Thaxter, Joseph

Thaxter, Joseph a Unitarian minister, was born at Hingham, Mass., April 23, 1742. He graduated at Harvard College in 1768, expecting to enter the medical profession, but, deciding upon the ministry, he studied theology under Dr. Gay, and began to preach in 1771. On Jan. 23, 1776, he received a commission as chaplain in the army, and probably held that position for two or three years. He was installed pastor of the Church in Edgarton, Martha's Vineyard, in 1780. The last Sunday that he preached he fell in the pulpit, was assisted home, and died July 18, 1827. Mr. Thaxter acted as chaplain at the laying of the corner-stone of the Bunker Hill monument, July 17, 1825. His only publication, so far as known, was a Catechism for Sabbath-schools. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 8:83.