You can hear an audio recording of this post on Episode 48 of the Methodical Methodist Podcast!

He was called Methodism’s “Paul Revere”—a tireless messenger of the gospel, riding from town to town with the fire of revival in his heart. Freeborn Garrettson was one of the most influential and fearless voices in early American Methodism. A fiery circuit rider, a bold abolitionist, a strict pacifist, and a passionate evangelist, Garrettson gave up the comforts of a privileged life to follow a higher calling. Converted under the ministry of Robert Strawbridge, he traveled thousands of miles on horseback, preaching in homes, fields, and courthouses from New England to the Deep South. He was even imprisoned for preaching against slavery—but never wavered in his conviction that Christ’s message brings both spiritual and physical freedom. His life and ministry helped pave the way for the expansion of Methodism across a growing and divided nation.

Freeborn Garrettson was born on August 15, 1752, in Harford County, Maryland near the mouth of the Susquehanna River (today it is known as Bush River Neck). He was the third generation in his family to live there. His grandfather immigrated from Great Britain to the west side of the Chesapeake Bay.

His parents were members of the Church of England, and he was brought up in that same tradition. His father, John Garrettson, was considered to be an eminent Christian. His mother, Sarah (Hanson) Garrettson, was very religious and had heard the preaching of George Whitefield during some of his journeys to America. She also heard the Presbyterian revivalist, Gilbert Tennent and his son William Tennent who was one of the founders of Princeton University.[1] However, the Garrettson family owned a large plantation with several enslaved peoples. We will see a turning point in Freeborn’s life in regard to his understanding about slavery.

At a young age, Freeborn Garrettson was taught the basics of the Christian faith – The Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Catechism of the Church of England. Garrettson was described as being religiously sensitive. He was strangely influenced by these “feelings” he was experiencing.

When he was about 9 years old, he was walking alone through the fields, and he heard a voice calling out to him saying, “Ask, and it shall be given to you.” He wasn’t sure what it meant. So he ran and found his older brother, and he told him that he thought it meant he would become very rich.

Shortly after this incident, again he was alone, and he heard an audible voice – so plain and real as if he was talking to a friend face to face. The voice said, “Do you know what a saint is?” The voice seemed so real that Garrettson actually answered, saying, “There are no saints on earth in this our day.” That same audible voice spoke up again and said, “A saint is one who is wholly given up to God.” And in that moment, Garrettson received a vision of the most beautiful thing that his eyes had ever seen. It was so powerful that he expressed out loud how he wished to be a saint with such character, and he was given a “strong assurance” that he would indeed receive that experience of sainthood, and this caused his spirit to be filled with joy.[2]

When Garrettson was 10 years old, his sister, Sally, became very sick. The family all gathered around her bedside by her request, and she told her family, “Weep not for me, for I am not afraid to die. I am going to my Jesus, who will do more for me than any of you can do.”[3] She passed peacefully with her family by her side.

Then, shortly after his sister’s death, Garrettson’s mother passed away. He was filled with grief, and we often went off on his own to weep and cry. He knew that he needed something in his life – he knew he was missing something – but he didn’t know what. But he got his hands on a pocket New Testament which he read often – and he processed a lot of his grief through reading these words of Scripture – often with bitter sighs and broken prayers.

When he was 12 years old, he went off to school. Garrettson describes this time in his life saying, “When I was about twelve years of age I was removed to another school, and I threw off all seriousness and became as wild as the rest of my young play mates. The most of my school hours, after I turned fourteen, were taken up in branches of mathematics and bookkeeping, and the intervals of my time, in the study of astronomy. I have often continued alone in the study of this till after midnight, without a serious thought of God, or my eternal welfare.”[4]

Garrettson left school sometime around 1770. About this time, there was a growing movement around Baltimore where Garrettson was living - concerning this strange group known as “the people called Methodists.” This movement began when the Reverend Robert Strawbridge traveled from his home in Ireland and settled at Pipe Creek in Maryland. He, joined by a few other Methodist preachers, traveled around Maryland and New York, preached throughout the area, and started spreading the Methodist movement. This was before John Wesley sent any regular traveling preachers to America, so this is very early on in American Methodism.

