Obadiah

Obadiah Holmes

Obadiah Holmes was born at Preston, Lancashire, England, about 1606, and came to this country about 1639. He resided for a while in Salem, Massachusetts but removed to Rehobeth, Massachusetts where he became a Baptist, and united with the church in Newport, Rhode Island.

In the month of July, 1651, in company with Dr. John Clarke and Mr. Crandall, he made a visit to William Witter, A Baptist, who resided at Lynn, Massachusetts. The day after their arrival being the Sabbath, they arranged to have a religious service at Witter's home. While Dr. Clarke preached, two constables presented to him the following warrant:

"By virtue hereof, you are required to go to the house of William Witter, and to search from house to house for certain erroneous person, being strangers and them to apprehend, and in safe custody to keep, and to-morrow morning at eight o'clock to bring before me. Robert Bridges."

The three "erroneous persons, being strangers," were at once arrested and carried, first to "the ale-house or ordinary," and then forced to attend the meeting of the day. The next morning they were taken before Mr. Bridges, who sent them to prison at Boston. Having remained a fortnight there, they were brought before the Court Of Assistants for trial, which sentenced Dr. Clarke to pay a fine of twenty pounds, Mr. Holmes thirty pounds, and Mr. Crandall five pounds, and in default of payment they were to be publicly whipped.

Unknown to Mr. Clarke some one paid his fine, and Mr. Crandall was released on promise that he would appear at the next court. Mr. Holmes was kept in prison until September, when, his fine not having been paid, he was brought out and publicly whipped. Such was the charity of the New England Congregationalists of that day.

Mr. Holmes soon after removed to Newport. In 1652 he was ordained to preach the gospel, and took Dr. Clarke's place as pastor of the Baptist church in Newport. He died in 1682, his sufferings having made a lasting effect upon the lives on many.

**INFORMATION GLEANED FROM CATHCART'S BAPTIST ENCYCLOPEDIA.