Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/104

84 five years he was a member of tlie state legislature, and state senator Iroin 17(56 till 1784. He also held the ofRce of judge of the court of common pleas. When he was a member of the council in Hartford, on the dark day in 1780, it was proposed to adjourn, as some thought the day of judgment was at hand ; but he objected, saying : " That day is either at hand or it is not : if it is not, there is no cause of adjournment ; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish, therefore, that candles may be brought." — James, another son of John, clei-gyman, b. in Stamford, Conn., in 1716; d. in Hopewell, N. J., 10 Nov., 1757, was graduated at Yale in 1732, and subsequently pur- sued his theological studies in New Haven. He is supposed to haA'e preached first in New Jersey, and then was called to Southold, L. 1., where he was ordained on 26 Oct., 1738. Soon after his settle- ment the revival known as the " Great awakening " occurred, during which he was very active and successful. Subsequently he held services at Baskingridge, N. J., where likewise there was a revival, and in 1741 he visited Connecticut, preach- ing in various places, everywhere exciting great attention. At Stonington one hundred persons are said to have been converted by his first sermon. Thence he proceeded to Westerly, R. I., accor^i- panied by the people in solemn procession, singing as they moved along the road. His zeal in effect- ing conversions, and the methods employed, were not altogether to the liking of his Connecticut brethren, and later the assembly decided " that the behavior, conduct, and doctrines advanced by said James Davenport, do, and have a natural tendency to disturl) and destroy the peace and or- der of this government. Yet it further appears to this Assembly that the said Davenport is under the influence of enthusiastic impressions and im- pulses, and thereby distiirbed in the rational facul- ties of his mind, and therefore to be pitied and compassionated, and not to be treated as otherwise he might be." He was expelled from the colony, but shortly afterward ajjpeared in Boston, where his erratic actions led to his arrest and imprison- ment. In the trial that followed he was declared " non convpos mentis, and therefore not guilty." His relations with the Southold congregation were severed by a council of ministers in 1742, and a curious document giving the reasons for such ac- tion was published. In March, 1743, he went to New London, by request of a company of his par- tisans, to organize them into a church. Here he contiruied his peculiar habits, destroying by fire " wigs, cloaks, breeches, hoods, gowns, rings, jewels, necklaces, and certain books," in order " to cure his people of their idolatrous love of worldly things." He was prostrated by a serious illness, and influenced to publish a reti'action of his errors in the Boston " Grazette " in July, 1744. In Sep- tember, 1746, he became a member of the New Brunswick presbytery, and two years later was transferred to the New York presbytery, preach- ing in various places. In 1750 he visited Virginia for his health, where his labors proved acceptable and successful. On his return he was installed, in October, 1754, as pastor of the Newside church of Hopewell and Maidenhead. During the same year he was moderator of the New York synod, and de- livered the opening sermon, with the title " The Faithful Minister Encouraged." Mr. Davenport continued with this parish until his death, and lies buried near Pennington, N. J. Whitefield speaks of him as "a sweet, pious soul." — John, son of Abraham, lawyer, b. in Stamfoi'd, Conn., 16 Jan., 1752; d. there, 28 Nov., 1830, was graduated at Yale in 1770, and was a tutor there during 1773-'4. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar and practised in Stamford. During the Revolu- tionary war he served in the commissary depart- ment, and attained the rank of major. He was elected to congress as a federalist, and served continuously from 2 Dec, 1799, till 3 March, 1817. — James, son of Abraham, lawyer, b. in Stamford, Conn., 12 Oct., 1758 ; d. there, 3 Aug., 1797. He was graduated at Yale in 1777, and served in the com- missary department in the war of the Revolution. He was a judge of the court of common pleas, and a representative in congress from 5 Dec, 1796, till 3 Aug., 1797. He was a member of the corpora- tion of Yale college from 1793 till 1797, and Presi- dent Dwight says of him : " Few persons have been more, or more deservedly, esteemed than the Hon. James Davenport."

DAVENPORT, Nicholas T., actor, b. in 1831 ; d. in Boston, Mass., 26 Aug., 1867. His real name was Deven, and his first appearance on the stage was in 1849, at the Chatham theatre. New York. In September, 1850, he naade his first appearance in Philadelphia, at the Arch street theatre, as Valaire in " The Secret," but the greater portion of his life was spent in Boston, where he was con- nected with a theatre company that was organized in that city. He was a careful and conscientious actor, and maintained a good position in society by his talents and integrity. Mr. Davenport was likewise an excellent sketch-writer.

DAVENPORT, Richard, colonist, b. in Eng- land in 1606 ; d. in Boston, Mass., 15 July, 1665. He came to America in the ship " Abigail " with John Endicott, leaving Weymouth, England, 20 July, 1628. In November, 1636, he was elected ensign of Gov. Endicott's company, and at his command cut out the cross from the British flag. In memory of this circumstance he subsequently named a daughter Trucross. He was lieutenant of a Salem company in the Pequot war, and be- came commander of the castle in Boston harbor in July, 1645. He was killed by lightning. — His grandson, Addiiigton, jurist, b. in Boston, Mass., 3 Aug.. 1670 ; d. there, 2 April, 1736. He was gradu- ated at Harvard in 1689, visited England, Spain, and the West Indies, and, on his return to Boston, became register of deeds for Suffolk county. He was one of the founders of Brattle street church in 1698. He was afterward successively clerk of the house of representatives, supreme court, and court of common plea-s, was elected a member of the council, served as a representative in 1711 -'3, and was judge of the supreme court from 1715 till the time of his death.— His son, Addington, b. in Boston, Mass., 16 May, 1701 ; d. in London, Eng- land, 8 Sept., 1746, was graduated at Harvard in 1719, studied law, and was attorney-general from 1828 till 1832, but turned his attention to the min- istry and went to England to receive orders. On his return he became minister of St. Andrew's church, Scituate, Mass., on 15 April, 1730, and re- mained until 15 April, 1737, when he was chosen assistant minister of the 1st Episcopal church in Boston (King's chapel). Here he remained initil 8 May, 1740,"when he was elected the first rector of Trinity church, Boston. On leaving Scituate he gave his house and land to the Society for propa- gating the gospel in foreign parts.

DAVENPORT, Thomas, inventor, b. in Williamstown, Vt., 9 July, 1802 ; d. in Salisbury, Vt., 6 July, 1851. He was apprenticed at the age of fourteen to a blacksmith, and his opportunities for education were limited. In 1833 he began the study of electro-magnetism, and in 1835 exhibited