Daniel Nash

  General Notes:

NSFX Rev.3rd ggu of Gordon Fisher"THE REV. DANIEL NASH, A. B. youngest son of Jonathan Nash, Esq. ofGreat Barrington, Mass. b. 28 May, 1763, familiarly known in Otsego,and adjacent counties, N. Y. as FATHER NASH, filled, perhaps, the mostextensivesphere of usefulness of nay of the name; yet nothing is nowknown of his youthful history, and but little of his ministerial life,beyond the fact that he was a much loved and extensively usefulminister of the Gospel. He appears to have been one ofthoseChristians who act as seeing things invisible, with very littleconcern for earthly things, or human opinions, -- claiming no eminenceof talent, but having an eye single to the glory of God, and a heartoverflowing with love for the souls ofmen. (P) The few factsobtained are chiefly from some of his MSS. in the hands of hisGrandson, Edward N. Munroe, of Burlington, Otsego Co., N. Y. and fromthe recollections of the Rev. and venerable Dr. D. Burhans, now (1852)90 years of age. (P) Hegraduated at Yale College, in 1785, in thesame class with Noah Webster, and was a member of the CongregtionalChurch, of which there is among his papers a certificate, dated Aug.15, 1783, signed by Samuel Wales, Pastor of that church in NewHaven.It is said that he was at one time a licensed teacher of that order,and was studying under the supervision of the celebrated Dr. Hopkins.(P) The following sketch is from Dr. Burhans: (P) "The first of mypersonal acquaintance with the lateRev. Daniel Nash was at GreatBarrington, Mass. in the autumn of 1793. Having spent two or threeyears in teaching a select school, in New Jersey, under the patronageof the late Bishop *Croes*, he returned to his native place to attendthe settlementof his father's estate, who had recently deceased. Iwas introduced to him by the late Rev. and very venerable GideonBostwick, and a lasting friendship then commenced, which I trust, willbe consummated in heaven. (P) I soon found Mr. Nash, inaddition tohis natural and acquired talents, in possession of catholic views ofthe Apostolic Church, in primitive doctrine and discipline, but, aboveall, of a lively and practical faith, manifested in humility andsobriety, with a cheerfulcountenance, and a smaile upon his lips,indicative of a pure and unaccusing conscience, -- affable inconversation, -- without cant, familiar on religious subjects, whichendeared him to me, and to all his acquaintance. (P) Finding himdesirous ofbecoming a candidate for *Holy Orders*, he was furnishedwith ample credentials of his early piety and exemplary life. In duetime he returned to Swedesboro, and spent the winter with the thenRev. Mr. Croes, as an assistant in his academy, studyingtheology tillthe spring of 1794, when he obtained testimonials as a candidate for*Holy Orders*, signed by the Rector, (Rev. Mr. Croes,) and the Vestryof the Church in Swedesboro. He then returned home, desirous ofobtaining a grammar school, andcompleting his theological studies inthat region. (P) Knowing of a vacancy at New Lebanon Springs, where Ihad officiated occasionally, and collected a small congregation, Irecommended him as a teacher in their academy, and as a lay reader inthechurch. In this situation he remained three years. In themeantime he became acquainted with an amiable lady, Miss *Olive Lusk*,of a very respectable family in Richmond, Mass. [Footnote: "His son,Dr. Wm. C. Nash, understands that their fathers wereintimate friendswhile members together of the Legislature of Mass. which circumstanceled to their union.] Her benignity of mind and placidity of manners,like two elements of congenial matter, melted into each other. Theywere married in Jan. 1796.A more happy couple seldom meet in thisjarring world. There was no discord, but harmony and love prevailedat home and abroad, for they were both highly esteemed, for courtesy,for success as teachers, and for their amiable deportment andChristianexample. (P) But I found the field was too small for theirexpansive minds, which glowed with a missionary spirit. I had myself,for two winters previously, visited the county of Otsego, N. Y. as amissionary, with a view of finally removing to thatfield, alreadywhite for the harvest; but finding my wife inclining to consumption, Iwas obliged to abandon the project, and proposed to brother Nash totake orders and go to Macedonia, which was crying for help. Heembraced the offer, -- closed hisschool, -- went to New York, and wasordained, -- the first settled Episcopal minister west of Schenectady,in what is now Western N. U. And by his zeal and indefatigablelabours, sanctioning every step by a sober, religious and godly life,being*instant in season and out of season, -- going from house tohouse*, preaching the word, baptizing *households*, teaching them allthings necessary for *the life that now is and that which is to come*,-- catechising all, old and young, he did morein thirty-seven years,in establishing and extending the church, than any other clergymanever did in the United States. (P) Most justly did the public bestowupon him the well earned titles of FATHER NASH, and THE APOSTLE OF THEWEST. (P) To him maywell be applied the couplet,'The sweet remembrance of the just,Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust.'DANIEL BURHANS."