Rev. John Eliot, The Apostle to the Indians

1604 - 1690  (~ 85 years)

• Name	John Eliot
  	to New England Daniel Gookin, the first Indian Commissioner says of him, "the truth is, Mr. Eliot engaged in this great work of preaching unto the Indians upon a very pure and sincere account ; for I being his neighbor and intimate friend, at the time when he first attempted the enterprise, he was pleased to communicate unto me his design and the motives that induced him thereunto." [13]
  Christening	5 Aug 1604	Widford, Hertfordshire, England   [1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
  Living	From 1606 to 1618 (~ 1 years)	Nazeing, Essex, England   [16]
  From 1606 through 1618 he was living in Nazeing, Essex, England.
  Education	20 Mar 1618 (~ 13 years)	Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England   [1, 6]
  On 20 Mar 1618 he entered as pensioner at Jesus College, Cambridge University. A pensioner is defined as a student who pays his expenses.
  Other Will	5 Nov 1621 (~ 17 years)	Nazeing, Essex, England   [6]
  His father wrote his will on 5 November 1621 providing for the maintenance of his son, John, at Cambridge University where he is a scholler.
  Graduation	About 1623 (~ 18 years)	Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England   [1, 5, 6, 11, 16]
  About 1623 he graduated from Jesus College of Cambridge University. He was distinguished for his love of the languages, Greek and Hebrew especially, of which he acquired a sound, thorough, and discriminating knowledge. He became well versed in the general course of liberal studies, and was particularly skillful in theological learning. It is recorded that he had a partiality for philological inquiries, and was an acute grammarian.
  Occupation	About 1623 (~ 18 years)	Little Baddow, Essex, England   [6]
  About 1623 he taught in the school of Thomas Hooker at Little Baddow, Essex, England.
  Miscellaneous	About 1630 (~ 25 years)	Little Baddow, Essex, England   [6]
  About 1630 he gathered a group around him, mainly from Nazeing, Essex, England, and agreed to be their teacher, guide and associate in the hazards, privations and difficulties of securing a retreat and home, and in organizing their community, in the wilderness of New England, .."that we might afflict ourselves before God to seek of him a right way for us and for our little ones, and for all our substance."
  Immigration	1631 (~ 26 years)  [1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 14]
  Rev. John' Eliot, the apostle, and his brothers, Jacob and Phillip, came across the ocean on board the Lion, Capt. Pierce master, and landed at Boston, 3 November 1631.
  Religion	1632 (~ 27 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [5, 6, 10, 14]
  After his arrival, he ministered to the First Church Boston, in the temporary absence of their pastor, the Rev. Mr, Wilson, who was in England; an engagement which occasioned some difficulty to his Roxbury friends about a year after, in July, 1632, when they had became sufficiently nutritious to organize as a church, and were ready to fulfill the engagement made in England. The struggle between the Boston and Roxbury churches, to secure the ministry of Eliot, furnishes evidence of the early appreciation of his excellence.
  Religion	1632 (~ 27 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [1]
  In 1632 he was admitted to membership in the Boston Church as member number 110.
  Freeman	6 Mar 1632 (~ 27 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [1, 5, 6, 11]
  He was admitted a freeman along with his brother Jacob on 6 March 1632.
  Religion	Oct 1632 (~ 28 years)	Roxbury, Suffolk County, Province of Massachusetts Bay   [10]
  In October 1632 he took up the ministry of the Roxbury Church.
  Religion	16 Oct 1633 (~ 29 years)	Roxbury, Suffolk County, Province of Massachusetts Bay   [6]
  On 16 October 1633 the church in Roxbury and six other churches "kept a day of thanksgiving for the mercies granted to the country".
  Miscellaneous	28 Oct 1646 (~ 42 years)  [5, 6]
  He soon conceived a strong passion for christianizing and improving the condition of the Indians, of whom there were a large number within the limits of the English plantations. He commenced his labors among them at Nonantum in Newton, on the 28th of October, 1646.
  	The Rev. John Eliot Preaching to the Indians
  Miscellaneous	Sep 1661 (~ 57 years)	Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [5, 6, 10, 16]
  He executed several translations into the Indian language, the most noted of which is the Indian Bible. The New Testament was published at Cambridge, in September, 1661, under the auspices of the Society for Propagating the Gospel. Three years after, the Old Testament was added; and the whole Bible, with a Catechism and the Psalms of David in metre, was thus given to the Indians in their own language, in forty years after the settlement of the country.
  Petition	13 Jun 1675 (~ 70 years)  [4, 6]
  In the Massachusetts archives is an original petition, in the hand-writing of the Apostle Eliot. [note that “y” is a substitute for “th”. To the Honorble Gov & Council siting at Boston, this- 13th of the 6th, '75, the humble petition of John Eliot, sheweth That the terror of selling away such Indians, unto the Hands for ppetual slaves, who shall yeild up ye selves to your mercy, is like to be an efectual plongation of the warre & such an exaspation of ym as may pduce we know not what evil consequences, upon all the land. Christ hath saide, blessed are the mercyfull for y shall obtaine mercy. This useage of ym is worse yn death—the destine of christ in these last dayes, is not to extirpate nations, but to gospelize ym —his Sovraigne hand & grace hath brought the gospel into these dark places of the earth—when we came, we declared to the world, & it is recorded, yea we are ingaged by or letters Parent fro the kings Majesty, that the indeavour of the Indians conversion, not their extirpation, was one great