Davenport, John

Davenport, John (elder brother of Christopher), an eminent Congregational minister, was born at Coventry, England, 1597. He was sent to Merton College, Oxford, 1613, and, after passing B.A., he entered the ministry at nineteen. Having served a short time at Hilton Castle as chaplain, he became rector of St. Stephen's Church, London. After an interview with Mr. John Cotton he became a Nonconformist, and, to escape bishop Laud, he fled to Holland in 1633. In 1635 he returned to London, and sailed for Boston, Mass., where he arrived June 26, 1637. With a number of others he sailed on March 00,1638, for Quinipiac, now New Haven. In 1639 a Church was formed, and on August 22 Mr. Davenport was installed pastor. He was ordained, with Mr. James Allen as colleague, pastor of the First Church, Boston, Dec. 9,1668, and died March 15,1670. He published Instructions to the Elders of the English Church (1634); Report of some Proceedings against John Paget (1634); Allegations of Scripture against the Baptizing of some kind of Infants (1634); Catechism concerning the chief Heads of the Christian Religion (Lond. 1659); and a number of occasional sermons. — Sprague, Annals, 1:94; New Gen. Biog. Dict. 4:325.