(P) Mr. Nash was ordained Deacon, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Provoost, inTrinity 'church, N. Y. 8 Feb. 1797, and, as appears from theforegoingsketch, went immediately to Otsego Co. and commenced his ministeriallabours. Bishop Chase, who visited that region as an itinerantmissionary in 1798-9, says, that on leaving Utica, "he proceeded topay his respects to good Mr. Nash, atthat time living in Burlington,Otsego county. It was a meeting of two persons deeply convinced ofthe primitive and apostolic foundation of the church. They were bothmissionaries, though the name was not yet understood or appreciated.The one hadgiven up all his hopes of more comfortable living in thewell-stored country at the east, and had come to Otsego to preach thegospel and build up the church on apostoloc ground, with no assuranceof a salary but such as he could glean from the coldsoil of unrenewednature, or pluck from the clusters of the *few* scions which he mightengraft into the vine Christ Jesus. He lived not in a tent, as thepatriarchs did, surrounded with servants to tend his flocks, and tomilk his kine, and *bringhim butter in a lordly dish*; but in a cabinbuilt of unhewn logs, with scarcely a pane of glass to let in lighjtsufficient to read his Bible; and even this cabin was not his own, norwas he permitted to live in one for a long time together. Allthis waswitnessed by the other, who came to see him and helped him to carryhis little articles of crockery, holding one handle of the basket andMr. N. the other, and as they walked the road, *talked of the thingspertaining to the kingdom of God*.[Footnote: "It may not be amissto notice here the general belief, in Otsego county, that Father Nashwas in truth the missionary who, under the name of Mr. *Grant*, ismade so prominent a character in the PIONEERS, a descriptive tale bythe late J.Fenimore Cooper. Doubtless most of the *incidents* inthat tale are fictitious, but Mr. Cooper himself, in his preface,expresses an apprehension that there might be found too much of factin his descriptions, to render the book interesting as a workoffiction, and remarks that "in commencing to describe scenes, and,perhaps he may add, *characters* that were so familiar to his ownyouth, there was a constant temptation to delineate that which he hadknown, rather than that which he might haveimagined." In connectionwith this remark, the following extract from another work of Mr.Cooper's leaves but little room for doubt that in the delineation ofMr. *Grant's* character, the author had Father Nash in his mind. Mr.Cooper says, in his"Chronicles of Cooperstorn:" (P) "On the 10th dayof Sept. 1800, Miss Cooperm the eldest daughter of Judge Cooper, (andsister of the author,) a young lady in her 23d year, was killed by afall from a horse. Her funeral sermon was preached by theRev. DanielNash, of the Prot. Epis. Church, and she was interred according to therites of that church, which were now performed for the first time inthis village. Mr. Nash, since so well known in his own church for his*apostolic simplicity*, underthe name of Father Nash, was then amissionary in the county. From this time he began to extend hisservices to Cooperstown, and on the 1st day of Jan. 1811, a church waslegally organized, under the title of Christ's Church, Cooperstown.On the sameday, the Rev. Daniel Nash was chosen Rector, which office,*through the delicacy* of the clergyman who succeeded him in itsduties, he informally held, down to the day of his death in 1836."