end of our enterprize, in coming to these ends of the earth. The Lord hath so succeeded yt work, as that (by his grace) they have the holy Scriptures & sundry of themselves able to teach theire countrymen, the good knowledge of God. And however some of ym have refused to receive the gospel, &; now are incensed in their spirits unto a warre against the English: yet I doubt not but the meaning of Christ is, to open a dore for the free passage of the gospel among ym —my humble request is. yt you would follow Christ his designe in this matter, to p mote the free passage of Religion among ym not to destroy ym —to sell soules for money seemeth to me a dangerous merchandize, to sell ym away from all meanes of grace wth Christ hath p vided meanes of grace for ym is the way for us to be active in the destroying theire Soules : deut. 23, 15, 16, a fugitive servant fro a Pagan Master, might not be delivered to his master, but be kept in Israel for the good of his soule, how much less lawfull is it to sell away soules fro under the light of the gospcll, into a condition where theire soules will be utterly lost, so far as appeareth unto man. all men (of reading) condemne the Spaniard for cruelty upon this poynt in destroying men, & depopulating the land, the country is large enough, here is land enough for them & us too. p. 14, 28, in the multitude of people is the kings honor it will be much to the glory of Christ, to have many brought in to worship his great name. I desire the honor' Council to pardon my boldnesse. & let the case of conscience be discussed orderly, before the King be asked, cover my weaknesse, & weigh the reason &c religion yt laboreth in this great case of conscience.
  Charter/Grant/Gift	say 1680 (~ 75 years)	Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [5]
  Eliot's charity was a very prominent trait in his character, and he frequently gave more than he could afford, for his own family often suffered for the necessaries of life. The treasurer of the parish, on paying him his annual salary, and knowing well his lavish expenditures for the relief of others, put the money in a handkerchief, and tied it in as many hard knots as possible, in hopes thus to compel him to carry it all home. On his way thither he called to see a poor sick woman, and on entering he gave the family his blessing, and told them that God had sent them some relief He then began to untie the knots, but after many efforts to do so, and impatient at the perplexity and delay to get at his money, he gave the whole to the mother, saying with a trembling accent—"Here, my dear, take it; I believe the Lord designs it all for you."
  Charter/Grant/Gift	1689 (~ 84 years)	Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [5, 16]
  He was anxious to promote the cause of education as well as religion; and in 1689, the year previous to his death, conveyed an estate of about seventy-five acres of land to certain persons and their heirs as trustees, for "the maintenance, support, and encouragement of a school and school-master at that part of Roxbury, commonly called Jamaica or the Pond Plains, for the teaching and instructing of the children of that end of the town, (together with such Indians and negroes as shall or may come to the said school,) and to no other use, intent, or purpose whatever." This was the origin of the Roxbury "Eliot School Fund."
  	The first Eliot School Roxbury Latin School - the oldest school in continuous operation in North America. John Eliot hoped to instill in students a desire to live serious lives of noble purpose characterized by concern for others.
  Death	21 May 1690	Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16]
  His last words being "welcome joy!" [16]
  Burial	Aft 21 May 1690	Eliot Burying Ground, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Eliot Burying Ground, Roxbury, Massachusetts   [2, 7]
  	Grave Marker of the Early Ministers in Roxbury Here lie the Remains of JOHN ELIOT, The Apostle to the Indians, Ordained over the First Church November 5, 1«32. Died May 20, 1690. Aged LXXXVI. Also of THOMAS WALTER, Ordained October 19, 1718. Died January 10, 1725. Aged XXIX. NEHEMIAH WALTER, Ordained October 17, 1688. Died September 17, 1750. Aged LXXXVII. OLIVER PEABODY, Ordained November 7, 1750. Died May 29, 1752. Aged XXXII AMOS ADAMS, Ordained September 12, 1753. Died October 5, 1775. Aged LIV. ELIPHALET PORTER, Ordained October 2, 1782. Died December 7, 1833. Aged LXXV
  Siblings	3 brothers and 3 sisters
  + 1. Sarah Eliot,   c. 13 Jan 1599/1600, Widford, Hertfordshire, England d. 27 Mar 1673, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  (Age ~ 73 years) ▻ William Curtis,  m. 6 Aug 1618 > 2. Philip Eliot,   c. 25 Apr 1602, Widford, Hertfordshire, England d. 22 Oct 1657, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  (Age ~ 55 years) ▻ Elizabeth Sybthorpe,  m. 20 Oct 1624 > 3. Rev. John Eliot, The Apostle to the Indians,   c. 5 Aug 1604, Widford, Hertfordshire, England d. 21 May 1690, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony  (Age ~ 85 years) ▻ Ann Mumford (Mountfort),  m. 4 Sep 1632 > 4. Jacob Eliot,   c. 21 Sep 1606, Widford, Hertfordshire, England d. 6 May 1651, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  (Age ~ 44 years) ▻ Margaret,  m. by 1632 > 5. Lydia Eliot,   c. 1 Jul 1610, Nazeing, Essex, England ▻ James Penniman,  m. 26 Jul 1631 ;   Thomas Wight,  m. 7 Dec 1665 > 6. Francis Eliot,   c. 10 Apr 1615, Nazeing, Essex, England d. 23 Oct 1677, Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  (Age ~ 62 years) ▻ Mary Saunders,  m. by 1640 > 7. Mary Eliot,   c. 11 Mar 1620, Nazeing, Essex, England d. 24 Mar 1679, Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  (Age ~ 59 years) ▻ Edward Payson,  m. 1 Jan 1642/43
  Patriarch & Matriarch	William Eliot,   b. Abt 1450   d. Before 1529  (Age 78 years)  (2 x Great Grandfather)  Lettice Peacock  (Grandmother)
  Person ID, Branch	I19270
  Last Modified	28 Jul 2025