Garrettson talks about one encounter he had with Strawbridge saying, “Mr. Strawbridge came to the house of a gentleman near where I lived to stay all night. I had never heard him preach, but as I had a great desire to be in company with a person who had caused so much talk in the country I went over and sat and heard him converse till nearly midnight, and when I retired it was with these thoughts, ‘I have never spent a few hours so agreeably in my life.’ He spent most of the time in explaining Scripture and giving interesting anecdotes.”[5]

It's clear that Strawbridge left a strong impression on Garrettson, and his passion for Methodism was born after hearing Strawbridge preach. This eventually led to his conversion experience around 1772. He talks of two near death experiences in his journal that impacted him. The first was when he was crossing over a log above a rapid stream, and the log suddenly gave way. He fell into the stream and was swept away. He struggled awhile among the sharp rocks, but luckily, he made his way out unharmed. But as he was reflecting on that experience he thought to himself, “What would have become of your soul had you been drowned?” This really shook him up and caused him to weep bitterly and pray. But he still wasn’t quite ready to turn his heart over to the Lord at that point.

The second near death experience occurred in May 1772. He was out riding one afternoon, and his horse stumbled and threw him on a pile of rocks. Then his horse trampled him, and he was beaten pretty badly. When he recovered, he made a promise to serve God all the days of his life.

At this point in his life, Garrettson became very serious about his faith. He started reading all the religious books he could get his hands on. He fasted once a week, prayed frequently throughout the day, and attended church regularly. He started listening to Methodist preachers like George Shadford.

And then, he had the opportunity to listen to Francis Asbury preach on a few occasions, and Garrettson describes what that experience was like hearing Asbury preach. He reports, “He began to wind me about in such a manner that I found my sins in clusters as it were around me, and the law in its purity probing to the very bottom and discovering the defects of my heart; I was ready to cry out, ‘How does this stranger know me so well?”’[6]

Garrettson’s father started to be concerned about his son’s zeal and interest in the Methodists. So, one night he confronted his son. He told him he had no problem with his son being religious, but he didn’t want him to turn from the Church. Garrettson replied, “I have no intention to leave the Church, but whenever persons become serious, they are called Methodists, and their names are cast out as evil.”[7]

Garrettson loved the Methodists, he loved the church, yet he describes how the enemy continued to keep him at a distance. He felt like he had not fully given his life to Christ.

But one day in June 1775, Garrettson was awoken early by an awful voice that said, “Awake, sinner, for you are not prepared to die.” Th is ominous announcement thundered down into his soul and Garrettson cried out in fear, “Lord, if this be the case, have mercy upon me.” Then, that evening, he felt a strong pull to go and hear a Methodist sermon. So, he went out on that rainy evening and heard Daniel Ruff preach for the first time. Ruff was one of the first native preachers raised up in America.

After hearing the sermon, Garrettson went and spent time with Daniel Ruff until about 9:00. Then, on his way home, he was very distressed and upset. He stopped his horse, bowed on his knees, and prayed to the Lord. Garrettson describes that, in that moment, he felt two spirits, one on each hand. He felt a good spirit and an evil spirit. One spirit of encouragement and one spirit of temptation.

Garrettson remained on his knees for quite a while and then prayed: “Lord, spare me one year more, and by that time I can put my worldly affairs in such a train that I can serve thee.” The answer came, “Now is the accepted time.” Garrettson then pleaded for six months but was denied; one month, but he was denied again. Then one week. But the answer came again, “Now is the accepted time.”

Still, Garrettson was stubborn. He arose from his knees and said, “I will take my own time, and then I will serve thee.” He got back on his horse with a hardened heart, unbelieving and unwilling to submit his life over to God… But he hadn’t even got a quarter of a mile down the road when he heard the Lord utter these words to him, “I have come once more to offer you life and salvation, and it is the last time: choose or refuse.”

