Rev. John Chandler

Detail of Rev. Chandler's gravestone

Rev. Chandler was born in Andover, MA to Thomas and Mary (Stevens) Chandler on December 23, 1723. He was the youngest of their twelve children.

In 1743 he graduated from Harvard and sought to become a minister. In 1747 after some back and forth with the town over compensation Rev. Chandler was chosen to be a Pastor in Billerica, MA, and work with the aged Reverend Samuel Ruggles. Shortly after he married Mary White of Haverhill. He took over the pastorate when Rev. Ruggles died in 1749. For over a decade he was a well-loved and effective minister.

Rev. Chandler’s wife died in 1757 three weeks after giving birth to their third child, and the Reverend began drinking. He married Elizabeth White, a double-cousin of his late wife’s, in early 1759. By then he was drinking enough for it to be noticed by the town, as it was affecting his duties. In June 1760 Rev. Chandler was dismissed from his position. Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter a month later. In October both of his sons died.

Rev. Chandler died on November 10, 1762 aged only 38. He was laid to rest in the Old South Burying Ground in Billerica. Elizabeth married Dr. Robert Liscombe of Taunton in 1766, and died there in 1768. Both of Rev. Chandler’s daughters were raised by family and lived into adulthood.

His gravestone was carved by William Park and reads:

Here lye the remains of the

Revd. John Chanler

Some time Pastor of the

Church in Billerica

who departed this life

November the 10th AD 1762