Nathaniel Whitman

Nathaniel Whitman
Born 1785-12-25
Died 1869-10-29
Minister of the First Parish
In Office 1814 - 1835


Rev. Nathaniel Whitman, fifth pastor of Billerica. Born in East Bridgewater December 25, 1785, son of Deacon John Whitman; graduated Harvard College 1809 and was a tutor at Bowdoin College. Ordained colleague of Dr. Henry Cumings on January 26, 1814. He established a Bible Society, a Peace Society and the first Sunday School in town, and the church accepted the liberal (Unitarian) position under his leadership. After the town stopped raising the minister's salary in 1834 he was dismissed in 1835, and later preached at Wilton, N.H., and East Bridgewater. He died in Deerfield October 29, 1869.