Background
John Johnson Sayrs was born in 1774 in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Caleb Sayrs and his wife Sarah Johnson.
chaplain rector Episcopal clergyman
John Johnson Sayrs was born in 1774 in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Caleb Sayrs and his wife Sarah Johnson.
Sayrs graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton University) in 1792.
On January 5, 1795, Sayrs became minister of Trinity Church, Fishkill, New York, and Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, New New York On January 14, 1799, he became rector of Durham Parish, Charles County, Maryland. There he also operated a flourishing school.
In 1804 he became the first rector of Saint John's Parish, Georgetown, District of Columbia, a post in which he continued until his early death at age 36 in 1809.
His body was buried beneath the chancel of the church, which was designed by William Thornton, architect of the Capitol. In 1806-1807 he served as Chaplain of the Senate.
Key penned Sayrs’ epitaph which appears on a tablet in Saint John's Church.