Grout, Aldin

Rev. Aldin Grout

Son of Joel Grout (1765-1835) and Asenath Wilder (1767-1868), born at Pelham, Mass., on Sept. 3, 1803. Grout married a young woman from Holden, Hannah Davis, on Nov. 17, 1834, shortly before his first trip to Africa. Born Feb. 26, 1805, the daughter to Ethan and Eliza Davis of Holden, Hannah was said in the History of Holden, to "mind was impressed with the importance of personal religion" early in life, pursuing her education through Mrs. Fiske's boarding school in Keene, N.H., and preparing for missionary work at the Ipswich Female Seminary. Hannah's brother Elnathan was a graduate of Williams College and the Theological Institute at Hartford, Conn., originally intended to pursue missionary work in South Africa, but relented, eventually taking on work as a home missionary in Indiana and Michigan for two years, after which he served as pastor to churches in Ashburnham, Fitchburg, and Auburn, working as an active member of the American Peace Society.

The young couple arrived in Cape Town on Feb. 5, 1835, and after several months there, moved to Port Natal on May 21, 1836. Hannah did not long outlive the birth of a daughter, Oriana Relief Grout (b.1835), dying at Port Elizabeth on Feb. 24, 1836.

Forced to abandon his mission by the renewal of conflict between the Zulus and English colonists in 1838, Grout returned home and remarried on Nov. 23, to another young woman from Holden, Charlotte Bailey (b. 1812), daughter of James and Elizabeth Bailey of Holden. Returned to South Africa in March 1840. Aldin and Charlotte had at least three children, Alden P.F. Grout (b.1844), who later worked as a florist, Humphrey (b. 1846), and Eliza.

Grout retired from missionary work in 1870 and settled in Springfield, Mass. He was one of three missionaries who collaborated for the ABCFM to publish the first complete translation of the Bible in the Zulu language.

From the guide to the Aldin Grout Papers MS 797., 1833-2002, 1833-1894, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries)