Walter, Nehemiah

Walter, Nehemiah a Congregational minister, was born in Ireland, in December, 1663, of English parents. As early as 1679, his father, Thomas Walter, settled in Boston, Mass. Nehemiah's preliminary education was received in his native country. In 1684 he graduated from Harvard College, and shortly after went to Nova Scotia, and resided with a French family to learn the language. Returning to Massachusetts, he resumed his studies at Cambridge, and was appointed a fellow of that college. Oct. 17, 1688, he was ordained as colleague with the famous Apostle of the Indians, John Eliot, who was then settled in Roxbury, Mass. Eliot died two years after. About 1717, in consequence of excessive application to study, health failed, and he was incapable of performing the duties of his office. He gradually recovered his health, and resumed his ministry. For twenty-eight years he was without a colleague; but Oct. 19, 1718, his son, Rev. Thomas Walter, was chosen to that position. After five years the son died, and the father again assumed the entire pastoral charge. He died Sept. 17, 1750. A volume of his Sermons was published after his death, in 1775. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 1, 217.