Adkins, Thomas

Adkins, Thomas, an English Congregational minister, was born at Ravenstone. Buckinghamshire, April 1,1787. He was very precocious, even at the age of eight. On reaching his twelfth year he was sent to Newport Pagnell College, in which he soon rose to the rank of a teacher; and such was his proficiency in various branches of knowledge that at the age of seventeen he became a tutor in a large school at Northampton. Hand in hand with the growth of his intellect was that of his spiritual life, and a desire to consecrate himself to the service of Christ. In 1807 Mr. Adkins entered Hoxton Academy for special ministerial preparation, and was soon sent into the neighboring villages to preach.. In 1810 he supplied the vacant pulpit of the Congregational Church in Southampton, and in the following year was ordained to its pastorate. Here for. more than fifty-seven years he labored with much success. His death occurred Dec. 9, '1868. Mr. Aidkins was a good linguist, and had considerable acquaintance with the Latin and French languages, as also with the Greek New Testament and Hebrew Bible. But his piety was more conspicuous than his learning. He walked with God, and his devotion burned as a living flame, See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1870, p. 275.