NAPHTALI SHAW was born at Bridgewater, Ms., June 20, 1764, and was
the fourth son of his parents. His father, who was by occupation a
tanner and shoemaker, was William Shaw, who lived in Bridgewater,
and married Hannah, daughter of Samuel West, who was a Deacon of
the Congregational Church in that place, and lived to be more than
eighty years of age. He had five sons and six daughters. At the age
of fifteen the subject of this Memoir enlisted as a soldier in the
Revolutionary army, and went with others to take Rhode Island, which
was in 1779 in possession of the British, but he did not continue
long in the service, the object being accomplished. He prepared for
college under the instructions of Dr. Crane, a physician of Titicut
Parish, and the Rev. Dr. Reed of West Bridgewater. In 1786, he
entered the Freshman Class of Dartmouth College, and graduated there
in 1790. After receiving his bachelor's degree, he taught school at
Easton, Ms., and at Boston, as an assistant of Mr. Caleb Bingham, an
instructor of much celebrity. His theological course of study was
pursued under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Sanger of Bridgewater,
who was in the habit of educating young men for the ministry. He
was approbated to preach the gospel, as it was then called, by the
Plymouth Association of Ministers, Aug. 1, 1792. Jan. 30, 1793, he
was ordained Pastor of the church in Kensington, N. H., where he
remained till Jan. 13, 1813, when he was dismissed on account of
ill health. His ministry was pacific and useful; peace and harmony
were restored, and the cause of education, morals, and religion
promoted. His health was such, that upon resignation, he retired from
the ministry, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, having
purchased a farm in the town of Bradford, Vt., where he still lives
in the enjoyment of his bodily and mental powers, to a good degree,
at the age of 84 years.
Mr. Shaw married, June 10, 1798, Mary Crafts, daughter of Dr. John
Staples Crafts of Bridgewater, who was to him a great blessing.
"The greatest blessing," said Martin Luther, "with which a man can
be favored is a pious and amiable wife, who fears God and loves her
family, with whom he may live in peace, and in whom he may repose
confidence." The wife of Mr. Shaw died Jan. 14, 1840. Their children
were four;--Thomas Crafts, living in Bradford, Vt., a farmer, and a
deacon of the church in that place, who married Sarah Jenkins, by
whom he has two daughters, Sarah Jane and Mary Ann; Eliza Park, who
married Dea. Randell H. Wild of West Fairlee, who died in Bradford,
Dec. 22, 1841, leaving two daughters, Elisabeth and Emily; Samuel
West, who married Jerusha Bliss of Fairlee, and died March 12, 1832,
leaving no child; Mary Ann, who died July 12, 1808, in childhood.