Abbey, Rev. Mason H of Westminster, (Windham Co.) VT

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Free Baptist Cyclopaedia"  Historical & Biographical  by  Rev G. A. Burgess. 
A. M. & Rev. J. T. Ward, A.M.   
Free Baptist Cyclopaedia Co. 1889, 
page 9-10


For an illustraction of the Rev Abbey (size 33k) see
http://files.usgwarchives.net/vt/windham/westminister/ministers/abbey.gif


Abbey, Rev. Mason H., son of Hezekiah and Anna (Goodell) Abbey, was born in Westminster, 
(Windham Co.) VT, 9 Aug 1821. Five years later the family settled in Lewis Co., NY, and here, 
in the Black River woods, strength came to his came to his frail body.  When eleven was 
converted and received into the Presbyterian church with his parent; but six years, later, 
being revived under the preaching of Rev.  Wm.  Nutting, and studying independently, 
the subject of baptism, he united with the Free Communion Baptist church of Norway.  
He was educated at Clinton Seminary, and, after serving as a licentiate about
three years, was ordained in September, 1843, Revs.  H. Whitcher, S. Hart, S. B. 
Padden and R. Way serving on the council.  A month later he married Marvetta C.  Scood, 
and their two daughters graduated, one at Whitestown Seminary and the other at 
Hillsdale College.

Bro.  Abbey was pastor of the churches at Harrisburg, Attica, Varysburgh, War-
saw, Boston, Depauville, Three Mile Bay, Philadelphia, and Lowville, all in New York, some 
of the time caring for two of them, and organizing the two last named.   He also preached 
for short periods at  several other places.  In 1864 he served six months in Norfolk, Va.,
and vicinity, as missionary among the Freedmen and thereafter, for fifteen years, he devoted 
his time to evangelistic work.  In this, as in pastoral work, his labors were blessed, 
and the conversions during his ministry aggregate five thousand.  He refused to baptize in
churches with pastors, so that comparatively  few, only about one thousand, were  baptized
by himself.  In 1884, he became pastor of the church at Port Allegheny, Pa., and after so 
long experience, with "eye not dim, nor natural strength abated, " he reaffirms that word 
that "He who desireth the office of a bishop, desireth a good work."