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Rev John Ogilvie

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Rev John Ogilvie

Birth
New York, New York County, New York, USA
Death
26 Nov 1774 (aged 51–52)
New York, New York County, New York, USA
Burial
Manhattan, New York County, New York, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section S1d, Southside; only marked vault between monuments for Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton
Memorial ID
View Source
1722-1724, prob. New York, New York Co., NY: born to a British Army lieutenant variously cited as either William or George and mother, Mary.(1)

1748, New Haven, New Haven Co., CT: B.A.; Yale College.(1)

27 Mar 1749, London, Middlesex, England: ordained Deacon; Bishop of Salisbury.(1)

02 Apr 1749, London, Middlesex, England: elevated to Priest; Bishop of Salisbury.(1)

Bet. 09 Jun 1749–08 Aug 1764, Albany, Albany Co., NY: "Diary: A Register of Christenings Kept by The Rev'd John Ogilvie," survived the fire of 1776 because fortunately, his records prior to association with Trinity Church were held privately at the time.(2)

30 Jun 1749, Albany, Albany Co., NY: appointed Missionary to the Mohawk Indians under the auspices of the "Society for the Propogation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts."(1)

31 Mar 1750, Albany, Albany Co., NY: appointed Rector; St. Peter's Church.(1)

14 Sep 1751, New York, New York Co., NY: with brother William, appointed Administrators of the estate of their mother, variously cited as a widow beginning 1744.

18 Sep 1751, New York, New York Co., NY: married Susanna Catherine Symes (1732-1768).(1)

01 Sep 1756, Fort Niagara, Youngstown, Niagara Co., NY: during the French & Indian War, appointed Chaplain to the newly raised Royal American Regiment (62nd, later 60th Foot) on the recommendation of Sir William Johnson. Later moved Back to Albany, then Montreal.

24 Sep 1764, New York, New York Co., NY: appointed Assistant Minister; Trinity Church.(1)

1767, New York, New York Co., NY: A.M.; King's College (Columbia University aft. 1784).(1)

1769, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; S.T.D. (Doctor of Sacred Theology); Marischal College (University of Aberdeen).(1)

18 Apr 1769, New York, New York Co., NY: married Margaret Marston (1728-1807), widow of Philip Philipse (1724-1768).(1)

1770, New York, New York Co., NY: D.D.; King's College (Columbia University aft. 1784).(1)

1771, New York, New York Co., NY: portrait painted by John Singleton Copley (1738-1815), now in the collection of Trinity Church [on loan to The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Luce Study Center, Case 22, Section K]; an additional Copley portrait of his son, George (future Minister at Christ's Church, Rye), commissioned at the same time, it or a copy now in the collection of Columbia University.(1)

26 Nov 1774, New York, New York Co., NY: died, seized with apoplexy since 18 Nov 1774 while lecturing:

"Ogilvie, Rev. John, Assistant Minister of Trinity Church--died Nov. 26 [1774] in New York City in his 51st year; his remains were interred in the family vault in Trinity Church Yard on Sunday; he was descended from a family of North Britain and was closely related to the Earl of Finlater [sic] and Seafield; he was educated at Yale, in 1750 was appointed missionary to the Mohawk Indians and in 1764 was called to Trinity Church."(3)

Portrait:

John Singleton Copley, "The Reverend" [Reverend John Ogilvie], New York, 1771. Oil on canvas. 50" x 40". (Courtesy, Trinity Church, New York.)

