A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE REV. JOSEPH PILMORE,D.D.

Prepared by - Cornelius Hudson.

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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 sac-

rifice 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, sail-

ing 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 enter-

tamed 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. But God had a work for us to do thai

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." '1 He took

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 Philadel-

phia, 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

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Societies in Baltimore, Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia; also along the Susque-

hanna and at the forks of the Gunpowder River,

In Jersey he preached at Burlington frequently, where a Society was or-

ganized, 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

work in Ireland with principal charge of the churches. Having labored there

some years he was sent to Scotland, and while in Scotland came into personal re-

lations 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 27,1785

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 appoint-

ment as Assistant Minister at St.Paul's, Third Street below Walnut Street, Phila-

delphia in January 1789, in which capacity he remained until February 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 beén: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. She was buried

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 minis-

try 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

writes His bearing was noble and dignified, his countenance intellectual and be-

nignant 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. He died in the eighty—sixth year of his

age, July 2,lo25. His body was buried under the chancel of St,Paul's Church.

His resting place is marked by a white marble slab about 3 xô 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.