Joseph Sawyer was a Methodist circuit rider.
Sawyer was born in New York City in 1771. He family was wealthy, and Sawyer received a good education. Sawyer was received on trial for the Methodist itineracy in 1797 and was assigned to the Saratoga Circuit, where he assisted Joel Ketchum. The next year he rode the Pittsfield Circuit. In 1799 his trial status ended and he was assigned to the Vergennes Circuit, where he was an assistant to Joseph Mitchell. On Vergennes, he also took forays into Lower Canada to preach.[1] Sawyer volunteered for an assigned in Canada in 1800, and was assigned to the Niagara Circuit. Preaching there, he converted Nathan Bangs to Methodism, who began serving as his assistant within the year.[1] He remained on the Niagara Circuit in 1801, with Seth Crowell as his assistant.[2] In 1802 he was moved to the Bay of Quinte Circuit, where he remained in 1803. He returned to New York in 1804, riding the Croton Circuit that year, and the New Rochelle Circuit in 1805.[3]
Sawyer was assigned to the role of Presiding Elder of the Lower Canada District in 1806. Being settled into a more permanent role, he married Chloe Bailey, the daughter of prominant Cornwall Methodist John Bailey.[4]
- ^ a b Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 119. Cite error: The named reference "CarrollV1P119" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 121
- ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 123
- ^ Carroll, Volume I, page 124