The following information was extracted from pages 56-57 of C.J.F. Binney's 1883 edition of "The History and Genealogy of the Prentice Family."
Additional information can be found at Descendants of Henry Prentice.
Rev. Caleb Prentiss, Harvard College, 1765, son of Caleb and Lydia; m., Jan. 1, 1771, Pamela, dau. of Rev. John Mellen, of Lancaster, Mass., a granddaughter of Rev. John Prentiss, of Lancaster, and thus uniting the Newton and Cambridge branches of the family. After graduating, Rev. Mr. Prentiss was for several years librarian of the college library; was ordained Oct. 25, 1769, pastor of the First Church, in Reading (now Wakefield), Mass., and remained pastor till his death, from consumption, in 1803, and was buried in burying-ground adjoining the meeting-house, still standing. The following inscription is on the tombstone erected by the parish: "Sacred to the memory of Rev. Caleb Prentiss, late pastor of the First Church in this town, who passed into the world of spirits Feb. 7, 1803, in the 34th year of his ministry, and the 57th of his age." Faith, piety, and benevolence, with a kindred assemblage of Christian graces and moral virtues, adorned his public and private character, endeared his memory to a bereaved family, a mourning flock, his brethren in office, and all acquainted with his merits.
"He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.
Tho' gone, he is not dead, —no good man dies,—
But like the day-star, only sets to rise."
The following is from Hon. K.L. Eaton, in the account of the Reading celebration:—
"A new-built church now meets my eyes,
Whose top aspires to reach the skies.
Where PRENTISS, mild, with kindly word,
Entreats his friends to love the Lord."
Rev. Caleb Prentiss writes, Oct. 26, 1802, to his dau. Sophia: "This is probably the last letter you will receive from me ; my disorder has put on all the appearance of a fixed hectic, which must put a period to my life. I am in the hands of God, who will do what is best. I feel myself resigned, and possess that hope, which is the anchor of my soul, being persuaded that death will introduce me to realms of light and joy. Fixed is the foundation of my hope." etc.
At the Lexington alarm, which spread over New England with electric speed, he turned out with his musket, and was in the running fight from Lexington to Charlestown. On the route he took from a dead British pioneer his gun and sword, one side of which was a pioneer's saw, and was long preserved in the family, as his son John, of Keene, N.H., remembered. He also marched to Salem with the militia on the alarm of the British landing there to seize arms. To help support his family he took pupils in his house to educate. He was a good horticulturist; the old parsonage house, still standing, had a smooth lawn in front, and a large and well-kept garden, and in the centre an ample summer-house. His two black-cherry trees, the apple-pear, combining the taste of both fruits, and the "Cathead" apple were his special pride.
The editor of this volume has several of his manuscript sermons and his almanac-diary for 1780. (See Appendix.) The American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, has several of his published sermons, and several are also in the N. E. Historic, Genealogical Society, Boston. His portrait is on p.115 of the first edition of this book [below], and is from a fine oil painting owned by his son, the late Hon. John Prentiss, of Keene, N.H. His widow m., Sept. 14, 1809, Col. John Waldron, of Dover, N.H., an officer in the Revolutionary army and State senator; the late Hon. Ezekiel Hurd, of Dover, N.H., being the grandson·of Col. Waldron.
Mrs. Prentiss d. July, 1823, "full of years, having exemplified in her life, in the midst of unremitting cares and anxiety, the character of a Christian, her memory blessed." She was buried with the former wives of Col. Waldron. under the elms, near his house, in the corner of his orchard.
No comments