Bushnell, Jedediah

Bushnell, Jedediah a Congregational minister, was born in Saybrook, Conn., Nov. 26, 1769. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, and at twenty- one established himself in the business. Two years after, he was converted. After a preliminary course of study, he entered Williams College, from, which he graduated in 1797. During his collegiate career he taught school. He studied theology under the Rev. Mr. Judson of Sheffield, Mass.; and, after receiving license to preach, he labored successfully in various places. He next entered the service of the Connecticut Missionary Society, laboring especially in Western New York and in Western Vermont during the first five years. On May 25, 1803, he was installed pastor in Cornwall, Vt. During his ministry in this place, which covered the period of thirty- three years, his church enjoyed fourteen revivals of religion. On May 25, 1836, he resigned his pastorate. For seven years he was employed in ministering to the neighboring churches. Ire 1843 he was disabled by an affection of the throat. He died May 25,1836. He was one of the founders of the Vermont Missionary Society, and one of its Committee of Missions. For a considerable time he was a trustee of Middlebury College. . He was one of the editors of a monthly magazine published in Middlebury, Vt., for several years, by the General Convention. This periodical was called The Adviser. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, ii, 422.