ASHURST HENRY sir, Massachusetts agent at the court of Great Britain, was the son of Henry. Ashurst, esq. who was a member of parliament, and friend to New England. It is said that he had a great hand in settling the corporation for propagating the gospel among the Indians in New England, and the parts adjacent." The father and son were both favourable to the dissenters; yet the latter was made a baronet by Charles the 2d, his lady being the daughter of lord Paget, and himself a favourite, which may seem strange, as he was a man more remarkable for his uprightness, his attachment to religion, and friendly propensities, than brilliant parts. He had, however, great influence at court, and yet very often relieved dissenting ministers when they were fined, or sent to prison. Mr. Hutchinson says, that the family of Ashurst had always been favourable to these plantations; and, therefore, sir Henry was chosen agent. The first addresses that were sent from Massachusetts, after the restoration, went through his hands, as the medium of communication with the king. When Dr. Increase Mather appeared at the British court to obtain redress of grievances, and favour for Massachusetts colony, he engaged sir H. Ashurst to make application, in the character of their agent. He continued in this relation to the colony for several years, and his services were acknowledged with gratitude. At length, a different influence prevailed among the members of our general court; and as they

proceeded to ask some questions respecting him. To his great surprise he was assured that he was the son of this woman, at 76 years of age. His excellency smiling at this improbable story, enquired what sort of a man had been his father. The good woman made no reply, but ran and led her husband to the door, who was above an hundred years old. He confirmed what the woman had said. Notwithstanding his great age, he was strong in his limbs and voice, but had lost his sight. The woman had no complaint and retained a vigour uncommon at her years. Sir Edmund was pleased at this extraordinary account; made him self known to her, and offered to take care of the lad; but the old folks would not part with him. However, he made them a present of twenty pounds.

could not make him subservient to their party zeal, he was dismissed from the agency, without receiving even the pecuniary reward to which he was justly entitled. This excited his honest resentment, and showed how much republicks want gratitude. He died in 1710.

His brother, sir William Ashurst, possessed superior talents. The party in opposition to Dudley chose him agent, but he refused the office, " being well acquainted with the slights put upon his brother." He recommended Jeremiah Dummer, who was afterwards chosen.

AUCHMUTY ROBERT, an eminent barrister during the administration of Belcher and Shirley. He was one of the directors of the Land Bank, and was sent to England, 1741, being joined with Kilby in the agency. His particular business was to settle the Rhode Island dispute concerning the line. While he was in England, he laid the plan of an expedition to Cape Breton. He wrote a letter to the ministry, dated, Cecil street, 1744.

The latter years of his life he was judge advocate of the court of admiralty.

He left two sons, and one daughter, whom Mr. Pratt married, who was afterwards chief justice of New York. The sons were eminent in their profession. Samuel the eldest was graduated at Harvard College, 1742, was minister of the Episcopal church in the city of New York. He received a degree of doctor in divinity from the university of Oxford.

AUCHMUTY ROBERT Succeeded his father in his line of business; had not a college education, but was a most agreeable speaker at the bar; his tongue was mellifluous, and his manner very interesting to the jury. In legal knowledge he was doubtless inferior to several of his contemporaries, but in all important causes, where addresses were to be made to the jury, he was applied to, and was generally successful. He was appointed judge of the admi

ralty, 1768. But, upon one occasion, he appeared after this, as a pleader at the bar. He was council with Mr. Adams, for capt. Thomas Preston, and perhaps no plea was ever more admired, though the tide of prejudice was much against his cause. It has been since handed round in mss. but at this day, in the reading, it falls far short of the delivery.

Judge Auchmuty was a zealous royalist, and left America, 1776, and died in England.

AVERY JOHN, of New Sarum, came to New England in 1635. The people of Marblehead de.

sired him to be their minister, but he declined; because the church was not gathered, and wen to Newbury, with a view of fixing his habitation in that town. In the course of the year he had pressing solicitations from the inhabitants of Marblehead, to sit down with them, and Mr. Cotton, with other eminent men, advising him, he consented to go there. He embarked on board a pinnace, August 11, 1635. The company consisted of twenty three, among them Mr. Antony Thacher and family, and Mr. William Eliot, who also came from New Sarum in the same ship. On the 14th day of the month, they met with a violent gale which overset the pinnace. Mr. Avery was washed by a wave upon the island called Thacher's Woe, from this melancholy circumstance, several of Mr. Thacher's family being shipwrecked upon it. Mr. Thacher also named the rock upon which they stood, Avery's fall, because he tell from it, and perished in the waters. It bears the name to the present day.

BACKUS ISAAC, pastor of the first Baptist church in Middleborough, is eminent among the divines, and historians of New England.

He had not the advantage of a university education, but his reading was extensive, his memory te nacious, his mind strong. He was a zealous preacher, an eager disputant, upright in his conduct, though his speech and manners were rough.

Mr. Backus was born at Norwich, Connecticut, 1724; was ordained over a Congregational church in Middleborough, 1748; became a convert to the sentiments of the Antipedobaptists, 1756. He was active in forming a church of that persuasion, and the same year was installed as their pastor, which relation was continued until his death in the year 1806.

The town of Middleborough chose him one of their delegates in the convention which adopted the federal constitution, and he made a speech in favour of it. This speech he read, though he always preached extempore. He never missed an opportunity to censure the custom of carrying notes into the pulpit, and the latter part of his life expressed his chagrin, that so many of his own de. nomination should imitate the common practice.

He was, however, a very industrious man in writing upon many subjects both of theology, and the antiquities of the country.

The history of the Baptists is in three volumes. The two first, he afterwards abridged in one smaller octavo volume.

This work contains many facts, much important information, and would be read with more interest, had it been written with less party spirit. This may give a zest to logical essays; it is always expected in theological controversies, but it tarnishes the pure and serene lustre of the historick page.*

His other works would (if bound together) make several volumes. They consist of pamphlets which are controversial pieces, essays, sermons, and many of them phillipicks against the oppressive acts of the legislature of Massachusetts, and also against the tyranny of the Congregational churches.

Upon this subject he also wrote many fugitive pieces in the newspapers.

He

The Historical Society were benefited by his labours. wrote a history of Middleborough which is published in a third volume of their collections. He also contributed other communications, being very exact as to dates, and accurate in correcting topographical errors.

There was no funeral sermon printed after his death, but a short sketch of his character is given in the Baptist missionary magazine, Feb. 1807:

BAILEY JOHN, one of the ejected ministers, 1662, went to Limerick in Ireland, and then found it necessary to remove to New England. He was assistant minister of the first church in Boston from the year 1693 to 1697, the year of his death. He was 54 years old when he died The members of the church were desirous he should settle as colleague pastor with Mr. Allen, but he declined. Mr. Neal mentions his being minister at Watertown, as well as his brother Thomas, who left Ireland at the same time, and who was, afterwards, minister of the church in that place. They both took up their residence in Watertown, but Mr. J. Bailey only preached occasionally there, as in other churches, until he became assistant to Mr. Allen after the death of Mr. Oxenbridge. The author of the Magnalia celebrates his piety in several pages. He was among his greatest favourites. His own works also praise him. His printed address to the people at Limerick, which he wrote in 1684, is full of good advice; it is sensible and pathetick. He says he was not allowed to preach a farewell sermon to them, and therefore sends a long letter. He also wrote a book upon the glory of God; and the way in which his people may glorify him.

He was buried in the common burial place, near the old alms-house, and around the spot lie many of his descendants. Of his posterity now living are two grand children; three great grand children; and several of the fifth generation. These are in the female line, and bear the name of Willis or Bel. knap.

BAILEY THOMAS, minister of Watertown, also one of the ejected ministers. He preached chiefly to the people in that town; but was a man very acecptable to people in other places. A traveller, who was in New England in their time, says he visited the brothers, J. and T. Bailey, in Boston. He calls them ministers of Boston; which has led some to doubt the correctness of his relation in other parts of his book.