Rev. Caleb Fogg ~ Methodist Itinerant Minister

Rev. Caleb Fogg was born in Epping, NH March 17, 1761, a son of Col. Seth and Eleanor (Philbrick) Fogg. He served in the American Revolution and applied for a pension in 1833. In 1781 he married Olive Prescott of Epping in 1781. They had eleven children, born in Monmouth, Maine between 1783 and 1804, where the couple had moved to soon after their marriage. Their residence remained Monmouth although Rev. Fogg served on several Maine missionary circuits (see below). One of his circuits, for several of his assignments – including his last- was the Readfield circuit.

He was converted to Methodism in 1795, licensed to exhort (evangelize) in 1798 and he received a local preacher’s license in 1800. He was admitted on trial, in the New England Methodist Conference, in 1806 and continued in the itinerant (missionary) services for twenty-four years. After his final assignment in 1830 he retired from itinerant service to his home in Monmouth, although he continued his labors as a preacher when health allowed, right up to within months of his death.

According to the History of Methodism by Allen and Pillsbury (pg. 415) Fogg “was not a common man and was remarkably original. He copied no man either in or out of the pulpit. Shrewdness and wit were prominent characteristics. He was a careful student of the Bible; clear and decided in his convictions; plain and forcible in his preaching; and severe in his assaults upon what he believed to be error. He entertained a special abhorrence of the harsh points of Calvinistic doctrine, current in his time, and he would usually, in his preaching, take occasion to give some hard thrusts at this, to him odious system of theology.”

In his last days a Christian brother visited him and asked Rev. Fogg is he was conscious of having neglected any of his Christian duties. He replied “I am not sure that in my preaching I have been severe enough on Calvinism.”

Rev. Fogg’s final days were peaceful and he said to those who visited him during that time “I have peach with God. All is well”. He died September 6, 1839 at his home in Monmouth. His wife died six years later. Both are buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Monmouth.

 

Rev. Caleb Fogg’s assignments as Methodist itinerant preacher:

1806, Falmouth; 1807, Hallowell; 1808, Norridgewock; 1809, Boothbay; 1810, Readfield; 1811, Georgetown; 1812, Bristol; 1817-18, Livermore; 1819, Poland; 1820, Scarborough; 1821-22, Gray; 1823024, Readfield; 1825-26, Pittston; 1827, Durham; 1828, Gray; 1829, Readfield.  

 

SOURCES:

1. Allen & Pillsbury; History of Methodism in Maine; pub. 1886, Nash Pub., Augusta, ME
2. Fisher, Carleton & Sue; Soldiers, Sailors and Patriots of the Revolutionary War, Maine; pub. by National Society of the Sons of American Revolution, Louisville, KY, 1982; pg.262
3. Cochrane, Harry; History of Wales and Monmouth, ME; pub. Banner Co. Winthrop, ME, 1894; pgs. 58-59, genealogical index volume 2