[END FOOTNOTE]"] (P) The writer cannot refrain from tearsin bringingto mind the circumstances attending this interesting scene. That man,who was afterwards most emphatically called FATHER NASH, being thefounder of the church in Otsego county, was at this period so littleregarded by the church at large,and even by his neighbors, that hehad not the means to move his substance from one cabin to another, butwith his own hands, assisted only by his wife and small children, anda passing missionary. Well does the writer remember how thislittleone-roomed cabin looked as he entered it; its rude door. hung onwooden hinges, creaking as they turned; how joyfyl that good man wasthat he had been mindful to fetch a few nails, which he had used inthe other cabin, just left, for hiscomfort in this, now thereceptacle of all his substance. These, he drove into the logs withgreat judgment, choosing the place most appropriate for his hat, hiscoat, and other garments of himself and family. All this while hispatient wife,directing the children to kindle the fire, prepared thefood for -- whom? Shall it be said a stranger? No; but for one whoby sympathy felt himself more their brother than by all the ties ofnature, and who, by the example now set before him, learneda lessonof inexpressible value to him all the days of his subsequent life." --*Reminiscences, Vol. 1, p. 32.* [END QUOTE FROM BISHOP CHASE]. (P) Onthe 11 Oct. 1801, he was admitted to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev.Benjamin Moore, then Bishop of N.Y. His estimate of Mr. Nash'scharacter may be inferred from the following extract of a letterwritten by him, the day after the ordination, to Gen. Jacob Morris, ofButternuts, Otsego Co. "Yesterday I ordained Mr. Nash a priest; and itaffords me nolittle satisfaction to reflect that the *first act* ofmy Episcopal function has been employed in elevating to the priesthoodso worthy a man." (P) It is known also that he was a special favoritewith the late Bishop Hobart. (P) A particular accountof his lifeduring his protracted ministry in that region, will probably never begiven. The following extract from a letter in answer to a brotherclergyman, who had desired him to write an account of the churches inthose parts, shews that he didnot intend his own history should bewritten. The extract, however, gives us an idea of his manner oflife. (P) :This evening is the first time I have collected courageenough even to give an answer to your kind letter, -- kind, althoughyou urge meto perform a task which I had resolved never to perform.St. Paul looked upon it as a foolish thing for him to boast of hislabours and sufferings, -- his toils and afflictions. He did it,however, for the sake of affording his friends an opportunitytovindicate his character. I have no such reason to influence me towrite the history of the church in this and the adjacent counties, --to do it, I must of course speak of myself, for I was the principaland only minister for many years, -- happyyears indeed, -- I neverfelt discouraged, neither did I feel alone. My wife was then living,-- a noble-spirited, sensible woman, who in the room of feelingdiscouraged, was the first to cheer me on in my arduous labours.[Footnote: "The Rev. S. H.Battin, of Cooperstown, in a latecommunication, says, "He itinerated so much, -- was such a *pioneer*,that although the *father* in reality of every parish, and organizer,he was only rector by *courtesy*. Such was the case in Cooperstown."](P) Thecountry was then comparatively a wilderness -- often she gaveme a child and then got on the horse behind me with another in herarms, and thus we would go to our public worship for a number ofmiles. She excelled in music, and I understood it well,-- we werenever confounded in that part of the service, and when thecongregation did not well understand how to make the responses, shealways did it in a solemn, dignified manner. Through all kinds ofweather, whether the place was near or remote,I was uniformly at theplace a short time before the people began to assemble. This gave mean opportunity to speak kindly to them, and enquire respecting theirfamilies. They judged me to feel interested both for their temporaland spiritual welfare,and they did not judge amiss. Whenever a doorwas opened to catechise in public or private houses, I did it." [ENDQUOTE FROM DANIEL NASH] [Footnote: "Mr. Battin adds, "One custom ofhis, I have heard of repeatedly. Wherever he went to visit, he*usedalways* to call the children of the household together and questionthem in their catechism, making sundry kindly, paternal remarks, and'calling down a blessing upon them, as it is expressed.' " "Oftenwhile living and preaching and organizingchurches in this county, hewent out to visit and preach to the Oneida Indians, in that county,and visited, in his way, the church families, stopping at theirhouses, and catechising their children, according to his invariablecustom. Several of theladies of my parish recollect being catechisedby him after they were 14 or 15 years old."] [END FOOTNOTE] (P) Thelast sentence of the foregoing extract alludes to an exercise whichwas, with him, a peculiarly favorite mode of instruction, asisstrikingly illustrated by the following anecdote, related