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John Nelson Abeel

• Born: 1768, New York, New York
• Died: 20 January 1812

Article from Encyclopaedia of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, p. 9

Abeel, John Nelson, D. D., graduated at Princeton College in l787, and was Tutor in it for two years. He entered upon the study of theology under Dr. Livingston, and was licensed to preach in April, 1793. He first became pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, but in l795 was installed as pastor of the Refonned Dutch Church in the City of New York. With a discriminating mind, a sweet and melodious voice, and his soul inflamed with pious zeal, Dr. Abeel as pre-eminent among extemporaneous orators. He was a man of unassuming manners, and a truly eloquent preacher. He died January 20th, 1812.

Another biographical sketch is available from the PCA History Center and his papers are collected at the Presbyterian Historical Society.

And a long entry from Annuls of the American Pulpit, v. 9, Reformed Dutch Section, pg 95

JOHN NELSON ABEEL, D.D.

1793-1812.

FROM THE REV. PHILIP MILLEDOLER, D.D.

New York, February 28, 1848.

Rev. and dear Brother: I regret that I have not been able sooner to comply with your request fur some account of my lamented and excellent friend, the Rev. Dr. Abeel; and I regret still more, now that I have set myself to the work, to find that I am in possession of only enough of the facts of his history to form but a very general outline of his life. With the material that I have, however, I will endeavour to serve you as well as I can.

JOHN NELSON ABEEL, a son of Colonel James and Gertrude (Nelson) Abeel, was born in the city of New York, near the close of the year 1768. The rudiments of his classical education he received at Morristown, N. J. In due time he was admitted as a student in the College of New Jersey, where he graduated, an excellent scholar, in 1787.

Shortly after his graduation he commenced the study of the Law, under the direction of the Hon. William Patterson, of New Brunswick, afterwards Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. But within about a year from that time he experienced a change in his views and feelings, in regard to religion, that determined him to devote himself to the work of the ministry. Accordingly, he became a student of Theology, under the direction of the Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston; but, in 1791, accepted a Tutorship in the College of New Jersey, which he held for two years. In 1793 he was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Classis of New York. Shortly after this the Second and Third Presbyterian Churches in Philadelphia entered into an arrangement to obtain his services, with an understanding that two-thirds of his time should be given to the Second Church, and the remaining third to the other. He was accordingly ordained, and installed as Colleague Pastor with Dr. Green, of the Second Church. The plan, however, did not work satisfactorily, though the relation between the two Pastors was altogether agreeable. In June, 1795, Mr. Abeel received a call from the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church, in the city of New York, to become one of its Pastors. He accepted the call, and was installed on the first Sabbath in October following. In August, 1805, be was called to the Pastorship of the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia; and, if my memory serves me, he was invited to become the Pastor of one or two other prominent churches; but be declined in each case and remained with his charge in New York till the close of his life.

In the year 1804 the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the Corporation of Harvard College.

In 1809 Dr. Abeel was assailed by that insidious and fatal malady, the consumption. This obliged him frequently to suspend his labours for a considerable time. He passed one winter in South Carolina, and also made a voyage to Rio Janeiro; but in neither case experienced any permanent benefit. No medical skill could arrest the progress of his disease. It was slow but sure, and on the 19th of January, 1812, he gently fell asleep in Christ, being in the forty-third year of ms age.