Briggs, Joel

Briggs, Joel a Baptist minister, was born in Nortonm Massachusetts, April 15, 1757. He became a Christian early in life, and was baptized in March 1770. He pursued his collegiate studies at Brown University for nearly three years, when he was obliged to leave college on account of a weakness in his eyes. In January 1785, he accepted a unanimous invitation from the Baptist Church and Society in Randolph, to become their pastor, and was ordained December 5, 1787. After a pastorate crowned by four or five revivals, he resigned in 1825, on account of growing infirmities. He continued to preach, as occasion offered, until his death, January 18, 1828. He left a good record as a faithful servant of Christ, who loved the cause to the promotion of which he had consecrated his life. See Amer. Baptist Mag. 8:285. (J.C.S.).