This stopped Garrettson in his tracks. He felt that this was the moment of truth. If he didn’t submit to the Lord in this moment, he truly felt like it would have been too late. He knew the two sins that he had been clinging to – He knew he had to let go of his pride and unbelief. So, he threw the reins across the horse’s neck, put his hands together in a posture of prayer, and cried out saying, “Lord, I submit.”

In his journal, Garrettson describes this faith experience by writing: “The enmity of my heart was slain, the plan of salvation was open to me, I saw the beauty in the perfection of the Deity, and I felt the power of faith and love that I had ever been a stranger to before.”[8]

As Garrettson made his way back home on horseback, he spent the time praising God out loud. As he neared the house, the servants heard him shouting, and so they ran out to see what was going on. He called his family together and shared his conversion experience with them.

Soon after this, Garrettson spent one Sunday in his room praying and studying Scripture. As he prayed, he began to feel a strong conviction. A powerful thought struck his mind: “It is not right for you to keep your fellow man in bondage; you must let the oppressed go free.” Up until this point in his life, Garrettson had never thought that slavery was wrong, but this voice spoke strongly to him. So, Garrettson paused for a minute, and then he replied, “Lord, the oppressed shall go free.”

He made a declaration that no person belongs to him, and he does not desire anyone’s services without giving them compensation for their work. He realized that slavery is a horrible sin, and he realized the need to change. This was the first time that Garrettson spoke out against slavery, and this was the very beginning of his long fight for the oppressed and persecuted. Not only had Garrettson experienced a faith conversion, but we also see this very real transformation take place in his life.

As the Reverend Alfred T. Day says, “He freed his slaves. He got himself in some trouble preaching against slavery in a slave state like Maryland was, where slavery was very, very prominent, and was thrown in jail in Cambridge, Maryland."[9]

So, Garrettson was arrested in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, for preaching without a license from the Church of England. He was considered a religious dissenter, and his bold sermons condemning slavery put him at odds with the social and legal norms of the day.

*Freeborn Garrettson preaching from jail*

He was jailed for about two weeks, but even in prison, Garrettson refused to be silent. He turned his cell into a sanctuary—preaching to fellow inmates, singing hymns, and even witnessing to his jailer. People came from the outside just to hear him speak through the bars. Rather than breaking his spirit, the experience deepened his faith. He later wrote, “My prison was a palace. Christ was my companion.”

Garrettson’s brief time in jail became a defining moment in his ministry. It solidified his reputation as a fearless preacher who would not compromise the gospel for comfort or safety. After his release—secured with the help of local sympathizers—he continued to travel and preach boldly.

Around this time Freeborn Garrettson began attending more Methodist meetings. He started reading some of John Wesley’s writings as well. He started his own Methodist society of about 30 people who met weekly, and he invited Mr. Rodda, a Methodist preacher, to come and preach for them. Mr. Rodda ended up inviting Garrettson to accompany him on his circuit. They traveled together. Rodda would preach and then Garrettson would exhort after him. But after only nine days, Garrettson told Rodda he had to go back home, because he was not cut out to be a traveling preacher.

So, he went back home to live his life. Then, he received a letter from Mr. Rodda for Garrettson to meet him in Baltimore. And so, the two met. After staying together for a few days, Rodda told him that he would like for Garrettson to take his circuit while Rodda stayed in town for a few weeks. And then, afterward they would meet back up at the appointed place. Garrettson agreed to take over the circuit riding responsibilities for a few weeks, but when the time ended, he decided to go on back home instead of meeting back up with Mr. Rodda. Again, he felt like he was not cut out to be a traveling preacher. He was willing to preach near his home, but the thought of itinerating all across the country terrified him.

Then, one day, as he was asleep in his room, he thought he heard the voice of the good spirit speaking to him, “Will you go and preach the gospel?” Garrettson replied, “Lord, there are many who are more fitted for the work than I am; send them, for I am too ignorant.” The good angel said, “There is a dispensation of the gospel committed unto you, and woe is unto you if you preach not the gospel. Will you go and preach the gospel?” Garrettson relented, “ Lord, if thou wilt go with me I will go to the ends of the earth, or to the very mouth of hell, to preach the blessed gospel.”[10]

Finally, in 1775, Garrettson began his career as an itinerant preacher, but he wasn’t formally received into the Methodist itinerants until the Conference in Baltimore on May 21, 1776. His first appointment was to serve the Frederick Circuit with Daniel Rodda. At the end of six months, he went to Fairfax Circuit where he served for three months. At that time, Rodda sent him to a region known as New Virginia. At this appointment, the people had grown so attached to him that when he preached his farewell sermon, the congregation was “bathed in tears” and begged him not to leave them.

