Bailey, John

Bailey, John Congregational minister, was born in Lancashire, England, Feb. 24, 1644, studied under Dr. J. Harrison, and entered the ministry at Chester, 1666. As a Nonconformist, he was imprisoned in Lancashire jail for some time, and after his release he went to Limerick, Ireland, where he labored faithfully as pastor for 14 years. The office of chaplain to the Duke of Ormond, with the promise of a deanery and bishopric, was tendered to him on condition of conforming to the Established Church, but he refused. He was finally imprisoned, and only released on a promise to leave the country. About 1684 he came to New England, and was ordained minister of the Congregational Society at Watertown, October 6, 1686, with his brother, Thomas Bailey, as his assistant. He removed to Boston in 1692, and became assistant to Mr. Allen, of the First Church, in 1693. Here he labored, as his failing health would allow, till his death, December 12, 1697. He was a man of eminent piety and exemplary life. A volume of his discourses was published in 1689. — Sprague, Annals, 1:201.