David Brainerd

David Brainerd (1718-1747) was an American missionary to the Native Americans. He had a fruitful ministry among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey. During his short life he was beset by many physical difficulties.
As a result his diary,Life and diary Of David Brainerd(1749) edited by Jonathan Edwards, he became a source of inspiration and encouragement to many Christians.

David was born on 20th April 1718 in Haddam, Connecticut.He was one of 9 siblings.He was orphaned at the age of 14 when his father died, his mother died 5 years later.

After his mother’s death he lived with Jerusha, one of his older sisters. in East Haddam. Aged 19 he inherited a farm in Durham but did not enjoy the experience. He returned to his sister’s. A year later he prepared to go to Yale University.

12th July, 1739, he had ‘inspeakable glory’ - a conversion experience…

September entered Yale. In his second year he was sent home after a serious illness.(now believed to be tuberculosis (TB))
When he returned to Yale in December 1740 there was tension between the college trustees and their students relating to the enthusiasm of the students In 1741 a decree was passed that anyone who called staff hypocrites after a second offence would be expelled.
Jonathan Edwards came to preach and David commented that one of his tutors - Chauncey Whittelsey ‘has no more grace then a chair’. He was also alleged to ask why the Rector ‘did not drop dead’. He was expelled. He apologized for the first comment but denied making the second.
A recent law had been passed that ministers could only be appointed in Connecticut if they had graduated from Harvard or Yale. He had to reconsider his plans.

In 1742 he was licensed to preach for a group called ‘New Lights’. Jonathan Dickinson noticed him and tried to get him reinstated at Yale but failed. it was suggested he worked as a missionary among Native Americans, supported by the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian knowledge (SSPSK). He was approved on 25th November 1742.

1st April 1743, after a brief time serving a church on Long Island, he began working with Native Americans He began working at Kaunameek, a Housatonic Indian settlement. He stayed there a year. He began a school and to translate the Psalms.
He then worked for a year with the Delaware Indians along the Rivernorthwest of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
He then moved to Crossweeksung in New Jersey where he established a Christian community of 130 members.

By November 1746 his health- a form of depression - 22 times- stopped him from working. He moved first to Jonathan Dickenson’s house. After a few months rest. he moved to Jonathan Edward’s house. 17 year old Jerusha Edwards nursed him… He managed a trip to Boston.
He suffered greatly and died of TB at Edward’s house on the 9th October 1747, aged just 29.

Life and Diary of David Brainerd is still in print (see Amazon flier)