Joseph Hutchins (215)

Joseph Hutchins (7 November 1746–29 April 1833) was an educator and clergyman of the Episcopal Church, and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1768. Born on Barbados, Hutchins first came to Philadelphia to enroll in the College of Philadelphia 1762. He returned to Barbados before graduating but soon left again, this time for England, where he was ordained in 1771. Returning home, Hutchins built a work balance that would define much of his working life: serving in the church while teaching in school. In Barbados this entailed serving as a curate at St. Michaels while conducting a school to supplement his income. Though his positions were stable, pay from the parents of his charges were not, so Hutchins left for Pennsylvania. Again he carved out such positions in 1783, this time in Lancaster, when he began as a rector at St. James Church and as a schoolmaster nearby. Evidently respected in the area, Hutchins was named a trustee and professor at the opening of Franklin College in 1787. Whatever goodwill he had accrued he quickly lost when he spoke out hat the new college should teach predominantly in English. These sentiments were not shared by the predominantly Protestant German community who believed the Anglican church was attempting to curb their efforts to preserve the German language and culture. Within the year, he had left Lancaster, Franklin College, and St. James. Despite Hutchins’s hopes, he failed to procure a permanent church appointment and so taught schools in Philadelphia, then Easton, MD, and then back in Philadelphia again up through 1815. At this point, hoping he would benefit from a return to his childhood home, he returned to Barbados in 1815 at the age of 70. Once there he finally received an offer to the curacy at St. George’s parish which brought him a steady income, a home, and the company of family. Sadly, the situation came to an abrupt end and he was forced to retire in 1820 and returned to Philadelphia where he lived out the remainder of his life. (PI)