Pardon TILLINGHAST, REVEREND
He was a Cooper. He sailed from Alfriston, England in 1643. He enteredthe Providence Plantation Colony by way of Connecticut in 1645. He wasadmitted as Freeman in 1658. He was 6th. Pastor of the 1st. Baptist Church in Providence, Rhode Island, and served 37 years. In the government of the colony Pardon served continually as listed; 1687-Overseer of the Poor 1672-1680-90-94-97 and 1700-Deputy of The Providence General Colonial Assembly. 1688-91,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,1700-1707-Town Councilman. 1707-1711-Town Treasurer. In addition to his activities as a Cooper, he was a merchant,shipowner and trader. He was also active in the real estate and loan business. Hebuilt the first wharf in Providence and constructed an adjacent warehouse. He was an earnest co-worker with Roger Williams who founded the firstBaptist Church in Providence in 1636. In 1639 Williams withdrew from thechurch to become a Seeker. The Seekers were a Puritan group founded early inthe 7th. Century and referred to as the Scattered Flock. They held that thetrue religion has not yet been revealed. Religion service, when abandonedby Roger Williams, was carried on by the remaining members. They met in fair weather in a grove and in inclement weather in thehomes of members. In 1700, Pardon requested of the Town Council the right to upa piece of land 30 feet square on which to build a meeting house. This meetinghouse, which was built in the shape of a hay-cap with a chimney in themiddle, was deeded to the members in 1711. While not an ordained minister, Pardon became the sixth Pastor of theBaptist Church. He served without pay from 1681 until 1718, a period of 37years. In 1719, the Rev. Ebenezer Jenekes, an ordained minister, took thepastorate. Sources; The Pardon Elisha Tillinghast II connection was documented byJohn G. Hunt, American Genealogist, 1961, Volume 37-38, page 34.
He married Lydia Masters Taber . Lydia Masters Taber was born at Providence, Washington, Ri 1634 .
They were the parents of 9
children:
Lydia Tillinghast
born 1666.
Pardon Tillinghast
born 16 Feb 1665/66.
Philip Tillinghast
born 1669.
Benjamin Tillinghast
born 1672.
Abigail Tillinghast
born 1674.
Joseph Tillinghast
born 1677.
Mercy Tillinghast
born 1680.
Hannah Tillinghast
born 1682.
Elizabeth Tillinghast
born 1685.
Pardon Tillinghast, Reverend died 29 Jan 1718 at Providence, Washington, Ri .
Lydia Masters Taber died 1718 at Providence, Washington, Ri .