Obadiah Holmes

Obadiah Holmes was an early Rhode Island clergyman and a victim of religious persecution in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was pivotal in the establishment of the Baptist church in America.

Ancestry and Vital Facts

Obadiah Holmes was the son of Robert Hulme and Katherine Johnson. He was born circa 1606/7 at Reddish, Cheshire/Lancashire, England, baptized on 18 March 1609/10 at Didsbury, Lancashire, England. He married Catherine Hyde on 20 November 1630 at Collegiate Church, Manchester, Lancashire, England. He died on 15 October 1682 at Newport, Newport, RI.

Early Life in New England

Soon after landing at Boston in the summer or early fall of 1638, Holmes and his family made their way up the coast and settled at Salem, Massachusetts. By January, 1639, they were in Salem; on the twenty-first of that month Holmes received 1-acre (4,000 m²) of land for a house and a promise of ten more acres "to be laid out by the town." The young Salem settlement encouraged Holmes and his co-workers in the development of what may have been the first glass factory in North America. In March 1640, Obadiah and Catherine became members of the Salem church.

He sold his holdings in Salem by 1645, removing himself and his family to Rehoboth the same year. There he was elevated to the status of freeman in 1648. Holmes' religious views placed him in conflict with Samuel Newman, minister of the Rehoboth church. He became the leader of a group of nine schismatists, formally declaring their separation from the religious establishment. On October 2, 1650, Holmes and his eight associates were indicted for perpetrating a separate and irregular church meeting in opposition to the established congregation led by Rev. Newman. The group responded by removing to Newport, Rhode Island.

Persecution in Massachusetts

Holmes, John Clarke, and John Crandall were arrested by Massachusetts authorities on July 20, 1651 as they visited William Witter, a sick friend in Lynn. Clarke protested their heavy fines and Governor John Endecott replied that Clarke "deserved death" and "was worthy to be hanged." Holmes refused to pay his fine, nor would he allow others to pay it on his behalf. Holmes was severely whipped (thirty lashes) and carried his scars for life. Holmes said later about the whipping: "...having joyfulness in my heart, and cheerfulness in my countenance...I told the magistrates, 'You have struck me as with roses.'" This event (and others like it) served as the basis for Clarke's "Ill Newes from New England, or a Narrative of New England's Persecutions" (1652).

After his release from jail, Holmes returned to Newport and in 1652 succeeded Dr. John Clarke. He became the second minister of what was arguably the first Baptist Church in America. The church at Newport was his permanent charge for more than thirty years until his death.

Chronology of Obadiah Holmes

A chronology of his life appears below:

• 1607 born in Reddish, Cheshire/Lancashire, England
• 1610 baptized on 18 March 1609/10 at Didsbury, Lancashire, England.
• 1630 had spiritual awakening around this time; mother died; married Catherine Hyde at Collegiate Church, Manchester, Lancashire, England
• 1633 infant son buried in June at Stockport, England
• 1638 migrated to New England
• 1639 settled in Salem and received land grants
• 1640 joined and signed the covenant at First Church; daughter Martha baptized; father died
• 1641 served on a jury; also lodged a complaint against Richard Fowler
• 1642 son Samuel baptized; received additional land grants
• 1644 son Obadiah baptized; drew block of land by lot
• 1645 sold land in Salem and moved his family to Rehoboth (Seekonk)
• 1649 quarreled with Rev. Samuel Newman; set up separate church meetings; baptized by Pastor John Clark and Lucar
• 1650 summoned by the General Court of Plymouth
• 1651 left Rehoboth; moved family to Newport; arrested, tried, imprisoned, publicly flogged in Massachusetts for his Baptist beliefs
• 1652 assumed pastorate of Newport Church in John Clarke's absence; letters published in Clarke's Ill Newes
• 1655 served on grand jury; enrolled as freeman at Newport
• 1656 served as commissioner of Newport
• 1657 joined a mission with Samuel Hubbard to the Dutch on Long Island
• 1658 served on several juries
• 1662 witness to the land sale to Roger Williams
• 1668 detained by the constables of Charlestown at the home of Thomas Goold
• 1671 played a major role in the Seventh Day Baptist schism
• 1672 probably attended the debate between Roger Williams and the Newport Quakers
• 1675 wrote his Testimony
• 1676 spokesman for the Newport Church; advised the Rhode Island General Assembly
• 1681 deeded his farm to his son Jonathan and drew up his last will and testament
• 1682 died on October 15

Relation to Abraham Lincoln

One of Obadiah Holmes descendents, Abraham Lincoln, became the 16th president of the United States. The line of descent is shown below.

• Obadiah Holmes (1607-1682) married Catherine Hyde (1608-1682)
• Lydia Holmes (1637-1693) married Captain John Bowne (1630-1684)
• Sarah Bowne (1669-1714) married Richard Salter, Esq. (1669-1728)
• Hannah Salter (1692-1727) married Mordecai Lincoln (1686-1736)
• John "Virginia John" Lincoln (1711-1788) married Rebecca Flowers (1720-1806)
• Captain Abraham Lincoln (1738-1786) married Bathsheba Herring (1746-1836)
• Thomas Lincoln (1778-1851) married Nancy Hanks (1784-1818)
• President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

• • The discovery of the direct line from Holmes to Abraham Lincoln was made by Wilbur Nelson, who published a small booklet on the subject: Obadiah Holmes,Ancestor and Prototype of Abraham Lincoln (Newport, 1932).

References

• The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, John Osborne Austin, Genealogical Pub. Co., Baltimore, MD, 1969, (previously pub. 1887), pp. 103 – 104.
• Dictionary of Baptists in America, Bill J. Leonard, editor ISBN 0-8308-1447-7
• "Baptist Piety: The Last Will & Testimony of Obadiah Holmes" by Obediah Holmes (Author), Edwin S. Gaustad (Editor)
• "Trials and sufferings for religious liberty in New England; and, The Oldest Baptist Church in America" By James Robinson Graves, Samuel Adlam (http://books.google.com/books?id=WMMSAAAAYAAJ)