Moody, Joseph, 1700-1753

Schoolteacher in York, Me.

Served as schoolmaster as well as in a number of civil and judicial offices. In 1732, he became pastor of the Second Church of York, where he served until 1741. In 1738, he began wearing a black veil over his face in atonement for the accidental killing of a friend when he was eight years old. He became known as "Handkerchief Moody" and served as the original for Hawthorne's story, "The Minister's Black Veil." He grew more eccentric and ultimately was dismissed from his congregation in 1741.

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