Ambrose, Samuel (1)

a Baptist minister, was born at Exeter, N. H., in 1754. He lost his father when he was but six years of age, and the care of his education devolved on his pious mother. It was not until the twenty-sixth year of his age that he became a hopeful Christian, and not long after felt it to be his duty to preach the Gospel. In 1782 he removed to Sutton, N. H. In April of this year a Church was constituted, of which he was ordained the pastor in October. He continued in this office eighteen years, preaching, however, in neighboring towns a part of the Sabbaths of the year. Soon after his settlement he was blessed with an extensive revival, which was quite general in Sutton, and reached to the neighboring towns. In 1800 Mr. Ambrose discontinued his ministerial services in Sutton, and removed his Church relations to New London, N. H. From 1800 to 1820 he was busily occupied in his Master's cause, chiefly as stated supply in a number of towns in New Hampshire, and as a missionary sent out under the direction of the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society in the destitute and sparsely settled portions of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Canada. "His journals, though imperfect, present him to us, amid, hardships, toils, and labors, instructing the ignorant, comforting the feeble-minded, encouraging the weak, and preaching the Gospel to the poor." From 1820 to 1828 he made a few missionary tours; generally, however, during this period he was at his home during the week, preaching as occasion presented on the Sabbath. His interest in the kingdom of Christ remained unabated until the close of life. He died May 30, 1830. See Amer. Baptist Magazine, 11, 97-104. (J. C. S.)