Samuel Man (July 6, 1647 – May 22, 1719) was an early teacher in

Dedham, Massachusetts Dedham ( ) is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,364 at the 2020 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest b ...

and minister in

Wrentham, Massachusetts Wrentham ( ) is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,178 at the 2020 census. History In 1660, five men from Dedham were sent to explore the lakes near George Indian's wigwam and to report back to the ...

Personal life

Man was born on July 6, 1647 to William and Mary Man of

Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As part of the Boston metropolitan area, the cities population of the 2020 U.S. census was 118,403, making it the fourth most populous city in the state, behind Boston, ...

. Man was an only child and his parents designated their son for the ministry from an early age. He married Esther Ware, the granddaughter of John Hunting, on May 13, 1673 and they had seven sons and four daughters. He was graduated from

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...

in 1665. He was the great-grandfather of

Horace Mann Horace Mann (May 4, 1796August 2, 1859) was an American educational reformer, slavery abolitionist and Whig politician known for his commitment to promoting public education. In 1848, after public service as Secretary of the Massachusetts Sta ...

and a descendant of

John Man John Man (1512–1569) was an English churchman, college head, and a diplomat. Life He was born at Lacock or Winterbourne Stoke, in Wiltshire. He was educated at Winchester College from 1523, and New College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in ...

. He died on May 22, 1719 and his funeral sermon was later published.

Dedham

While living in Dedham, Man was hired to teach in the

Dedham Public Schools The Dedham Public School System (Dedham Public Schools) is a PK– 12 graded school district in Dedham, Massachusetts. It is the oldest public school system in the United States. History On January 2, 1643, the Town Meeting set aside land for ...

on May 13, 1667 at a salary of £10 a year. He continued in that position until 1672 when he was required to give two months notice before he moved to

Wollomonopoag Wrentham ( ) is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,178 at the 2020 census. History In 1660, five men from Dedham were sent to explore the lakes near George Indian's wigwam and to report back to the ...

Wrentham

Man moved from Dedham to the area soon to be known as Wrentham in 1672, one year after the first settlers arrived. He preached to the settlers there until he was called away to fight in

King Phillip's War King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1676 between indigenous inhabitants of New England and New England coloni ...

. Each resident was required to pay one shilling and one sixpence per common right to pay Man's salary. His selection as minister seems to have been an easy decision. He was selected by the residents of Wollomonopoag and their decision was quickly ratified by a committee of

John Allin John Maury Allin (April 22, 1921 – March 6, 1998) was an American Episcopalian bishop who served as the 23rd Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1974 to 1985. Early life Allin was born in Helena, Arkansas. He graduated from the Un ...

, John Hunting, and

Eleazer Lusher Major Eleazer Lusher (died 1672) was a politician and military leader from Dedham, Massachusetts. Political career Lusher had unmatched political influence in Dedham and was one of the most powerful men in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was one ...

. After Wrentham was burned to the ground, he returned to Dedham and taught there again from 1676 to 1678. He was made a

freeman Freeman, free men, or variant, may refer to: * a member of the Third Estate in medieval society (commoners), see estates of the realm * Freeman, an apprentice who has been granted freedom of the company, was a rank within Livery companies * Free ...

in 1678. In the spring of 1678 he turned down an opportunity to be ordained in

Milton Milton may refer to: Names * Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname) ** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet * Milton (given name) ** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...

and to preach for the winter in Rehoboth, though he lived and preached in Milton for four years. When the people of Wrentham heard that he was about to be called to Milton, they sent a committee to entice him to return and be their minister. He returned on August 26, 1680. Due to the "troublous times and divers hinderances," it was not until April 13, 1692 that a church of 10 people was gathered in Wrentham with Man ordained as the pastor. His ordination was attended by Judge

Samuel Sewall Samuel Sewall (; March 28, 1652 – January 1, 1730) was a judge, businessman, and printer in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, best known for his involvement in the Salem witch trials, for which he later apologized, and his essay ''The Selling ...

and he preached from 1st Corinthians IV Chapter 2nd verse. He would minister there for the next 49 years and his last sermon was preached on March 1, 1719 from Ecclesiastes 1st chap 14th verse. His house burned, along with the church records, on October 26, 1699.

References

Works cited

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Man, Samuel 1647 births 1719 deaths People from Cambridge, Massachusetts Educators from Dedham, Massachusetts People from Wrentham, Massachusetts Harvard College alumni