"At the Metropolitan Museum, on the Mezzanine Level [Luce Study Center, Case 22, Section K], hangs a portrait a curator titled “The Reverend.” “The Reverend” in question is the Rev. Dr. John Ogilvie, a priest at Trinity Church from 1764 until his death in 1774. The Rev. Ogilvie likely paid a considerable sum for his painting. But the painting’s value has skyrocketed in recent decades—a portrait by the same artist sold for nearly $3.7 million dollars in 2005. The story of the painting also provides a look at American life on the eve of the Revolution, complete with orphan children raised by Mohawk Indians, stolen liturgical robes and social climbing. The Rev. Ogilvie’s portrait was painted in 1771, by John Singleton Copley. Copley was born in 1738 to a family of modest means and raised in Boston. His stepfather was a mezzotint engraver (a type of printmaker), through whom Copley was introduced to art. Copley began painting in the 1750s and became the preeminent portrait artist of Boston’s upper class. Portraits were a sign of wealth and social significance, and it is said that Copley painted people as they wanted to be seen: astute, powerful, rising in the world. Born in New York in 1722, Ogilvie graduated from Yale in 1748 and was ordained soon after. He married Catharine Symes in 1751, and Trinity Church Archives has records of the baptisms of six children. Ogilvie spent the first 15 years of his career on the fringes of the colonies, ministering to the Church at Albany, Mohawk Indians, and British Army regiments in the area. Trinity Church Archives has the register of baptisms Ogilvie conducted during his years at Albany between 1749-1761. They provide a glimpse into life on the frontier in the 1750s. Ogilvie baptized English, Dutch, slave, Mohawk and several unfortunate children labeled “bastards.” The records also show that he traveled regularly across a wide swath of the northeast, including parts of modern day Canada. He continued to minister to criminals and preached sermons exhorting the faithful to support Trinity’s Charity School and other ministries for the indigent. His first wife died, and he married Margaret Philipse, a widow, at Trinity Church in 1769. Ogilvie died in November of 1774, after suffering a “stroke of apoplexy” during a Friday afternoon service in Trinity Church. He left money to the Charity School, King’s College (now Columbia University) and the fund for the relief of widows and children of clergymen. He was buried in the Ogilvie family vault on the south side of Trinity Churchyard."(4)

Sources:

1. Comstock, William Ogilvie, "Four Officers of the Colonial Period in New York: Lieutenant George Ogilvie, Captain William Ogilvie, Midshipman George Ogilvie, Chaplain John Ogilvie, D.D.," Colonial Wars, A Quarterly Magazine Published by the Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Volume 1, Number 3, June, 1914; pp. 166-170; repository: Harvard College Library.

2. Vestry of Trinity Church Parish, New York City, "Records of Trinity Church Parish, New York City," originally published July, 1936 - April, 1938, NYG&B Record; compiled in a single edition July, 1950, bound preservation photocopy, BookLab, Inc., Austin, 1996; pp. 4-34; repository: New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Irma and Paul Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy.

3. Scott, Kenneth, comp., "Rivington's New York Newspaper: Excerpts from a Loyalist Press, 1773-1783," New-York Historical Society, New York, NY, 1973; p. 94; repository: Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, New-York Historical Society.

4. News & Blogs | VOICES FROM THE TRINITY COMMUNITY, "Trinity Treasures, Part One," April 23, 2009.
1722-1724, prob. New York, New York Co., NY: born to a British Army lieutenant variously cited as either William or George and mother, Mary.(1)

1748, New Haven, New Haven Co., CT: B.A.; Yale College.(1)

27 Mar 1749, London, Middlesex, England: ordained Deacon; Bishop of Salisbury.(1)

02 Apr 1749, London, Middlesex, England: elevated to Priest; Bishop of Salisbury.(1)

Bet. 09 Jun 1749–08 Aug 1764, Albany, Albany Co., NY: "Diary: A Register of Christenings Kept by The Rev'd John Ogilvie," survived the fire of 1776 because fortunately, his records prior to association with Trinity Church were held privately at the time.(2)

30 Jun 1749, Albany, Albany Co., NY: appointed Missionary to the Mohawk Indians under the auspices of the "Society for the Propogation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts."(1)

31 Mar 1750, Albany, Albany Co., NY: appointed Rector; St. Peter's Church.(1)

14 Sep 1751, New York, New York Co., NY: with brother William, appointed Administrators of the estate of their mother, variously cited as a widow beginning 1744.

18 Sep 1751, New York, New York Co., NY: married Susanna Catherine Symes (1732-1768).(1)

01 Sep 1756, Fort Niagara, Youngstown, Niagara Co., NY: during the French & Indian War, appointed Chaplain to the newly raised Royal American Regiment (62nd, later 60th Foot) on the recommendation of Sir William Johnson. Later moved Back to Albany, then Montreal.

