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William Stith (1707 – September 19, 1755) was an early American historian and an
In October 1731, he became a master of the College of William & Mary's Grammar School. He also began his role at the Virginia House of Burgesses as a chaplain. Stith was a minister for 16 years at the Henrico Parish in Henrico County beginning in 1736. He was also a minister in York County, Virginia of the York-Hampton Parish. In the 1740s and 1750s, three of his sermons were published.
''The Sinfulness and Pernicious Nature of Gaming, 1752'' was preached by Stith in Williamsburg before the Virginia General Assembly on March 1, 1752. The General Assembly had considered amending the 1748 Act for preventing excessive and deceitful gambling, but tabled the measure after hearing the sermon. The sermon was published in 1752 and became one of the best selling titles that year.
He is the author of one of the earliest histories of Virginia, ''The History of the First Discovery and Settlement of Virginia: being an Essay towards a General History of this Colony'', published in
Anglican minister
The Anglican ministry is both the leadership and agency of Christian service in the Anglican Communion. "Ministry" commonly refers to the office of ordained clergy: the ''threefold order'' of bishops, priests and deacons. More accurately, Anglica ...
. He was the third president of the College of William & Mary (1752–1755), where Stith Hall was named for him.
Early life
Stith was the son of Captain John Stith and Mary Randolph, a daughter of William Randolph (1650– 1711). Stith's grandfather was MajorJohn Stith
John Stith ( fl. 1631–1694) was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and the progenitor of the Stith family, one of the first families of Virginia.
Early life
John Stith was born in Kirkham in Lancashire, England in 1625. Stith ancest ...
, who participated in Nathaniel Bacon's rebellion.
Stith was educated at the College of William & Mary's Grammar School and The Queen's College, Oxford. On May 27, 1728, he received his B.A. degree. On April 12, 1731, while still in England, he was ordained a minister of the Anglican Church. He then returned to Williamsburg.
Career
In October 1731, he became a master of the College of William & Mary's Grammar School. He also began his role at the Virginia House of Burgesses as a chaplain. Stith was a minister for 16 years at the Henrico Parish in Henrico County beginning in 1736. He was also a minister in York County, Virginia of the York-Hampton Parish. In the 1740s and 1750s, three of his sermons were published.
''The Sinfulness and Pernicious Nature of Gaming, 1752'' was preached by Stith in Williamsburg before the Virginia General Assembly on March 1, 1752. The General Assembly had considered amending the 1748 Act for preventing excessive and deceitful gambling, but tabled the measure after hearing the sermon. The sermon was published in 1752 and became one of the best selling titles that year.
He is the author of one of the earliest histories of Virginia, ''The History of the First Discovery and Settlement of Virginia: being an Essay towards a General History of this Colony'', published in Williamsburg
Williamsburg may refer to:
Places
*Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum and private foundation in Virginia
*Williamsburg, Brooklyn, neighborhood in New York City
*Williamsburg, former name of Kernville (former town), California
*Williams ...
by William Parks in 1747.
He was also the College of William & Mary's third president (1752–1755) and is the namesake of Stith Hall, a residence hall on the campus.
Marriage and children
He married his first cousin, Judith Randolph, the daughter ofThomas Randolph of Tuckahoe
Thomas Randolph (June 1683 – 1729), also known as Thomas Randolph of Tuckahoe, was the first European settler at Tuckahoe, a member of the House of Burgesses, and the second child of William Randolph and Mary Isham, daughter of Henry Isham ...
on July 13, 1738. They had three daughters: Judith, Elizabeth, and Mary.
Bibliography
*Notes
References
1707 births 1755 deaths Alumni of The Queen's College, Oxford American historians College of William & Mary alumni College of William & Mary faculty Presidents of the College of William & Mary Randolph family of Virginia 18th-century American historians {{US-historian-stub