Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/793

Rh to the state senate in 1809 and 1810, and in 1835-7 served a term in congress, having been elected as a Whig. He did much to improve methods of farm- ing in his county, and his own estate on Lake Phelps was a model. — Ebenezer's son, James Johnston, soldier, b. in Tyrrel countv, N. C, 4 July, 1828; d. near Winchester, Va., 17"July, 1803, was graduated at the University of North Caro- lina in 1847, and became assistant professor in the Naval observatory at Washington, but shortly af- terward began the study of law. fie travelled in Europe in 1850-'2, and then began practice in Charleston, S. C. He was elected to the legislature in 1856, and in 1858 went abroad again and entered the Sardinian ai'my ; but the peace of Villa Franca prevented him from seeing active service, and after a visit to Spain he returned to South Carolina and devoted himself to the improvement of the militia, in which he was elected captain. In 1860, by order of Gov. Pickens, he demanded of Maj. Robert An- derson the evacuation of Fort Sumter. He was afterward made colonel of the 12th North Carolina regiment, and in 1862 was promoted brigadier- general in the Confederate army. He was wounded and taken prisoner at Seven Pines, and after his exchange fought at Gettysburg, where he com- manded Heth's division on the third day, took part in Pickett's charge, and was wounded again. On the retreat into Virginia that followed he was surprised by a small party of National cavalry and received wounds from which he died three days later. Gen. Pettigrew published " Spain and the Spaniards " (1859). See " Memorial of J. John- ston Pettigrew," by William H. Trescott (Charles- ton, S. C, 1870).

PETTINUILL, Amos, clergyman, b. in Salem, N. H., 9 Aug., 1780 ; d. in Salem Bridge, Conn., 17 Aug., 1830. He was graduated at Harvard in 1805, and was pastor of Methodist Episcopal churches in New York and Connecticut from his ordination in 1807 until his death. He was also a successful teacher. He published a " View of the Heavens " (1826) ; " The Spirit of Methodism " (1829) ; some occasional sermons, and a rotary celestial map. See a memoir of him l)v Luther Hart (Boston, 1832).

PETTINGILL, John Hancock, theologian, b. in Manchester, Vt., 11 May, 1815 ; d. in New Haven, Conn., 27 Feb., 1887. He was graduated at Yale in 1837, and subsequently at Union theological semi- nary. New York city. Until 1843 Mr. Pettingill was a professor in the Institution for the deaf and dumb in the latter city, but in that year he ac- cepted a call to be pastor of a Congregational church at South Dennis, Mass., where he remained until 1847. He was subsequently called to Essex and Westbrook, Conn., and Saxonville, Mass., be- sides acting as district secretary of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions, resid- ing in that capacity at Albany, N. Y., from 1852 till 1860. In 1856-'7 he visited the missions of the American board in Servia, Turkey, and Greece, and between 1866 and 1872 he travelled extensively over northern Europe in behalf of the American seamen's friend society, residing at Antwerp as its chaplain. During the prevalence of the cholera in 1866 he devoted much time to the care of the sick, and was publicly thanked by the Belgian govern- ment. On returning to this country, he resided for a time in New York city, afterward removing to Philadelphia, where the most of his books and essays were written. Mr. Pettingill was chiefly known as a writer on theological suVjjects, and as the original American advocate of what is known as conditional immortality, holding that only those who believe in Christ receive the gift of eternal life, and maintaining that this doctrine was held by the early Christian church until it was cor- rupted by Platoiusm. These views not meeting with recognition or acceptance, Mr. Pettingill suf- fered from financial emlmrrassment, religious per- secution, and even social ostracism. He at first experienced great difficulty in getting his books printed, but lived to see them widely circuhited. They have been translated into German, Italian, and other European languages. In England their sale has been very large, and their author was there regarded as one of the brightest and most vigorous writers on his side of the controversy. At the time of his death Mr. Pettingill had a large following, and was in constant receipt of letters from friends and converts both in this country and in P^urope. Besides contributing largely to periodical litera- ture, he wrote " The Homiletical Index," a refer- ence-book for clergymen (New York. 1877) ; " The Theological Trilemma" (1878); "Platonism versus Christianity " and " Bible Terminologv " (Philadel- phia, 1881); "Life Everlasting" (1882): "The Un- speakable Gift " (Yarmouth, Me., 1884) ; and " Views and Reviews in Eschatology " (1887).

PETTIT, Charles, patriot, b. near Amwell, N. J., in 1736; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 4 Sept.. 1806. His ancestors, who were Huguenots, emigrated to this country about the middle of the 17th century and settled in southern New York. Charles re- ceived a classical educa- tion, and early in life mar- ried the sister of Joseph Reed, to which connection he owed his first success. When Reed was appoint- ed provincial surrogate by Gov. William Franklin in 1767, Pettit was cominis- sioned surrogate under him, and succeeded Reed as deputy secretary of the province in 1769. He was admitted to the bar in 1770, became a councillor in 1773, was secretary to Gov. Franklin in 1772-'4, and went with him when he removed from Burlington to South Amboy; but when Franklin adhered to the royal cause, Pettit took sides with the people, and rendered valuable service in behalf of the colonies. He retained the secretaryship under Gov. William Livingston, and held office until 1778, when he resigned to become assistant quartermaster-general of the Continental army. He declined the post of quartermaster-general to succeed Gen. Nathaniel Greene, and served in his original office until the close of the war. He then settled in Philadelphia as a merchant, and while a member of the legislature in 1783-4 originated the funding system of Pennsylvania. He was chosen by that body a delegate to congress in April, 1785, and served till 1787. He was a powerful advocate of the adoption of the Federal constitution in the general convention in Harrisburg, and in 1791 was chosen to present to congress the claims of Pennsylvania for expenditures during the Revolution. "lie was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania in 1791-1802, an active member of the American philosophical society, and in 1796-'8and in 1799-1S06 was president of the Insurance company of North America. —His grandson, Thomas McKean, lawyer, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 26 Dec. 1797; d. there, 30 May, 1853, was graduated at the University of Pennsyl-