Spring, Samuel, Sen, Dd

Spring, Samuel, Sen., D.D.

a Congregational minister, was born at Northbridge, Mass., Feb. 27, 1746. He graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1771; was licensed to preach in 1774, and in the following year joined the army as chaplain, and marched under Col. Arnold in the disastrous expedition to Canada. In 1776 he left the army, and in 1777 was ordained over the Church in Newburyport, Mass., and remained pastor until his death, March 4, 1819. Dr. Spring was a primary agent in establishing Andover Theological Seminary. "His personal appearance," says Dr. Woods, was marked with nobleness; his countenance was indicative of lofty intelligence, and ardent, benevolent feeling; his intellect was clear, active, and penetrating." He had a very modest estimate withal of his spiritual and mental attainments. As a preacher, Dr. Spring was able and frequently eloquent. He published two Sermons in the American, Preacher, vol. 4 (1793): — A Letter addressed to the Rev. Solomon Aiken on the Subject of Two Fast-day Sermons (1809); and a number of occasional Sermons. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 2, 85.