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Historical records matching Rev. Valentine Wightman
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About Rev. Valentine Wightman
http://www.wightmanfamily.com/wgtrevval.html
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16821771
Valentine was a vigorous preacher, who presented religious conviction in plain and logical language. Nonetheless, he was often described as warm, serene and possessed of a mild disposition. He became highly sought after, traveling often to preach in other places. As early as 1710, Valentine had spear-headed a union of Connecticut and nascent New York Baptist Churches. In 1712, he preached at the New York City home of Nicholas Eyres and two years later performed twelve baptisms there during the night in order to avoid an angry mob that had been harassing the early Baptist congregation. In 1724, he and his brother Daniel ordained and installed Rev. Eyres as the first pastor of the first Baptist Church in New York City. Over the years, Valentine would participate in forming new Baptist churches throughout Connecticut and New York colonies. In 1725, Valentine published his "Letter on Singing Psalms," which was among the first published pamphlets in the New England colonies. Thus Valentine is listed among notable American writers in Allibone's Critical Dictionary of English Literature of 1858. Apparently, the pamphlet was not a popular success in its time-- singing was not a common part of worship, and the faithful seemed confused as to what to sing and how. However, in a very few years, Valentine's pamphlet on singing and worship participation would prove to be anticipatory of a major American religious movement, discussed below.
In 1727, Valentine participated in a famous debate in Lyme, CT, probably at the home of Nehemiah Smith, with the prominent Congregational Puritan minister Rev. John Bulkley of Colchester, CT. A transcript or account of that debate was published, but I have not seen it. Valentine would have probably argued for a more participatory style of worship, while Bulkley would have spoken in favor of the wisdom of the "standing order." In a sense, this debate would foreshadow the great conflict between the traditional churches of New England and the upstart evangelical tradition that would explode in the American colonies over the next two decades. Wightman and Bulkley maintained a vigorous debate in writing over the next few years.
Although Valentine's passions were clearly theology, and in particular, the growth of the Baptist church, he was also a hard-working farmer (like most clergy of that time). He bought and sold land, just like most colonists of the early 18th century. He owned land in Westerly, RI, just across the Pawcatuck River and a mere 10 miles from Groton. On August 31, 1726, Valentine sold his 250 acre Westerly parcel to John Willcox, a carpenter. He also purchased land in nearby Norwich, CT, which eventually was passed on to his sons.
Photo and info ref.: < https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16821771/valentine-wightman >, Rev Valentine Wightman, Wightman Cemetery, Groton, New London County, Connecticut.
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Rev. Valentine Wightman's Timeline
| 1681 |
April 16, 1681
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Kingstown, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
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| 1703 |
September 23, 1703
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Kingston, South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island, United States
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| 1704 |
February 18, 1704
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Kingstown, Providence Plantations County, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
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| 1706 |
October 26, 1706
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| 1711 |
May 15, 1711
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Groton, New London, Connecticut, Groton, CT, United States
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| 1712 |
November 24, 1712
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Groton, New London County, Connecticut, British North America
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| 1715 |
August 12, 1715
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Groton, New London County, Connecticut, United States
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| 1717 |
July 1, 1717
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Groton, New London County, Connecticut, United States
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| 1719 |
September 20, 1719
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Groton, New London County, Connecticut Colony
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