James Noyes

Rev. James Noyes I (born in Wiltshire, England, in 1608; died in Newbury, Massachusetts, 22 October 1656) was an English clergyman who emigrated to Massachusetts. He was a founder of Newbury, Massachusetts.

Biography

Rev. James Noyes was educated at Oxford, emigrated to Massachusetts in 1634, and after a short service in Medford was pastor of the church in Newbury, Massachusetts from 1635 until his death. He sailed on the ship "Mary & John" of London on the 23rd of March, 1634 with his wife Sarah Noyes and brother Nicholas Noyes. The ship was detained in the River Thames where all passengers signed the oath of allegiance to the King and the church before they were allowed to sail from London.

Writings

Yale

His son, Rev. James Noyes II of Stonington CT, was one of the first trustees of Yale College, a group of ten Congregationalist ministers, now known as "The Founders". Their names line the outside of Woodbridge Hall at Yale University.

Woodbridge Hall

Family of James Noyes continue a strong tradition at Yale with notable persons having contributed to the University. Rev. James Noyes II was the first Senior Fellow (Chair) of the Board of Trustees, and his younger brother Moses also served as a member of the Trustees. Professor Edward Simpson Noyes Ph.D (1892 - 1930) was chairman of the Board of Admissions for 18 years and director of the Master of Arts in Teaching program and received the Yale Medal of Honor in 1968. His son Edward MacArthur Noyes II (1919 - 1999), who was also presented with the Yale Medal of Honor for his lifetime service to Yale in 1996; also served as president of the Yale Club of New Haven.

James Noyes House

The James Noyes House built ca. 1646, is a historic First Period house at 7 Parker Street in Newbury, Massachusetts, USA. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Family

The Noyes family came from Wiltshire in England. His father, Rev. William Noyes, rector of Cholderton (county Wilts), England, a graduate of University College, Oxford in 1592. His mother was Anne Stephens ( grand daughter of Lady Jane Spencer and Sir Richard Brydges, Kt ). He married (in 1633) Sarah Brown of Southampton, England.

His cousin Thomas Parker (1595–1677), an English nonconforming clergyman, traveled with James Noyes on the Mary and John of London. With Noyes, Parker prepared students for Harvard, refusing all compensation for his services. Together they taught twelve or fourteen pupils at the James Noyes House, where he lived with Noyes. He taught languages with ease from memory as Parker went blind in his later year.

Early Noyes descendants often were ministers and teachers, and sometimes distinguished by their rectitude - for example, the Salem trials and the founding of Yale College.

His son James Noyes II (born in Newbury, 11 March 1640; died in Stonington, Connecticut, 30 December 1719) was also a clergyman and founded Yale College. He graduated from Harvard in 1659, began to preach in 1664, and was pastor of the church in Stonington, Connecticut from 1674 until his death. A councilor in civil affairs in the critical periods of his colony. James Noyes II also practiced medicine with success.

John Noyes is also the ancestor of John Humphrey Noyes, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, leader of the Perfectionist movement and founder of the Oneida Community.

The daughter of Rev. James Noyes I, Sarah Noyes, is the great-grandmother of American hero Nathan Hale.

See also

References

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