a pioneer Methodist preacher, “abounding in labors, grace, and eccentricities. ” At the request of his friend, Bishop Asbury, he kept a journal, which he published in 1843 under the title, Memoirs of the Life and Travels of B. Hibbard. After another of his friends, Freeborn Garrettson, he named the eighth of his sons. Since his father was absent from home on long circuits much of the time, Freeborn was brought up chiefly by his mother, a frail little woman, without whose frugality and good management the family would often have been in want.

Education

Freeborn was very desirous to get to Wilbraham School, for the purpose of perfecting his studies, and particularly in Greek and Hebrew. This could not be done, as his father was unable to bear the expense.

Career

Freeborn Hibbard began to preach when he was seventeen years old, taking some of his father’s appointments when the latter was ill. Accordingly he read through three times the works of Fletcher, Wesley, and one or two others, and in 1830 he was admitted to the New York Conference on trial. In 1832 he was received into full connection, and ordained deacon. This same year that body was divided and he was assigned to the Troy Conference, where, in 1834, he was ordained elder. He transferred to the Genesee Conference (called Central New York Conference 1872-1882) in 1837, of which, except for the lifetime of the East Genesee Conference, when he belonged to its jurisdiction, he was a member till his death. For the first fifteen months of its history he was sole editor of the Northern Christian Advocate; then, for about a year, Rev. William Hosmer was his associate. In 1848 the General Conference elected Hosmer editor, and in 1856 he was succeeded by Hibbard, who continued in that office until 1860.

During his ministry Hibbard published a number of books, several of which had wide use. They include Christian Baptism: Its Mode, Obligation, Import, and Relative Order (1841) ; A Treatise on Infant Baptism (1843) ; The Psalms Chronologically Arranged with Historical Introductions (1856); The Religion of Childhood (1864); Palestine: Its Geography and Bible History (1851) ; Biography of Rev. Leonidas L. Hamline, D. D. (1880); commentary on the Psalms in D. D. Whedon’s Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. V (1882) ; History of the Late East Genesee Conference (1887) ; Eschatology, or the Doctrine of the Last Things According to the Chronology and Symbolism of the Apocalypse (1890). He was also the editor of Works of Rev. Leonidas L. Hamline, D. D. , vol. I (1869), vol. II (1871).

Achievements

• Although never rising to conspicuous leadership, Freeborn Hibbard became one of the prominent figures in New York Methodism, and achieved more than local eminence through membership in six General Conferences - that of 1844 and those from 1856 to 1872 inclusive.

Works

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  • History of the Late East Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from History of the Late East Genesee Conference ...)

  • Christan Baptism: In Two Parts

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • Palestine: Its Geography And Bible History. With Twenty Lithographic Maps

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • Biography of Rev. Leonidas L. Hamline: Late One of the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • The Religion of Childhood;

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • Christian Baptism: Part 1, Infant Baptism; Part 2, Mode, Obligation, Import, And Relative Order (1841)

    (This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)

  • Eschatology; or, The doctrine of the last things, according to the chronology and symbolism of the Apocalypse

    (This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)

  • A Treatise On Infant Baptism

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

  • Eschatology: Or, The Doctrine Of The Last Things, According To The Chronology And Symbolism Of The Apocalypse...

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

  • The Book Of Psalms

    ( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

  • book

Religion

Freeborn Hibbard was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Personality

Hibbard was a person of great dignity, suavity, refinement, and conscientiousness. He had scholarly tastes, and was a thorough investigator, although inclined to idealize a subject in which he was deeply interested.

Connections

Hibbard's first wife, Mary Whipple, died a comparatively short time after their marriage, leaving him one son, and in 1846 he married Maria Hyde.

Father:

Billy Hibbard

Mother:

Sybil (Russ) Hibbard

Spouse:

Mary (Whipple) Hibbard

Spouse:

Maria (Hyde) Hibbard