A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE REV. JOSEPH PILMORE,D.D. Prepared by - Cornelius Hudson.

Joseph Pilmore was born in the village of Tadinouth, in Yorkshire, England, on October 31, 1739 and died in Philadelphia, Pa.,July 24, 1825. His parents were members of the Church of England. When Joseph was about sixteen years of age he formed an acquaintance with the Reverend John Wesley, who was then stirring England with his evangelistic preaching. He was converted under Mr. Wesley's preaching and united with the Methodists. After being educated at Wesley's famous Kingswood School, he entered

the Wesleyan Conference a a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After preaching several years in "many parts of England and through all the countries of South Wales" he says "My mind was deeply impressed with a longing desire to visit Americas " At the Conference held in Bristol in 1768, a call, from the Methodist of New York and Maryland entreating us to send them over some preachers to help them, was laid before the Brethren and left to their consideration until the next yearly Conference. During that year he writes I was frequently under great

exercise of mind respecting the dear Americans and found a willingness to sacrifice everything for their sakes." Accordingly, when the proposals for sending Missionaries to America were mentioned at the Conference held at Leeds, England, in August 1769 "I told them, in the fear of God, what was on my mind, and offered myself for that service"beingthe first man to volunteer as a Missionary to America. At the same time Mr. Richard Boardman offered himself to go likewise.

On August the 21st, Joseph Pilmore and Richard Boardman embarked on board the Mary and Elizabeth in.charge of Captain Sparks,for Philadelphia, sailing from London. After a passage of nine weeks from London, "On October twentieth we made land and on the twenty-fourth landed at Gloucester Point". "When we got on shore we joined in a Doxology and gave praise to God for our deliverance and all the mercies bestowed upon us during the passage." "When we had rested a little while at a pib1ic house, Mr. Boardman and I walked to the City;a distance of six milea,where we were kindly received and entertamed by Captain Sparks and his wife." "Having no knowledge of any society in Philadelphia we had resolved to hasten forward to New York as soon as possible. we knew not of." "As we were walking along the street a man, who had been in Society in Ireland, and had seen Mr. Boardman there, met us and challenged him." ' He took 1 us home with him and in a little time Captain Webb, who had been in the city some days, came to us and gave us a hearty welcome to America," AThr two days Mr. Boardman went to New York leaving Mr. Pilmore in Philadelphia, where he began his labors. After five months he went to New York and Mr. Boardman came to Philadelphia, and for the next two years these two ministers confined their labors in large measure to these two cities, exchanging places about every three to five months. Preaching meanwhile in the towns and villages adjacent to these great cities and the country lying between. Mr. Pilmore extending his ministry down into Delaware and Maryland. In 1772 and 177 he travelled South as far as Savannaii,Georgia, organizing But God had a work for us to do thai

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Societies in Baltimore, Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia; also along the Susquehanna and at the forks of the Gunpowder River, In Jersey he preached at Burlington frequently, where a Society was organized, and at New Mills, now Pemberton, where the first chapel was built by the Methodist in New Jersey. On January 2nd,

1774,

Joseph Pilmore and Richard Boardman sailed from

New York on their return to England. In or about

1774

Mr. Pilmore was appointed by Mr. Wesley to Missionary Having labored there

work in Ireland with principal charge of the churches.

some years he was sent to Scotland, and while in Scotland came into personal relations with Samuel Seabury, then, or about to be, Bishop of Connecticut. With the result that after returning to America he sought orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church and was ordained deacon by Bishop Seabury on November and advanced to the priesthood two days later by the same bishop. Shortly afterward he became rector of the three United Parishes of Trinity,Oxford, All Saints, Lower Dublin, and St. Thomas, Whitemareh, in the vicinity of Philadelphia. His zeal as a Priest and popularity as a preacher led to his appointment as Assistant Minister at St.Paul's, Third Street below Walnut Street, Philadelphia in January 1789, in which capacity he remained until February

27,1785

1794.

In

the latter year he received and accepted a call to Christ Church, then a new Church in New York City, where he labored as Rector most acceptably for ten years. At the end of this decade he returned to StPau1s Philadelphia, to the rectorate of which he had been elected on March 5, 1804, serving in this capacity for sixteen years tLna, e1it nnths..... The University of Pennsylvania conferred upon him

the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1807.

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He published "The Renovation of Man", being the substance of a sermon delivered in St.Paul1 s Ohurch,(Philadelphia,1792) "Narrative of Labors in South Wales"(Philadelphia, 125) and left in manuscript an account of his 'Travels and Trials and Preaching" in various American colonies. He is said to have ben:twice married, and to have had one child, a daughter who died in her minority. About 1790 in Philadelphia, he married Mary (Benezet) Wood, widow of Joseph Wood, formerly of Georgia, and daughter of Daniel Benezet,Esq. by his wife Elizabeth North.

Mrs. Pilmore was baptized at Ohrist Ohurch,April 20,1756 and died

at her country seat in Oxford Township,on Friday, July 1,1808. in Christ Church ground. While assistant to Dr. Ma.gaw, Dr. Pilmore passed through the yellow fever scourge of 1793, with hazard to himself and great usefulness in his ministry among the afflicted people. He was indeed, attacked by the disease, but recovered. Dr. Pilmore's second priestly relation and first rectorship of St.Paul's was a marked one, As the popular applause and the testimony of crowded audiences for many years before his death loudly proclaimeth." Judge Barrett She was buried

writes His bearing was noble and dignified, his countenance intellectual and benignant and his appearance prepossessing. His preaching was fervid and simple, to which his melodious voice and effective gesture gave great power." "He knew every member of his congregation personally, and frequently visited them at their homes, and was regarded by most of them as a member of the family." greatest service rendered by Dr. Pilraore to St.Paul's was, perhaps. the creation or its Sunday School, The first Episcopal Sunday School in Philadel-

phia, indeed in this land.' Dr. Pilmoro resigned the rectorate of St,PauPs in l2l, :hen the shadows began to lengthen quickly. age, July 2,lo25. He died in the eightysixth year of his

His body was buried under the chancel of St,Paul's Church.

His resting place is marked by a white marble slab about 3 x feet laid in the floor of the Church and inscribed Reverend Joseph Pilmore,D.D. Rector of this Church 16 years and eight months Died July 24th,1825 Age 35 years

The above facts are taken largely from Pilmore1 s Journal and the Outline of the History of St.Paults Ohurch,by Norris Stanley Barrett.