Benjamin H. Bailey



Benjamin Holloway Bailey (July 5, 1829 – April 22, 1919) was an American Unitarian minister. At the time of his death, he was "one of [the Unitarian church's] best known and best loved as well as one of its oldest ministers."

Personal life
Bailey was born in Northborough, Massachusetts in 1829, to Holloway and Lucy Sawyer Bailey. He grew up in Northborough his father's farm before attending Bridgewater Normal College, Leicester Academy, and Harvard College, where he graduated in 1854.

Then followed a few years of teaching at Chicopee High School and in Providence. He studied law and then was graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1860. While living in Dedham he met his wife, Emily F. Sampson, and they married on June 1, 1864. They had five children, three of whom predeceased him.

He spent the last six years of his life in retirement in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. He is buried in Brookdale Cemetery.

Ministry
Bailey served at the First Church and Parish in Dedham from 1861 to 1867. In Dedham, he presided over the funeral of his predecessor, Alvan Lamson and led the service at the 250th anniversary of the church's gathering in 1888 where he delivered an historical discourse.

In 1867, he was called to Portland, Maine where he remained for five years. He then served in Marblehead, Massachusetts beginning in 1872. A twelve years pastorate there was followed by a slightly longer one at Malden, Massachusetts from 1884 to 1897. For six years, he served on the Malden School Committee. He then ministered in Westford, Massachusetts. While there, he was a member of The Grange.

Beginning in Marblehead, he began teaching as well. Boys would either lodge with his family and study under him, or be taught as day students.