- John Russell (clergyman)
John Russell (1626 –
December 10 ,1692 ) was aPuritan minister inHadley, Massachusetts duringKing Philip's War . As such, he is part of theAngel 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 towardPresbyterianism as opposed to
Congregationalism. The Congregationalist minority in Hartford attempted to join Russell's church inWethersfield; when theGeneral Court prevented the move pending efforts at reconciliation, the controversy spilled over intoRussell's congregation. Finally, onApril 18 ,1659 , the majority of Russell's congregation signed an agreement to departfromConnecticut forMassachusetts .In 1659 Russell led the dissenting
Connecticut that founded the town of Hadley on the east bank at a bend of theConnecticut River . Beginning in 1664, he sheltered the regicidesEdward Whalley andWilliam Goffe in his home. Whalley died about 1675. Goffe was still alive duringKing Philip's War when, according to theAngel of Hadley legend, he allegedly came out of hiding to rally the townspeople during an attack before disappearing again.
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