by Dr.Burhans, who was a witness, and relates it as characteristic of theman. (P) It happened that Mr. Nash and another clergyman spent a dayor two with the doctor about the time thatmerino sheep wereintroduced into the country. The other clergyman had a brotherconcerned in the woollen business, and was himself absorbinglyinterested in the matter. After many remarks, finding Mr. Nashmanifested no enthusiasm on the subject, hesaid he had heard thatmerinos must be treated in a peculiar way, and asked Mr. Nash if heknew what was good for young lambs? Mr. Nash quietly replied that "hefed *his* with *catechisms*, having found that such food rendered themmost healthy andvigorous." (P) That he was hightly *esteemed* andgenerally *beloved* by his people, there is abundant evidence. Gen.Morris, writing to him a few months previous to his death, says, "Noteacher of religion has ever made such an impression upon measyourself, nor can I feel for any other as I feel for you, my dear,pious, good friend." That he was useful is a fact of generalnotoriety. From 1804 to 1816, when, to use his own words, "thecountry was a comparative wilderness,: and Episcopaliansfew andwidely dispersed, he reported to Convention, 496 baptisms. In 1817,he was thrown from his carriage, and so severely injured as topreclude active duties for most of the year. In 1819, he reported 104baptisms. In 1625-6, he was sick much ofthe time, and soonafterwards was called to mourn the loss of his excellent companion,the partner of his toils, who died while on a visit to herbrother-in-law, William Crandal, Esq. of Exeter, Otsego Co. N. Y. (P)In 1831, he had a sever illness atthe house of his son-on-law, HassanMunroe, of Burlington, in the same county, and for several months hewas deemed near his end. He never afterwards entirely regained hishealth, though he so far recovered by the following spring as toresume hisministerial duties. (P) In the spring of 1836, he againcalled on his daughter, at Burlington, complaining of indisposition,which grew continually worse until the fourth of June, when his spiritwas released from its earthly prison to join thecompany of theredeemed in a world where sorrow and suffering have no place. Hisdisease was termed by the physicians, dropsy of the chest. Thefollowing notice of his death appeared in the Gospel Messenger,printed at Auburn, N. Y. (P) "The Rev.Daniel Nash, long and wellknown as a faithful missionary in Otsego county, and its vicinity,died suddenly, though not unexpectedly, of dropsy, on the 4th inst. atBurlington, in the country above mentioned, at the age of 73 years and7 days. TheRev. Mr. Tiffany, of Cooperstown, we learn, preached avery appropriate sermon at the time of his interment, which took placeon the 7th. (P) We are authorized to say, that early attention willbe given to the preparation of a suitable account of thelife andlaboours of this long loved an untiring servant of the cross."[Footnote: "The pledge in this last clause was never fulfilled, and ithas been supposed the papers were lost, but since the printing of thiswork commenced, the compiler has beeninformed that an unfinishedmemoir was left by Dr. Rudd, in the hands of another clergyman, who issupposed to have finished it. But it has not been published, nor hasthe compiler been able, by utmost effort, to ascertain where the MS.now is."] (P)He was buried by the side of his deceased wife, inExeter. But having, in his lifetime, been heard to express a wishthat he might be buried in front of the curch in Cooperstown, beneathsome venerable pines, the bodies were subsequently removed, attherequest of the church, and deposited in the chosen spot, where,through the efforts of the ladies, a beautiful monument has beenerected, of which a friend has furnished an accurate wood engraving.(P) It is an obelish of white marble, on a squarepedestal of the samematerial, with a granite base of 4 inches thickness, measuringaltogether 9 1/2 feet from the ground. It stands directly in front ofthe church, and but a few rods from it, under the *pines*, indescribing which, on the morning ofDec. 10th, Rev. Mr. Battin says,"It has snowed all night, and some of the long branches with theirdark evergreen foliage, half hidden by the snow, are weighed down tothe ground, as though they would protect the sleepers underneath fromthe coldblasts of winter."*Front Inscription. *On the oppositeside.FATHER NASH, [picture of Mrs. OLIVEfirst rector of obelisk, wife ofChrist Church omitted here] Father NashDIED DIEDJune 4, 1836, May 27, 1828,Aged 73 years, Aged 56 years,and 8 days. and 5months.[Continued in NASH, Daniel +] Submitter for fisher3: Gordon M. Fisher , 334 Franklin Street , Harrisonberg, Virginia 22801 , Phone 540-433-0531 , Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>, Locator: CompuServe ID# 75204,3411


