156 NATURAL HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF GROTON, MASS. 



after graduating at Pembroke college, Oxford, he was ordained 

 in the church. Soon afterward he came to America, where 

 he attracted large audiences, calling them to repentance ; an'd 

 he swayed them as the winds do the forest trees. He was an 

 effective speaker, and had a stentorian voice, which, according 

 to contemporary accounts, could be heard a mile away. It is 

 said that he preached to bigger crowds than ever listened to 

 any other man ; and it is related of him that once he addressed 

 an audience of 20,000 persons on Boston Common. At one 

 time Mr. VVhitefield was closely associated with John Wesley 

 and his brother Charles, but their relations became strained, 

 and finally they separated. He had a falling out also with 

 some of the New England ministry, as they did not altogether 

 favor his methods; but he was a power in the land and did 

 an immense deal of good in showing sinners the error of 

 their ways. He made seven voyages to this country, and 

 preached here thousands of times, and died suddenly on Sep- 

 tember 30, 1770, at Newburyport, where he lies buried. 



The Reverend Caleb Trowbridge, who was ordained at 

 Groton March 2, 171 5, and remained there until the time of 

 his death, on September 9, 1760, did not sympathize with 

 Mr. Whitefield's views. 



According to the extract from "The Boston Gazette, or 

 Weekly Journal," June 18, 1745, which is given below, Mr. 

 Whitefield preached in the adjoining towns of Hollis, Town- 

 send, Pepperell, Dunstable and Harvard, but he does not 

 appear to have come to Groton, which at that time was the 

 important centre of the neighborhood. From this fact I infer 

 that his relations with Mr. Trowbridge were not close. 



For about these twelve Days last past the Rev. Mr. Whitefield has 

 been out of Town, in which Time he has preach'd once on a Fast 

 Day on the Account of the Cape-Breton Expedition for the Rev. Mr. 

 Emmerson at Maiden ; four Times for the Rev. Mr. Hobby of Read- 

 ing ; five Times for the Rev. Mr. Mcgregre of Londonderry ; twice 

 for the Rev. Mr. Emmerso)i of Nisitiscet [Hollis, N. H.]; once for 

 the Rev. Mr. Hemmingway of Townshend ; once at Groton Precinct 

 [Pepperell] at a new Meeting-House ; once at Litchfield; once at 



