Ebenezer Prime (283)

Ebenezer Prime (21 July 1700–25 September 1779) was a clergyman, and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1769. Born in Milford Connecticut, Prime was the descendant of religious refugees from England. He graduated from Yale in 1718 and the following year relocated to Huntington in Suffolk County, New York to become assistant to a Reverend there. He became pastor of that same church in 1723 and would occupy this position for the rest of his life, giving over 3,000 sermons. As Reverend, he published multiple discourses and a sermon, oftentimes embracing peculiar views. Despite his Congregationalist education, Prime joined the other churches of Suffolk County in making the switch to Presbyterianism, becoming the moderator of the newly formed Presbytery. When the Revolutionary War broke out, the British ravaged Prime’s church, using it as a military depot and burning the pulpit, pews, and even Prime’s library for fuel. Thereby expelled from his home church, he spent the rest of his life preaching in private residences in his parish. Dying before the war ended, Prime was buried in his parish, and upon its occupation by the British, an Imperial Colonel requested his tent be pitched on top of Prime’s grave so as to take joy in treading upon the “damned old rebel.”