Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

in civic and religious affairs in the little
community. He was one of the seven
pillars of the church, but at a later date
left it to settle in Mattatuck, now Water-
bury, where he was granted a lot in 1684.
His property extended from what is now
West Main street to Grove street. He
was one of the original proprietor inhabi-
tants of Waterbury. Robert Porter died
in Waterbury in 1689, and at the time of
his death was the oldest man in the community.
He married Mary Scott, and
among their children was Thomas, mentioned
below.
(II) Thomas Porter, son of Robert and
Mary (Scott) Porter, was born in 1650,
in Farmington, Connecticut. He married
Abigail Cowles, who was born in 1664,
daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Stanley)
Cowles,
Cowles.
and granddaughter of John
(III) Robert (2) Porter, son of Thomas
and Abigail (Cowles) Porter, was born
in 1697. He married Sarah Smith, daugh-
ter of Jonathan Smith.
(IV) Deacon Noah Porter, son of Robert
(2) and Sarah (Smith) Porter, was
born in 1733, and died in 1818. He was
prominent in religious affairs, and was
one of the foremost citizens of Farmington
to the time of his death. He married
Rachel Merill.
(V) Rev. Noah (2) Porter, D. D., son
of Deacon Noah (i) and Rachel (Merill)
Porter, was born in Farmington, Connecticut,
in 1781, and died there in 1866. He
was graduated in the class of 1803 ^t Yale
College, and carried off highest honors.
After pursuing studies preparatory to
entering the ministry, he was settled over
the Congregational church in his native
town, and remained at its head until his
death, his pastorate covering a period of
more than sixty years. In 1828 he re-
ceived the degree of Doctor of Divinity
from Dartmouth College. For nearly
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
14
forty years from 1823 to 1862, he was a
Fellow of Yale College, and during the
greater part of that time served on its
most important committees. He was one
of the foremost divines in New England
in the first half of the nineteenth century,
and it was in his study at Farmington on
the fifth of September, 1810, that the
American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions was organized and held
its first meeting. Noah Porter married
Mehitable Meigs, daughter of Captain
Giles and Anne (Green) Meigs, of Middletown,
Connecticut. The wife of Noah
Porter was a descendant in the sixth generation
of Rev. Samuel Whiting and
Elizabeth (St. John) Whiting. The latter
traced a distinguished lineage through
twenty generations from King Henry I
of France. They were the parents of
Noah, mentioned below.
(VI) Rev. Noah (3) Porter, D. D., son
of Rev. Noah (2) and Mehitable (Meigs)
Porter, was born in Farmington, Connec-
ticut, December 14, 181 1. He received
his early educational training under
Simeon Hart, principal of the Farming-
ton Academy, and for a short time
studied under John H. Lathrop, who
afterwards became chancellor of the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin. He also studied
under the direction of Elisha N. Sill. In
1824, following a fashion common among
the prominent New England families of
the day, Noah Porter was received- into
the family of an uncle. Dr. Humphrey,
president of Amherst College, one of
whose sons took the place of Noah Porter
in the Porter family in Farmington. Here
he studied under Ebenezer Snell, who
afterwards became professor of Natural
Philosophy at Amherst College. With
the exception of one or two terms spent
in the school in Middletown, Connecticut,
Noah Porter received his elementary edu-
cation and made his preparation for col-