Solomon Stoddard: puritan patriarch, a biography
Date
1961
DOI
Authors
Swanhart, Harry Gerald,1929
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
This dissertation presents the biography of Solomon Stoddard, 1643-1729, and evaluates his contribution to New England Puritanism. TO achieve these goals an examination of numerous other data providing fragments of biographical detail, together with extensive reading of Puritan literature was undertaken. The form is narrative, and the underlying thesis is to sustain or refute Puritan hagiography, which has either ignored Stoddard or condemned him as a malefactor. Stoddard's life spanned a significant and critical period in the development of Puritanism in New England. In a long and distinguished career as minister of the Northampton Church, and ecclesiastical spokesman for the Connecticut Valley, he exerted an influence over ecclesiastical affairs surpassed by none of his contemporaries. However, notwithstanding the historian's familiarity with Stoddard's name, only rare attempts have been made to shed some light on his career. [truncated]
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University.
License
Based on investigation of the BU Libraries' staff, this work is free of known copyright restrictions.