Robbins, Philemon

Robbins, Philemon, a Congregational minister, was a native of Charlestown, Mass. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1729, and settled in Branford, Conn., Feb. 7, 1732. About 1740 the Legislature of Connecticut, with a view to arrest the progress of NewLightism, passed a law forbidding any minister to preach within the limits of any other minister's parish. The people of Wallingford applied to Mr. Robbins to hold meetings for them. He consented, was arraigned by the Consociation, and formally deposed. The mass of his congregation adhered to him, and he continued to preach. There was some interference of the civil authority, but he pleaded his case so well before the Legislature that his penalty was remitted. He died Aug. 13, 1781. His publications are, A Plain Narrative of the Proceedings of the Rev. Association and Consociation of New Haven, etc. (1743): — Ordination Sermons (176061). See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 1, 367.