Blain, John

Blain, John a Baptist minister, was born at Fishkill, Dutchess Co., N. Y., Feb. 14, 1795. He was converted at the age of fifteen, and at twenty-three united with the only Baptist Church then existing in Albany. When engaged as a travelling trader, he felt impressed that it was his duty to preach. After some: preparatory study, he was licensed and ordained, commencing to preach in November, 1819. He was a pastor successively in Auburn (N. Y.), Stonigton (Conn.), Pawtucket and Providence (R. I.), New York city, Syracuse, in two churches in Charlestown (Mass.), Central Falls and Providence (R. I.), and Mansfield (Mass.). Regarding his gifts as fitting him for evangelistic rather than pastoral work, he preached in many places in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. We are told that during his ministry he had charge of fourteen churches, baptized about three thousand persons, labored in about one hundred revivals,. preached in more than one thousand places, delivered, over nine thousand five hundred sermons, and married over two thousand couples. After having contributed liberally to various objects of benevolence, in his last will he bequeathed his property to mission causes. He received a small pension from the government for services rendered in the war of 1812. His death took place at Mansfield, Dec. 26, 1879. See Rhode Island Biog. Cyclopaedia, p. 259; Providence Journal, Dec. 30, 1879. (J. C. S.)