The next year he went to the Brunswick Circuit as an associate to Watters. When Garrettson arrived, he began to preach in such a way that many people felt like he was a “young Shadford” – meaning George Shadford who had been a popular and effective preacher in that area. Garrettson then turned southward to North Carolina and then later to Kent Circuit in Maryland.

It was around this time when Garrettson was also preaching strongly against slavery. One individual, a slave named Richard Allen started attending Methodists meetings – and he slowly convinced his Master, Sturgis to allow some of these Meetings to occur in and around Sturgis’ home. That is exactly what happened during the summer of 1779 – in fact, Francis Asbury even visited and preached at Sturgis’ home. But then, in September 1779, Freeborn Garrettson lectured Sturgis about being a slaveowner saying, “Thou art weighed in the balance, and found wanting.”

After that experience, Sturgis could no longer justify being a slaveowner. Allen said that after his encounter with Garrettson, “Sturgis could no longer be satisfied to hold slaves.” This moment led directly to the emancipation of Richard Allen, who went on to found the Bethel Church and then the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) denomination.

Garrettson was a strong preacher, but he faced his share of challenges. On one occasion someone pulled a pistol out and stuck it against his chest. One another occasion he was beaten with a club. He was beaten and pushed off of his horse. He was threatened by a mob who tried to hang him. Another mob tried to drown him. But some of the worst trials came about because of the growing tension surrounding the American Revolutionary War.

Garrettson claimed that he was loyal to America and a friend to the cause of freedom, but he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the United States of America because he thought it was worded in such a way that would bind him to take up arms. He had no desire to bear what he called “carnal weapons.” This was a very tense time, especially for Methodists. Francis Asbury went into hiding, and all of the other English Methodists fled out of fear. Still, Garrettson continued to preach and travel throughout this difficult time in history.

As one historian states, “Freeborn Garrettson was a "Revolutionary" prophet whose mighty labors and victories for Christ during Revolutionary War times were truly apostolic in their character and far greater in their import and impact on the future of this nation than that of those who fought with carnal weapons in that war.”[11]

From 1775 till 1784, Garrettson traveled and preached in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. During this time Garrettson met with Thomas Coke who had been sent by John Wesley to America. They met in Delaware and conferred with Asbury and other preachers and made the decision to call a General Conference at Baltimore. Thomas Coke wrote this in his Journal about the Conference and meeting Garrettson:

“Here I met with an excellent young man, Freeborn Garrettson. He seems all meekness and love, and yet all activity. He makes me quite ashamed, for he invariably rises at four in the morning, and not only he but several others of the preachers. Him we sent off, like an arrow, from north to south, directing him to send messengers to the right and left and to gather all the preachers together at Baltimore on Christmas Eve.”[12]

This is the moment that gave Freeborn Garrettson the nickname “the Paul Revere of Methodism.” Garrettson rode 1,200 miles in 6 weeks. He was sent from Barratt’s Chapel in Delaware to gather all the preachers in America for the Christmas Conference of 1784. One man who was sent out to gather all the preachers in America.

This is the time and place when Methodism in America was officially organized as the Methodist Episcopal Church. This is where the first bishops were consecrated, and this is where Freeborn Garrettson himself was ordained an elder.

But during this Christmas Conference, William Black began to share about some of his efforts in Methodism in Nova Scotia. In hearing about his work in the land of snow and frost, the Conference realized his need for help. So, they appointed Freeborn Garrettson and James O. Cromwell to this new appointment. So, they embarked on their new journey in the middle of February 1785, and they reached Halifax after a stormy two-week voyage. Within one week, they had already formed a society of six or seven members. Cromwell left for Shelbourne, and Garrettson remained in Halifax, but the idea was that he would tour through the country later. He remained at this appointment for two years, and he preached to almost every settlement in the area. It was a difficult place to be – especially due to the severe cold weather.

