Margaret Newton Van Cott
Margaret Newton Van Cott | |
---|---|
Catskill, New York | |
Nationality | American |
Other names | Maggie Van Cott |
Occupation | Evangelist |
Years active | 1868–1914 |
Known for | First female Methodist Episcopal evangelist in America |
Margaret Newton Van Cott (25 Mar 1830 – 29 Aug 1914) also known as Margaret Van Cott or Maggie Van Cott, was the first woman to be licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Biography
Margaret Ann Newton was born in New York City on 25 March 1830. Her father was William K. Newton, a wealthy real estate broker, and her mother was Rachel A. (née Primrose) Newton.[1] She was brought up in the Episcopal Church,[2] the eldest of four children.[1]
In January 1848, Margaret Newton married Peter Van Cott, and in 1852 had two girls, one of whom died in infancy. She was involved with her husband's pharmaceutical business, and when he died she supported the family as a sale's person for a time.[2] Her husband died in 1866 and she joined the Methodist Episcopal Church shortly thereafter.[1] She had a significant conversion experience in which she recounted later "light [from heaven] streaming in upon her soul" while passing the John Street Methodist Church in New York City.[3]
Some time after her husband's death, Maggie Van Cott devoted her full time to evangelical work.
It was said that by her 50th birthday she had traveled 143,417 miles, held 9,933 revival meetings, and given 4,294 sermons.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g McLoughlin, William G. (1971). James, Edward T.; James, Janet Wilson; Boyer, Paul S. (eds.). Notable American women, 1607-1950; a biographical dictionary. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University. pp. 506–507.
- ^ a b c d e f "Margaret Newton Van Cott (1830-1914) The First Woman to be Licensed to Preach in The Methodist Episcopal Church - 1869". Archives and History: General Commission on Archives and History. United Methodist Church.
- ^ a b Everhart, Janet (1981). Queen, Louise (ed.). Women in new worlds : historical perspectives on the Wesleyan tradition. Nashville: Abingdon.
- ^ Winters, Kelly. "Van Cott, Margaret (1830–1914)". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Timeline of Women in Methodism". umc.org. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
Further reading
- Foster, John Onesimus (1872). Life and labors of Mrs. Maggie Newton Van Cott : the first lady licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. Cincinnati: Hitchcock and Walden.
- In memoriam : Margaret Newton Van Cott, March 25, 1830-August 29, 1914. 1914.