| 254
|
|
Sixth Generation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Friend, a newspaper published at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, 15 Jan. 1846.
|
|
|
|
"The Rev. Samuel Whitney was born April 28, 1793, in Branford, near New Haven. Little is known by the writer of his childhood and youth. His mother died when he was about 14 years old, at which time he went to Northford to live with an elder sister, mother of the Rev. Eli Smith, missionary to Palestine.
|
|
|
|
"He probably had little religious instruction up to this period, as neither of his parents was pious. He had the joy, however, of hearing, several years before the death of his aged father, that he had become a Christian, and at last approved of his son's choice in devoting himself to the work of foreign missions. Through the influence of his pious sister and her husband, he was preserved from many of the rocks on which unguarded youth make fatal shipwreck, and drawn insensibly to the paths of virtue and religion. Some time about the year 1813, when he was about 20 years of age, he was hopefully converted to Christ, and he united with the church of Northford Not long after this, he had an interview with Mr. John Maltby, now pastor of the Hammond street church of Bangor, Maine, which led him to resolve to seek an education and prepare himself for the gospel ministry. This he undertook with his wonted zeal. In 1817, he entered Yale College, where he was noted for his consistent, pious deportment and zealous application to study. He had prosecuted his studies in that institution for only two years, when, hearing that the A. B. C. F. M. were seeking men to establish a mission at the Sandwich Islands, and that they found much difficulty in getting the requisite number, he volunteered to go, and pursue his theological studies on heathen ground. His offer was accepted; and on the 4th of October, 1819, he was married to Miss Mary Partridge, at Pittsfield, Mass. On the 23d of the same month, they embarked at Boston, on board the Thaddeus, with the other pioneer missionaries to these Hawaiian shores. On the way, he narrowly escaped being drowned. One day, while with a smooth sea and favorable breeze, the ship was going six or eight miles an hour, as a recreation amid the tedium of sea life, he joined the first mate, who was engaged in painting the outside of the ship. Having previously examined the rope by which he was to hold, and found it securely fastened to a pin on the side of the ship, he took his stand on the stage; and holding to the rope with one hand, painted with the other. While thus engaged, one who hated the name and office of missionary, slyly unloosed the rope by which he held, and he was precipitated into the ocean. Providentially there was a bench on deck that day, though it had not been brought on deck before during the voyage. Mr. Hunnewell, the second mate, afterwards merchant at Honolulu, threw this overboard, and Mr. Whitney was so fortunate as to reach it and get on it. He was left almost out of sight before the ship could be brought to. During this time of suspense and peril, he renewed the solemn dedication of himself to the Lord, and vowed that, if he would
|
|
|
