Rev. John Cleaveland

Rev. John Cleveland of Chebacco. He was a great-grandson of Moses and Ann of Woburn, a grandson of Samuel & Persis Cleveland of Chelmsford and Canterbury, CT, and a son of Josiah Cleveland of Canterbury and of Abigail (Paine) Cleveland, his wife. He was born at Canterbury April 22, 1722; was graduated at Yale College 1745 and settled over Chebacco Parish in Ipswich, now the town of Essex, 1747. He married for his first wife Mary Dodge (Choate?) dau of Parker Dodge, by whom he had four sons and 3 daughters. As she died in 1768 he next m. (2) the widow Mary Neal Forster of Manchester, with whom his connection as also that with his first wife, was eminently happy.

In the Frech War 1758, he went as Chaplain and at the commencement of the Revolutionary struggle he served as a Chaplain at Cambridge; and with him at that time were two of his brothers and all four of his sons. In 1763 he was rejoiced to witness a powerful revival among his people. In his preaching he was not confined to written sermons. It was said of him by Rev. Dr. Emmons that "he was a pattern of piety, and an ornament to the Christian and clerical profession." His faithful labors were

p.604

crowned with great success; at one period in about six months, one hundred persons were added to his church. He died in peace and hope April 22, 1799 on his 77th birthday. History of Woburn