John Wise (August 15, 1652 – April 8, 1725) was a Congregationalist reverend and political leader in Massachusetts during the American colonial period. Wise was noted for his political activism, specifically his protests against British taxation, for which he was once jailed. As the pastor of the Chebacco Parish from 1680 to his death in 1725, Wise lived in Ipswich, Massachusetts, often called "the birthplace of American independence."

Biography

Wise was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, the son of Joseph Wise and Mary Thompson.

He attended the Roxbury Latin School, in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, graduating in 1669. He then was admitted to Harvard College (now Harvard University). After graduating from Harvard in 1673, he began studying theology, and preached in at Branford, Connecticut and Hatfield, Massachusetts. On August 12, 1683, Wise was ordained as the pastor of the newly organized Chebacco Parish, a new parish formed out of Ipswich.

In 1688, Wise led Ipswich citizens in a protest against colonial taxation.

John Wise Avenue, a section of Route 133 in Massachusetts, is named after him. Liberty ship , launched on June 14, 1942 and scrapped in 1971, was also named after him.

Family

On December 5, 1678 he married Abigail Gardner, daughter of Thomas Gardner and Lucy Smith. They had seven children:

1. Jeremiah Wise (November 2, 1679 – January 20, 1756) married Mary Shipway
2. Lucy Wise (born c. 1681 – March 5, 1727) married John White
3. John Wise (born c. 1683 – August 31, 1762) married Mary Rogers
4. Mary Wise (May 12, 1685 – March 23, 1735/36)
5. Joseph Wise (February 16, 1686 – September 23, 1745) married Martha Appleton
6. Amni Ruhami Wise (born c. 1688 – July 6, 1749) married Mary Ringe
7. Henry wise (born c. 1697 – November 12, 1775) married Mary Wade

Note

References

• Maine Historical Society. Collections of the Maine Historical Society. Portland, Me: Maine Historical Society, 1831. (p. 321) googlebooks
• colonial graduates Accessed 18, 2008
• familysearch.org Accessed August 18, 2008
• Cook, George Allan. John Wise: Early American Democrat. New York: Octagon Books, Inc, 1966, ©1952.