24 Sep 1764, New York, New York Co., NY: appointed Assistant Minister; Trinity Church.(1)

1767, New York, New York Co., NY: A.M.; King's College (Columbia University aft. 1784).(1)

1769, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; S.T.D. (Doctor of Sacred Theology); Marischal College (University of Aberdeen).(1)

18 Apr 1769, New York, New York Co., NY: married Margaret Marston (1728-1807), widow of Philip Philipse (1724-1768).(1)

1770, New York, New York Co., NY: D.D.; King's College (Columbia University aft. 1784).(1)

1771, New York, New York Co., NY: portrait painted by John Singleton Copley (1738-1815), now in the collection of Trinity Church [on loan to The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Luce Study Center, Case 22, Section K]; an additional Copley portrait of his son, George (future Minister at Christ's Church, Rye), commissioned at the same time, it or a copy now in the collection of Columbia University.(1)

26 Nov 1774, New York, New York Co., NY: died, seized with apoplexy since 18 Nov 1774 while lecturing:

"Ogilvie, Rev. John, Assistant Minister of Trinity Church--died Nov. 26 [1774] in New York City in his 51st year; his remains were interred in the family vault in Trinity Church Yard on Sunday; he was descended from a family of North Britain and was closely related to the Earl of Finlater [sic] and Seafield; he was educated at Yale, in 1750 was appointed missionary to the Mohawk Indians and in 1764 was called to Trinity Church."(3)

Portrait:

John Singleton Copley, "The Reverend" [Reverend John Ogilvie], New York, 1771. Oil on canvas. 50" x 40". (Courtesy, Trinity Church, New York.)

"At the Metropolitan Museum, on the Mezzanine Level [Luce Study Center, Case 22, Section K], hangs a portrait a curator titled “The Reverend.” “The Reverend” in question is the Rev. Dr. John Ogilvie, a priest at Trinity Church from 1764 until his death in 1774. The Rev. Ogilvie likely paid a considerable sum for his painting. But the painting’s value has skyrocketed in recent decades—a portrait by the same artist sold for nearly $3.7 million dollars in 2005. The story of the painting also provides a look at American life on the eve of the Revolution, complete with orphan children raised by Mohawk Indians, stolen liturgical robes and social climbing. The Rev. Ogilvie’s portrait was painted in 1771, by John Singleton Copley. Copley was born in 1738 to a family of modest means and raised in Boston. His stepfather was a mezzotint engraver (a type of printmaker), through whom Copley was introduced to art. Copley began painting in the 1750s and became the preeminent portrait artist of Boston’s upper class. Portraits were a sign of wealth and social significance, and it is said that Copley painted people as they wanted to be seen: astute, powerful, rising in the world. Born in New York in 1722, Ogilvie graduated from Yale in 1748 and was ordained soon after. He married Catharine Symes in 1751, and Trinity Church Archives has records of the baptisms of six children. Ogilvie spent the first 15 years of his career on the fringes of the colonies, ministering to the Church at Albany, Mohawk Indians, and British Army regiments in the area. Trinity Church Archives has the register of baptisms Ogilvie conducted during his years at Albany between 1749-1761. They provide a glimpse into life on the frontier in the 1750s. Ogilvie baptized English, Dutch, slave, Mohawk and several unfortunate children labeled “bastards.” The records also show that he traveled regularly across a wide swath of the northeast, including parts of modern day Canada. He continued to minister to criminals and preached sermons exhorting the faithful to support Trinity’s Charity School and other ministries for the indigent. His first wife died, and he married Margaret Philipse, a widow, at Trinity Church in 1769. Ogilvie died in November of 1774, after suffering a “stroke of apoplexy” during a Friday afternoon service in Trinity Church. He left money to the Charity School, King’s College (now Columbia University) and the fund for the relief of widows and children of clergymen. He was buried in the Ogilvie family vault on the south side of Trinity Churchyard."(4)

Sources:

1. Comstock, William Ogilvie, "Four Officers of the Colonial Period in New York: Lieutenant George Ogilvie, Captain William Ogilvie, Midshipman George Ogilvie, Chaplain John Ogilvie, D.D.," Colonial Wars, A Quarterly Magazine Published by the Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Volume 1, Number 3, June, 1914; pp. 166-170; repository: Harvard College Library.

2. Vestry of Trinity Church Parish, New York City, "Records of Trinity Church Parish, New York City," originally published July, 1936 - April, 1938, NYG&B Record; compiled in a single edition July, 1950, bound preservation photocopy, BookLab, Inc., Austin, 1996; pp. 4-34; repository: New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Irma and Paul Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy.

3. Scott, Kenneth, comp., "Rivington's New York Newspaper: Excerpts from a Loyalist Press, 1773-1783," New-York Historical Society, New York, NY, 1973; p. 94; repository: Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, New-York Historical Society.

4. News & Blogs | VOICES FROM THE TRINITY COMMUNITY, "Trinity Treasures, Part One," April 23, 2009.

Bio by: Philip Hathaway Koether


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