Thomas Jefferson Sawyer (January 9, 1804-July 24, 1899), Universalist minister and educator, is best known for successfully promoting the establishment of Universalist colleges and seminaries. Tufts College and its Divinity School, and St. Lawrence University and Theological School, were largely established as a result of his persistent efforts. In addition, he taught and served as principal of the Clinton Liberal Institute in Clinton, New York, taught at the Divinity School at Tufts, and served as a parish minister in New York City. Sawyer was highly regarded in all three chief fields of his endeavor—as organizer, teacher, and minister.
Thomas was born in Reading, Vermont, the son of Benjamin and Sally (York) Sawyer. He was educated at the local district school, at Chester Academy, and then at Middlebury College, where in 1829 he received a B.A. and in 1833 an M.A. While a student he supported himself by teaching at district schools.
In 1830 Sawyer was called to the Grand Street Universalist Society in New York City. Despite its minister's lack of training the society began to prosper. Sawyer's strong defense of Universalism, through sermons, lectures, debates and writing, attracted people to the church. After two years it had outgrown its quarters and relocated to Orchard Street.
In 1831 Sawyer married Caroline Mehitable Fisher of Newton, Massachusetts. The couple had five children, all born in New York City between 1834 and 1841.
In 1845 the Sawyer family moved to Clinton, New York where Thomas had accepted the position of principal at the Clinton Liberal Institute.
In 1852 Sawyer resigned his position at Clinton returned to New York City and was called for the second time by the Orchard Street congregation.
In 1861, Sawyer resigned his position and moved back to run the family farm near Clinton, his oldest son Thomas, Jr. having left to serve in the Union army. There, in addition to farming, he served as pastor of the local church.
In 1869 Sawyer accepted the position of Packard Professor of Systematic Theology at the new Divinity School at Tufts, in Medford, Massachusetts.
He remained in that position until he retired in 1892. He lived in Medford for the rest of his life.
Many honors came to Sawyer during his long life, including an STD degree from Harvard in 1850 and an LLD from Tufts in 1894.
His funeral service was held in Tufts' Goddard Chapel. Interment was in Mount Auburn Cemetery beside the grave of Caroline, who had died five years earlier. Memorial services were held later at Goddard Chapel and at the Church of the Divine Paternity in New York City.
[Used with permission of the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography (DUUB), an on-line resource of the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society. From the biography of Thomas Jefferson Sawyer, written by Charles A. Howe.]
Thomas was born in Reading, Vermont, the son of Benjamin and Sally (York) Sawyer. He was educated at the local district school, at Chester Academy, and then at Middlebury College, where in 1829 he received a B.A. and in 1833 an M.A. While a student he supported himself by teaching at district schools.
In 1830 Sawyer was called to the Grand Street Universalist Society in New York City. Despite its minister's lack of training the society began to prosper. Sawyer's strong defense of Universalism, through sermons, lectures, debates and writing, attracted people to the church. After two years it had outgrown its quarters and relocated to Orchard Street.
In 1831 Sawyer married Caroline Mehitable Fisher of Newton, Massachusetts. The couple had five children, all born in New York City between 1834 and 1841.
In 1845 the Sawyer family moved to Clinton, New York where Thomas had accepted the position of principal at the Clinton Liberal Institute.
In 1852 Sawyer resigned his position at Clinton returned to New York City and was called for the second time by the Orchard Street congregation.
In 1861, Sawyer resigned his position and moved back to run the family farm near Clinton, his oldest son Thomas, Jr. having left to serve in the Union army. There, in addition to farming, he served as pastor of the local church.
In 1869 Sawyer accepted the position of Packard Professor of Systematic Theology at the new Divinity School at Tufts, in Medford, Massachusetts.
He remained in that position until he retired in 1892. He lived in Medford for the rest of his life.
Many honors came to Sawyer during his long life, including an STD degree from Harvard in 1850 and an LLD from Tufts in 1894.
His funeral service was held in Tufts' Goddard Chapel. Interment was in Mount Auburn Cemetery beside the grave of Caroline, who had died five years earlier. Memorial services were held later at Goddard Chapel and at the Church of the Divine Paternity in New York City.
[Used with permission of the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography (DUUB), an on-line resource of the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society. From the biography of Thomas Jefferson Sawyer, written by Charles A. Howe.]