  
  

• Notes

  Contents: The above are highlights as I see them. Click on the "John Eliot" button to read the Wikipedia article. There is a much more detailed list of John Eliot's activities in Emerson's Genealogy of the Descendants of John Eliot, "Apostle to the Indians," 1598-1905.

  
  

Father	Bennet Eliot,   b. Before 1562, Widford, Hertfordshire, England bur. 21 Nov 1621, Nazeing, Essex, England (Age ~ 59 years)
Mother	Letteye Algar,   b. 1577, Nazeing, Essex, England bur. 6 Mar 1620/21, Nazeing, Essex, England (Age ~ 44 years)
Family ID	F1523	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart




Spouse / Partner	Ann Mumford (Mountfort),   b. 1604   d. 22 Mar 1687, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age 83 years)
Marriage	4 Sep 1632	Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [1, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15]
Age at Marriage	He : 28 years and 1 month - She : ~ 28 years and 9 months.
Children	From 1633 to 1647  [1, 5, 6, 10, 11]
1. Ann Eliot (1633-1708) 2. John Eliot (1636-1668) 3. Joseph Eliot (1638-1694) 4. Samuel Eliot (1641-1664) 5. Aaron Eliot (1644-1655) 6. Benjamin Eliot (1647-1687)
Notes	Marriage Date: Savage (1860) states that the recorded date of their marriage has to be incorrect. The town record reads 4 September 1632 for the marriage. This was 12 days before her arrival in New England. He confused the arrival date with her husbands a year before. [11]
Family ID	F8178	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
Last Modified	11 Jul 2025




• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1Rev. John Eliot, The Apostle to the Indians(1604 – 1690) 2Bennet Eliot(1562 – 1621) 4Simon Eliot(Abt 1520 – 1562) 8Thomas Eliot(Abt 1480 – ) 16William Eliot(Abt 1450 – 1529) 17 9 18 19 5Jane 10 20 21 11 22 23 3Letteye Algar(1577 – 6 Mar 1620/21) 6Francis Alger 12 24 25 13 26 27 7Lettice Peacock 14 28 29 15 30 31

  
  

• Event Map		Christening - 5 Aug 1604 - Widford, Hertfordshire, England Living - From 1606 to 1618 - Nazeing, Essex, England Education - 20 Mar 1618 - Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England Other Will - 5 Nov 1621 - Nazeing, Essex, England Graduation - About 1623 - Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England Occupation - About 1623 - Little Baddow, Essex, England Miscellaneous - About 1630 - Little Baddow, Essex, England Religion - 1632 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Religion - 1632 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Freeman - 6 Mar 1632 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Marriage - 4 Sep 1632 - Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Religion - Oct 1632 - Roxbury, Suffolk County, Province of Massachusetts Bay Religion - 16 Oct 1633 - Roxbury, Suffolk County, Province of Massachusetts Bay Miscellaneous - Sep 1661 - Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter/Grant/Gift - say 1680 - Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter/Grant/Gift - 1689 - Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Death - 21 May 1690 - Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Burial - Aft 21 May 1690 - Eliot Burying Ground, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Rev John “Apostle to the Indians” Eliot

  
  

• Sources 🟢 Primary Evidence 🟡 Secondary Evidence 🟠 Tertiary Evidence 🔴 Unreliable Evidence

  [S90] Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, volume I (A-F), (Boston: New England Historic Genealogy Society, 1995). [S1021] anonymous. "Inscriptions from the Old Burial Ground, Roxbury, Mass.", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume XIV, 1860). [S1740] Barry, John Stetson. The History of Massachusetts: The Colonial Period, (Boston: Phillips, Sampson, and Company, 1855). [S1738] Eliot, John. "Petition from Rev. John Eliot Against Selling Indians for Slaves", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume VI, 1852). [S1739] Eliot, William H. Jr & William S. Porter. Genealogy of the Eliot Family, (New Haven, Connecticut: George B. Bassett & Company, 1854). [S1741] Emerson, Wilimena H. & Ellsworth Eliot & George Edwin Eliot. Genealogy of the Descendants of John Eliot, "Apostle to the Indians," 1598-1905, (New Haven, Connecticut: The Tuttle, Morehouse and Taylor Company, 1905). [S14] Ancestry.com, Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current® http://findagrave.com, (Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), Memorial ID 5838759 Rev John “Apostle to the Indians” Eliot, Sr . [S293] Fiske, William Wyman. "Ancestry of Bennet Eliot of Nazeing, Essex, Father of Seven Great Migration Immigrants to Massachusetts" , (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume 162, 2008). [S793] Norris, D. W. and H.A. Feldman. The Wells Family , (Milwaukee: Cramer-Krasselt Company, 1942). [S72] Pope, Charles Henry, The Pioneers of Massachusetts , (Boston: Charles H. Pope, 1900). [S1027] Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May 1692 on the Basis of Farmer's Register, volume II , (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1860). [S975] Systematic History Fund. Vital Records of Roxbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 volume 2 Marriages and Deaths, (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1911). [S1736] Thornton, J. Wingate. "The Goodin Family", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume I, 1847). [S1737] Thornton, J. Wingate. Lives of Isaac Heath, and John Bowles, Elders of the Church, and Principal Founders of the Grammar School in Roxbury: and of Rev. John Eliot Jr., Preacher to the Indians, and First Pastor of the Church in Newton, (Roxbury, Massachusetts: privately printed, 1850). [S91] Torrey, Clarence Almon, New England Marriage Prior to 1700, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1985). [S304] Wikipedia, John Eliot (missionary).