John Russell (clergyman)

John Russell (1626 – December 10, 1692) was a Puritan minister in Hadley, Massachusetts during King Philip's War. As such, he is part of the Angel of Hadley legend.

John Russell graduated from Harvard in 1645. In 1650 he succeeded Henry Smith as the minister at
Wethersfield, Connecticut. Seven years later controversy erupted over church membership, discipline, and baptism, with thechurch in neighboring Hartford being inclined toward Presbyterianism as opposed to
Congregationalism. The Congregationalist minority in Hartford attempted to join Russell's church inWethersfield; when the General Court prevented the move pending efforts at reconciliation, the controversy spilled over intoRussell's congregation. Finally, on April 18, 1659, the majority of Russell's congregation signed an agreement to departfrom Connecticut for Massachusetts.

In 1659 Russell led the dissenting Connecticut that founded the town of Hadley on the east bank at a bend of the Connecticut River. Beginning in 1664, he sheltered the regicides Edward Whalley and William Goffe in his home. Whalley died about 1675. Goffe was still alive during King Philip's War when, according to the Angel of Hadley legend, he allegedly came out of hiding to rally the townspeople during an attack before disappearing again.