Joseph Emerson was born in Hollis, New Hampshire, the son of Daniel and Ama (Fletcher) Emerson, was a second cousin of Ralph Waldo Emerson and a descendant of Thomas Emerson, who, coming to America in 1635 and settling in Ipswich, Massachusetts, founded a long line of New England clergymen.
Joseph, having been in part prepared for college in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, entered Harvard in 1794.
Immediately after his graduation in 1798 he taught for a brief term in Framingham, Massachusetts, then returned to Cambridge to study for the ministry, for which he had been destined from his youth.
In 1801 he wras licensed to preach and at the same time made a college tutor in mathematics, geography, and natural philosophy.
As early as 1810, certain comments in Emerson’s letters, relative to Hannah More’s writings on female education, betrayed an interest in the training of women.
In 1816, on his return from a short stay in the South, he followed this early bent by opening a seminary for young women.
Two years later he was called to the newly organized Congregational Church of Beverly, Massachusetts, where he remained until increasing ill health forced his resignation in 1816.
During his pastorate in Beverly he was three times married.
His first wife, Nancy Eaton, a pupil of his at the Framingham Academy, lived but a short time after their marriage in October 1803.
This wife outlived him and carried on his school for several years after his death.
To these unions eleven children were born, six of whom lived to maturity.
In July 1805 he married Eleanor Reed, who died in November 1808, and on Jan. 16, 1810, he married Rebecca Hasseltine, sister of Mrs. Judson, the missionary.
