Hotchkiss, Frederick William, 1762-1844

Frederick Willliam Hotchkiss might have been born in the early 1760s. He graduated from Yale College in 1778, teaching in local schools and studying theology after graduation. He was licensed to preach in October 1782 and was ordained in Saybrook, Connecticut, on September 24, 1783. He remained as pastor of the Saybrook church until his death on March 31, 1844. He was married to Amelia Hart Ely, with whom he had two daughters.

Frederick William Hotchkiss, the fifth of seven children of John Hotchkiss (Yale 1748) and Susanna (Jones) Hotchkiss, was born in New Haven on October 30, 1762, and was baptized on the following day. An elder brother was graduated here in 1774.

During the invasion of New Haven by the British on July 4, 1779, he acted as an aid to the officer who commanded the force raised in resistance. In this conflict his father and two of his uncles were slain.

For four years after graduation he taught school,--during the latter part of the time in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Meantime he studied theology, and he was licensed to preach by the Hartford South Association of Ministers in October, 1782.

Early in the following month he began to supply the pulpit in Saybrook, Connecticut, where the Rev. William Hart (Yale 1732) had been for six months disabled from preaching. He soon received a unanimous invitation to settle as colleague-pastor, but owing to his consciousness of inexperience he deferred compliance with the repeated requests of this people for several months, and was finally ordained on September 24, 1783, over a church of 69 members.

The senior pastor died in July, 1784, and Mr. Hotchkiss remained in sole charge of the society until June, 1838, when in response to his own request a colleague was settled. During this ministry over six hundred persons had been admitted to the church. He continued in office until his death, in Saybrook, after three days' illness, on March 31, 1844, in his 82d year.

He was married, on August 29, 1790, by the Rev. Richard Ely, of Westbrook, to Amelia Hart, the youngest child of his predecessor in office, who died on August 8, 1845, aged 84 ½ years. Their children were two daughters, who survived them.

Father Hotchkiss, as he was called, was an ideally faithful pastor, and an affectionate, fervent preacher of practical righteousness. His voice was of almost phenomenal strength. Besides his other labors, for a number of years he taught a private school in his own house, at which some thirty young men were fitted for College.

(Taken from Yale College Biographical Sketches, 1778).

From the guide to the Frederick William Hotchkiss papers, 1783-1844, (Manuscripts and Archives)