The Rev. Thomas Cary of Newburyport, Massachusetts

Thomas Cary was born 7 October 1745 in Charlestown , Massachusetts , the son of [Capt.] Samuel and Margaret [Greaves] Cary. He was educated at Harvard and became minister of the First Parish in Newburyport on 11 May 1768 . In 1775 he married Esther Carter, daughter of Nathaniel Carter, one of the leading residents of the town.

Thomas Cary was one of the many ministers along the Merrimack River who encouraged the patriotism of their parishioners during the Revolutionary War. In 1779, Esther Cary died, leaving a two-year-old son Thomas. In 1783 Mr. Cary married Miss Deborah Prince of Exeter, N.H.

Diarist Theophilus Parsons visited all the churches in the vicinity and wrote of Mr. Cary:
“This gentleman is a good preacher; appears extremely indolent. His manner is also far from graceful.” He later reported in 1788, “Heard Parson Cary the whole day. In the forenoon he was intolerably long, as the weather was very cold.”

On Sunday morning, March 9th, 1788, directly after the morning service Rev. Cary was struck with palsy. He never fully recovered from this attack although he was able to preach occasionally. It was necessary to procure a colleague.

The Reverend Thomas Cary died on 24 November 1808 in Newburyport in the 64th year of his age and 41st of his Pastoral Relation.

He left a widow and two sons. Thomas Cary, son of Esther Carter Cary, “seems to have been a fascinating and brilliant young man but somewhat dissipated and unfortunate in having too much money.” The other son was Samuel, years later associated with James Freeman Clarke at King’s Chapel in Boston. Eleven children were born to the Cary family, but only these two lived to adult life and neither left children. [From Minnie Atkinson. A History of the First Religious Society in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The Unitarian Historical Society’s “Prize” Parish History, 1933.]

Thomas Cary started his diary in Weston, Massachusetts, in 1762. He wrote his notes opposite the pages of An Astronomical diary: Or, Almanack for the Year of Our Lord CHRIST 1762 which he “bot at Mr. Philips.” His entries are sparse, but invaluable.

Sample page from Thomas Cary Diary - 1765




November 1st the Stamp Act was to have taken place but was not suffer'd to by the People. Secretary Oliver was appointed Stamp Master for the Prov. of Massachusetts & built an Office for the Purpose which so enraged the People that they hung him up in Effigy, attacked his houses did him great Damage they then pull'd down the S. Office and burnt it on Fort hill. This was done upon the 14th of August, upon the 26th a Mob consisting of Sailors Negroes the very Refuse of the People Went to Gov. Hutchinson's House, drove him & Family out & then destroyed all this Furniture & all the Inside of his House supposing him to be a Favorer of the Stamp. Sec. Oliver resign'd his Office.