Benjamin Randall

Benjamin Randall (1749-1808) was the main organizer of the Freewill Baptists (Randall Line) in the northeastern United States.

In 1749 Benjamin Randall was born into a New England sea captain's family. Randall experienced a conversion to Christianity in 1770 through the influence of George Whitefield. Randall served in the New Hampshire militia during the American Revolutionary War. Randall first united with the Congregationalists, but later was baptized in 1776 and united with the Baptists. He became a layman preacher in the Particular or Calvinistic Baptists in 1777. In 1779 he split with the Calvinist Baptists over their belief in predestination. On April 5, 1780 Randall was ordained in New Durham, New Hampshire. In the summer of 1780, a church was formed at New Durham, and the articles of faith and covenant were drawn up by Randall. By the end of the year the church numbered seven men and thirteen women. From the time of his lay preaching until his death of tuberculosis on October 22, 1808, Randall was instrumental in planting many Freewill Baptist churches throughout New England.

See also

• Free Will Baptist Church
• Arminianism
• American Baptist Church

References

• Buzzell, John (1827). Life of Elder Benjamin Randal. Limerick, ME: Hobbs, Woodman and Co.. 
• Mead, Frank S. (2001). Handbook of Denominations in the United States. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. ISBN 0-687-06983-1. 
• Wiley, Frederick Levi (1915). Life and Influence of the Rev. Benjamin Randall: Founder of the Free Baptist Denomination. American Baptist Publication Society. [1] (accessed on Google Book, February 8, 2009)