James Davenport

Background

James Davenport was born in 1716 in Stamford, Connecticut, United States. He was the son of Reverend John Davenport, great-grandson of the celebrated minister of New Haven, and Elizabeth (Morris) Maltby Davenport.

Education

Davenport graduated from Yale College in 1732, one of the youngest men who ever took his degree. Remaining in New Haven to study theology, he was licensed to preach on October 8, 1735, and three years later was ordained minister of the church in Southold, Long Island.

Career

Coming under the powerful influence of George Whitefield, Davenport resolved to become an itinerant preacher. Calling his people together, he addressed them for twenty-four hours, and as a result was confined to his room for several days.

He journeyed through New York and New Jersey, traveling part of the time with the great evangelist himself.

In 1741 Davenport conducted vigorous revivals in Connecticut in the settlements between Stonington and New Haven. Immersed in the spirit of the Great Awakening, he embodied the zeal, many of the virtues, and most of the unsafe extravagances of that revival.

In New Haven his influence was such that many members left the historic First Church and formed a new organization known as the North Church.

So intense was the excitement and so pronounced were the abuses connected with this revival that the General Assembly of Connecticut in 1742 passed an “Act for regulating Abuses and correcting Disorders in Ecclesiastical Affairs, ” treating as vagrants those who preached in a parish without the consent of the minister, or a majority of the church.

A month later two inhabitants of Stratford entered a complaint against Davenport for disturbing the peace of that town.

Brought before the Assembly at Hartford, he was judged not fully sane and sent back to Southold. Before the end of the month he was once more on his travels. On his arrival in Boston the ministers of that town interviewed him, and, being dissatisfied with his answers, declared against him.

Davenport preached in the streets with such violent condemnation of the clergy that he was imprisoned by the authorities, adjudged insane, and sent back to his home. At the call of his church in Southold, a council of ministers met to consider his frequent absences from his church and his unusual behavior, and passed a vote of censure, but not of dismission.

In March 1743 he went to New London, Connecticut, to organize a company of his converts into a church.

To cure them of idolatrous pride in the things of this world he compelled them to bring their ornaments and fine clothes to be burned. Books whose teachings did not meet with his approval, by such men as Increase Mather, Colman, and Sewall, were also cast into the flames, the smoke reminding Davenport of the eternal torment which their authors must suffer in hell.

This fanaticism led to earnest expostulations on the part of his friends, which, aided by a protracted illness, so sobered him that he wrote his Confession and Retractions (1744). Dismissed from his church in Southold in 1743, he served various churches in the presbyteries of New Brunswick and New York, and was finally installed as pastor in Hopewell, New Jersey. This relationship being not altogether satisfactory, a petition was presented to the presbytery in 1757 for his removal. Before action was taken his stormy career came to a close.

Achievements

• James Davenport was noted for his often controversial actions during the First Great Awakening.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• “He never knew one keep so close a walk with God. ” (George Whitefield)

Connections

Father:

John Davenport

clergyman

Mother:

Elizabeth (Morris) Maltby Davenport