Individual Details

Joseph Roby

(12 May 1724 - 31 January 1803)

The following article regarding Joseph Roby was published in the Essex Institute Historical Collection in 1889.

REV. JOSEPH ROBY AND HIS TIMES.
" 'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours And ask them what report they gave to Heaven."
To even wander in thought along the Saugus River of the past, and not to largely mention Parson Roby, would be as absurd as is the trite saying in reference to playing the story of Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark, — for he was the spiritual guide of the people of the West Parish of Lynn for more than fifty years.
When Mr. Roby came to Saugus, the strictness, though not the influence, of Puritanism had relaxed. He was better fitted to the new than to the old. He was born in Boston in 1724, graduated in 1742, and ordained minister of the Third Parish in 1752. He served this parish fifty-one years.
He was an excellent scholar and was highly esteemed for his social virtues. He was not disputative nor combative like many of his creed. He was the benevolent father rather than the austere teacher of his people. We find two published Fast Day sermons of his, one in 1781, the other in 1794. His first wife was Rachel Proctor, of Boston, and they had seven children.
Parson Roby's tombstone is in the old churchyard just by the spot where the meeting-house stood. It is by the roadside in the centre of a group that is a touching re minder of the closeness of our ancestors' family relations. The inscription of the stone at Mr. Roby's grave reads as follows :"Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Joseph Roby, who departed this life January 31st, 1803, in the 80th year of his age and 53d of his ministry in this parish.”
This is a link to his wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Roby

Events

Birth12 May 1724Boston, Suffolk, Province of Massachusetts
Education1742Master of Arts - Harvard College, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Marriage23 February 1752New North Church, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts - Rachel Proctor
Death31 January 1803Saugus, Essex, Massachusetts
Occupationminister of Third Parish of Lynn for 51 years

Families

SpouseRachel Proctor (1725 - 1792)
ChildRachel Roby (1753 - 1809)
ChildJoseph Roby (1753 - )
ChildMary Roby (1755 - )
ChildHenry Roby (1757 - )
ChildThomas Roby (1759 - )
ChildElisebeth Roby (1763 - )
ChildSarah Roby (1767 - )
FatherJospeh Roby (1693 - )
MotherPriscilla Grafton (1698 - 1730)
SiblingWilliam Roby (1719 - 1727)
SiblingJoseph Roby (1721 - 1724)
SiblingHenry Roby (1722 - )
SiblingHannah Roby (1725 - 1726)
SiblingWilliam Roby (1727 - )
SiblingEbenezer Roby (1728 - )

Notes