Sylvester Holmes, Rev. (The Rev. Sylvester Holmes)
biographical statement
Born in 1788 in Plymouth, MA, the Rev. Sylvester Holmes was ordained in 1810 as the founding pastor of the North Congregational Church of New Bedford, sserving until 1844. In that year, he became pastor of the Pacific Congregational Church in New Bedford, MA, serving until 1850. He was the vice-president of the Seaman's Bethel of New Bedford in 1831. Holmes received an honorary degree from Brown University, and published several of his sermons.
During 1840-1841, Holmes served as General Traveling Agent of the American Bible Society, spending six months in the western states from Ohio to Mississippi. He traveled the eastern states in the alternate six months of the year.
A founding Trustee of Wheaton Female Seminary in 1834, he served until 1851, although the Minutes make no mention of his leaving the Board. In 1850 and 1851, published pamphlets describe allegations of sexual impropriety against the Rev. Holmes. In 1851, the Trustees added rotating terms to their By-Laws.
Married twice, Holmes fathered seven children, including Wheaton student Martha Russell Holmes WFS 1835-1837 (when she died). The Rev. Holmes died in 1866, and is buried in New Bedford, MA.