Thomas Jefferson Sawyer (January 9, 1804-July 24, 1899), Universalist minister and educator, is best known for successfully promoting the establishment of Universalist colleges and seminaries. Tufts College and its Divinity School, and St. Lawrence University and Theological School, were largely established as a result of his persistent efforts. In addition, he taught and served as principal of the Clinton Liberal Institute in Clinton, New York, taught at the Divinity School at Tufts, and served as a parish minister in New York City. Sawyer was highly regarded in all three chief fields of his endeavor—as organizer, teacher, and minister.
Thomas was born in Reading, Vermont, the son of Benjamin and Sally (York) Sawyer. He was educated at the local district school, at Chester Academy, and then at Middlebury College, where in 1829 he received a B.A. and in 1833 an M.A. While a student he supported himself by teaching at district schools.
In 1830 Sawyer was called to the Grand Street Universalist Society in New York City. Despite its minister's lack of training the society began to prosper. Sawyer's strong defense of Universalism, through sermons, lectures, debates and writing, attracted people to the church. After two years it had outgrown its quarters and relocated to Orchard Street.
In 1831 Sawyer married Caroline Mehitable Fisher of Newton, Massachusetts. The couple had five children, all born in New York City between 1834 and 1841.
In 1845 the Sawyer family moved to Clinton, New York where Thomas had accepted the position of principal at the Clinton Liberal Institute.
In 1852 Sawyer resigned his position at Clinton returned to New York City and was called for the second time by the Orchard Street congregation.
In 1861, Sawyer resigned his position and moved back to run the family farm near Clinton, his oldest son Thomas, Jr. having left to serve in the Union army. There, in addition to farming, he served as pastor of the local church.
In 1869 Sawyer accepted the position of Packard Professor of Systematic Theology at the new Divinity School at Tufts, in Medford, Massachusetts.
He remained in that position until he retired in 1892. He lived in Medford for the rest of his life.
Many honors came to Sawyer during his long life, including an STD degree from Harvard in 1850 and an LLD from Tufts in 1894.
His funeral service was held in Tufts' Goddard Chapel. Interment was in Mount Auburn Cemetery beside the grave of Caroline, who had died five years earlier. Memorial services were held later at Goddard Chapel and at the Church of the Divine Paternity in New York City.
[Used with permission of the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography (DUUB), an on-line resource of the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society. From the biography of Thomas Jefferson Sawyer, written by Charles A. Howe.]
Thomas was born in Reading, Vermont, the son of Benjamin and Sally (York) Sawyer. He was educated at the local district school, at Chester Academy, and then at Middlebury College, where in 1829 he received a B.A. and in 1833 an M.A. While a student he supported himself by teaching at district schools.
In 1830 Sawyer was called to the Grand Street Universalist Society in New York City. Despite its minister's lack of training the society began to prosper. Sawyer's strong defense of Universalism, through sermons, lectures, debates and writing, attracted people to the church. After two years it had outgrown its quarters and relocated to Orchard Street.
In 1831 Sawyer married Caroline Mehitable Fisher of Newton, Massachusetts. The couple had five children, all born in New York City between 1834 and 1841.
In 1845 the Sawyer family moved to Clinton, New York where Thomas had accepted the position of principal at the Clinton Liberal Institute.
In 1852 Sawyer resigned his position at Clinton returned to New York City and was called for the second time by the Orchard Street congregation.
In 1861, Sawyer resigned his position and moved back to run the family farm near Clinton, his oldest son Thomas, Jr. having left to serve in the Union army. There, in addition to farming, he served as pastor of the local church.
In 1869 Sawyer accepted the position of Packard Professor of Systematic Theology at the new Divinity School at Tufts, in Medford, Massachusetts.
He remained in that position until he retired in 1892. He lived in Medford for the rest of his life.
Many honors came to Sawyer during his long life, including an STD degree from Harvard in 1850 and an LLD from Tufts in 1894.
His funeral service was held in Tufts' Goddard Chapel. Interment was in Mount Auburn Cemetery beside the grave of Caroline, who had died five years earlier. Memorial services were held later at Goddard Chapel and at the Church of the Divine Paternity in New York City.
[Used with permission of the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography (DUUB), an on-line resource of the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society. From the biography of Thomas Jefferson Sawyer, written by Charles A. Howe.]
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