NOTE NSFX Rev.3rd ggu of Gordon Fisher"THE REV. DANIEL NASH, A. B. youngest son of Jo NOTE nathan Nash, Esq. ofGreat Barrington, Mass. b. 28 May, 1763, familiarly known in NOTE Otsego,and adjacent counties, N. Y. as FATHER NASH, filled, perhaps, the mostex NOTE tensive sphere of usefulness of nay of the name; yet nothing is nowknown of his NOTE youthful history, and but little of his ministerial life,beyond the fact that he NOTE was a much loved and extensively usefulminister of the Gospel. He appears to ha NOTE ve been one of thoseChristians who act as seeing things invisible, with very lit NOTE tleconcern for earthly things, or human opinions, -- claiming no eminenceof tale NOTE nt, but having an eye single to the glory of God, and a heartoverflowing with lo NOTE ve for the souls of men. (P) The few factsobtained are chiefly from some of his NOTE MSS. in the hands of hisGrandson, Edward N. Munroe, of Burlington, Otsego Co., N NOTE . Y. and fromthe recollections of the Rev. and venerable Dr. D. Burhans, now (18 NOTE 52)90 years of age. (P) He graduated at Yale College, in 1785, in thesame class NOTE with Noah Webster, and was a member of the CongregtionalChurch, of which there i NOTE s among his papers a certificate, dated Aug.15, 1783, signed by Samuel Wales, Pa NOTE stor of that church in New Haven.It is said that he was at one time a licensed t NOTE eacher of that order,and was studying under the supervision of the celebrated Dr NOTE . Hopkins.(P) The following sketch is from Dr. Burhans: (P) "The first of mypers NOTE onal acquaintance with the late Rev. Daniel Nash was at GreatBarrington, Mass. i NOTE n the autumn of 1793. Having spent two or threeyears in teaching a select school NOTE , in New Jersey, under the patronageof the late Bishop *Croes*, he returned to h NOTE is native place to attendthe settlement of his father's estate, who had recently NOTE deceased. Iwas introduced to him by the late Rev. and very venerable GideonBost NOTE wick, and a lasting friendship then commenced, which I trust, willbe consummated NOTE in heaven. (P) I soon found Mr. Nash, in addition tohis natural and acquired ta NOTE lents, in possession of catholic views ofthe Apostolic Church, in primitive doct NOTE rine and discipline, but, aboveall, of a lively and practical faith, manifested NOTE in humility andsobriety, with a cheerful countenance, and a smaile upon his lips NOTE ,indicative of a pure and unaccusing conscience, -- affable inconversation, -- w NOTE ithout cant, familiar on religious subjects, whichendeared him to me, and to all NOTE his acquaintance. (P) Finding himdesirous of becoming a candidate for *Holy Ord NOTE ers*, he was furnishedwith ample credentials of his early piety and exemplary li NOTE fe. In duetime he returned to Swedesboro, and spent the winter with the thenRev. NOTE Mr. Croes, as an assistant in his academy, studying theology tillthe spring of NOTE 1794, when he obtained testimonials as a candidate for*Holy Orders*, signed by t NOTE he Rector, (Rev. Mr. Croes,) and the Vestryof the Church in Swedesboro. He then NOTE returned home, desirous ofobtaining a grammar school, and completing his theolog NOTE ical studies inthat region. (P) Knowing of a vacancy at New Lebanon Springs, whe NOTE re Ihad officiated occasionally, and collected a small congregation, Irecommende NOTE d him as a teacher in their academy, and as a lay reader inthe church. In this s NOTE ituation he remained three years. In themeantime he became acquainted with an am NOTE iable lady, Miss *Olive Lusk*,of a very respectable family in Richmond, Mass. [F NOTE ootnote: "His son,Dr. Wm. C. Nash, understands that their fathers were intimate NOTE friendswhile members together of the Legislature of Mass. which circumstanceled NOTE to their union.] Her benignity of mind and placidity of manners,like two element NOTE s of congenial matter, melted into each other. Theywere married in Jan. 1796. A NOTE more happy couple seldom meet in thisjarring world. There was no discord, but ha NOTE rmony and love prevailedat home and abroad, for they were both highly esteemed, NOTE for courtesy,for success as teachers, and for their amiable deportment andChrist NOTE ian example. (P) But I found the field was too small for theirexpansive minds, w NOTE hich glowed with a missionary spirit. I had myself,for two winters previously, v NOTE isited the coun\0=\0:

Daniel married Olive Lusk in Jan 1796 in Richmond, Mass. (Olive Lusk was born in Jan 1772 in Richmond, Mass. and died on 27 May 1828 in Otsego County, New York.)