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| First Baptist Church, Swansea, Massachusetts (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Today, I'll take a look back at those who share this day. From my ninth great grandfather, Samuel Luther, in 1636 to my granduncle, Clem, in 1869.
October 25, 1636- My ninth great grandfather, Samuel Luther, is born to John & Elizabeth Luther in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
A captain of the militia, he was a prominent early figure in the Massachusetts Colony.
It is said that Samuel Luther survived a raid by a group of Lenape Indians at age nine while accompanying his father on a trading voyage to Delaware Bay, and was held captive for a period. His father, Captain John Luther, was killed in the raid.
"From the two sons of Captain John, Samuel & Hezekiah, are descended all the Luthers of this area, nineteen of whom are recorded as having served in the Revolutionary War. Samuel lived in Rehoboth for a time and later joined in the settlement of Attleboro. He sold out his interests in 1667 to join in the settlement of Swansea. In spite of the fact that he had no formal education, as few did in those days, he proved himself a man of such caracter and leadership ability that he was ordained Elder of the Swansea Baptist Church to succeed the distinguished Elder John Myles. He became known after that as Reverand Captain Samuel Luther." p.66 The Swansea Stage: A Local History
On October 25, 1662, his twenty-sixth birthday, he married Mary Abell, daughter of Captain John Abell & Joanna Hyde. One year later to the day, their first son was born.
It has been said he bought a stone house which had been built by Governor Benton of Newport, on land at Mattapoisett purchased in turn from the Indians in 1644, which house was garrisoned at the beginning of King Philip's War. He served as minister of the First Baptist Church of Swansea from 1685 until his death.
