Clergyman, Folk figure. The story of Mr. Abbott's life has been told for over a century in the denomination of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Abbott was trained as a milliner, per the request of his father. His father died when he was still young, his goal to have all his sons learn trades. While working as an apprentice in Philadelphia, Benjamin strayed from a Christian lifestyle and embraced a wild, sinful life. He left his apprenticeship to join his brother on a New Jersy farm, all the time keeping up his notorious activity, in spite of his marriage to an upstanding lady. Even though his exploits were well known, he still attended religious services on a regular basis and was kind to his family. When he was thirty-three years old, he experienced a prophetic dream. At first the dream did not alter his life, but it returned to him to him several years afterward with a vengeance. Abbott sought the advice of an itinerant Methodist preacher, and overwhelmed with terror, he suffered agonies of remorse during the preacher's absence and was not at peace until the preacher returned. Abbott insisted on being converted on the spot and he did not rest till he himself became a preacher. HIs representations and preachings were so powerful that his wife experienced renewed conviction. Soon his prowess as an inspirational preacher became well known. With his wife and children, he soon united with the Methodists, and became the most popular and successful preacher in the vicinity. His sermons were said to convert even the toughest opposers and his words of God were said to move not only those he was sought to convert but also in consequence of his chance appeals to individuals. When the rage of the American Revolution took precedence to nearly all other climates he pressed on even when the Methodists were accused of being disloyal to the cause of Independence. On several occasions he was threatened by soldiers who felt him overly loyal to the crown. His personal defense was the Lord Almighty, and he wielded the scripture like a weapon and preached down his assailants, and he once reduced to the attitude of peaceful auditors a hundred soldiers who had assembled to do him violence. For sixteen years he served as a local preacher, and in 1789 he became an itinerant, joining the Dutchess County (New York) circuit. In 1791, he was on the Long Island circuit, in 1792, in Salem, New Jersey, and in 1793, he was made an elder and sent to the Cecil Circuit, Maryland. After this time his usefulness was impaired by ill health, but in the intervals of fever he went about as usual and performed his pastoral duties whenever his strength permitted. The story of his life has ever been an inspirational tale to his exhorters and was referred to as "one of the wonders of America, no man's copy, an uncommon zealot for the blessed work of sanctification, who preached it on all occasions and in all congregations." in the denominational conference of 1796.

The plaque on his grave reads: "On the tombstone, worn with the flight of time, one may read: Sacred to the memory of Rev. Benjamin Abbot. 25 years a member, 16 years a local preacher, 7 years a local traveling preacher, in the M.E. Church. He died August 1796- Aged 61 years. A wholly zealous and useful man of God."