Building a New Jerusalem

Description

The life of John Davenport, who co-founded the colony of New Haven, has long been overshadowed by his reputation as the most draconian of all Puritan leaders in New England—a reputation he earned due to his opposition to many of the changes that were transforming New England in the post-Restoration era. In this first biography of Davenport, Francis J. Bremer shows that he was in many ways actually a remarkably progressive leader for his time, with a strong commitment to education for both women and men, a vibrant interest in new science, and a dedication to promoting and upholding democratic principles in his congregation at a time when many other Puritan clergymen were emphasizing the power of their office above all else.   Bremer’s enlightening and accessible biography of an important figure in New England history provides a unique perspective on the seventeenth-century transatlantic Puritan movement.   Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Why John Davenport? Chapter 1. Coventry Chapter 2. Oxford Chapter 3. Hilton Castle Chapter 4. London—The Early Years Chapter 5. London Rector Chapter 6. Campaigning for Reform Chapter 7. Nonconformity Chapter 8. The Dutch Interlude—Controversy in Amsterdam Chapter 9. The Hague and Rotterdam Chapter 10. Boston Chapter 11. A New Heaven in a New Earth Chapter 12. The Quinnipiac Jerusalem Chapter 13. Everyday Life in Mr. Davenport’s Town Chapter 14. From Town to Colony Chapter 15. Cracks in the Foundation Chapter 16. Beyond New Haven Chapter 17. Defending Congregationalism and Baptism Chapter 18. The End of the New Haven Colony Chapter 19. The Fight Continues Chapter 20. Boston Divided Chapter 21. The Last Struggle Epilogue Abbreviations Notes Index