Garrettson writes this about his experience in Nova Scotia: “After visiting the cities and towns and traversing the mountains and valleys, frequently on foot, with a knapsack to my back, up Indian paths in the wilderness where it was not expedient to take a horse, and having frequently to wade through morasses leg-deep in mud and water, and having frequently to satisfy hunger with a piece of bread and pork from my knapsack, and to quench my thirst from the brook, and to rest my weary limbs in a solitary wilderness on the leaves of the trees, I may truly say I went forth weeping, but thank God he was with me, and in every place his power was felt, and I may say souls were awakened and converted to God, and though I had to depend upon my private funds for clothing and traveling expenses, under my views of the prosperity of Zion I felt myself amply compensated for all my toil and never for a moment regretted the hardship of my lot in that cold, wild country.”[13]

He returned to the United States in the spring of 1787 by direction of John Wesley. In his History of Methodism, James Monroe Buckley says that “Garrettson’s influence in Nova Scotia was almost equal to that of Wesley in Europe and Asbury in the United States.”[14]

Wesley had a very high opinion of Garrettson, and he wanted him to be made the superintendent, the bishop, of the Methodist societies in the British dominions in America. This wish was made public by Thomas Coke during the Conference in Baltimore in May 1787. The Conference warmly approved of this idea. Garrettson agreed on the condition that he would be able to visit the lands in question, and if the people there would receive him, then he would return to the next Conference for the ordination of a superintendent. But something happened at the Conference in his absence. When the appointments were read, he found himself presiding elder of the work in Nova Scotia where he had just returned from.

No reason is given as to why this decision was made, but this was a huge disappointment to Garrettson. After only three months in Nova Scotia, Asbury sent him to Boston to work in that region. But he stopped and worked in New York to fill in for John Dickins and Woolman Hickson who were in poor health. At that year’s Conference in New York, Garrettson was tasked with taking charge of the Methodists in the New York area.

He traveled between 5 and 6 thousand miles a year through the state of New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Boston, and Rhode Island. He would go around his district, about a thousand miles, once every three months. He would preach up to a hundred sermons, then return to New York where he would stay for about two weeks. Then he would do it all over again. In three years, there were more than 3 thousand members and 12 circuits all over the territory.

In 1793, he was appointed to the Philadelphia District, but then he returned as the Presiding elder on the Dutchess District, then settled at Rhinebeck. At the end of his life Garrettson said, “I have been an itinerant now fifty-two years, and were I called back fifty years I would cheerfully retrace them in so glorious a cause in preference to sitting on a splendid earthly throne.”[15]

Although Freeborn Garrettson traveled many miles, he was one of the few Methodist circuit riding preachers who was able to build a home. His home was called Wildercliffe and was situated on the east bank of the Hudson River at Rhinebeck. Francis Asbury often visited there, and he called it “Traveler’s Rest.’

One of the reasons why Garrettson began to settle down was because he married Catherine Livingston in 1793, and they had one daughter, Mary Rutherford. He had a family that he was devoted to, but he still continued to travel and preach. And his wife was very supportive of his work. In one letter she wrote him saying: “I hope, my dear, you will find your soul more than ever engaged in the work of the Lord, and that you will improve every opportunity to bring glory to God. Keep ever in view the importance of every living soul you meet with, and let none pass without a word in season; 'tis expected from you and God has laid it on you. I despair of ever being a shining light; but I would wish to see you the most pious man in the world.”[16]

Catherine Livingston was a remarkable woman. She came from the wealthiest family in New York State. Her father, Robert Livingston, was a Chief Justice. Her mother was Margaret Beekman, and she was the daughter of Colonel Henry Beekman – the largest landowners of Rhinebeck. Growing up, she attended parties with George and Martha Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and other founding fathers of America. Everyone in her family had an impressive background. There is no doubt that her decision to cast in her lot with the Methodists caused a lot of confusion.

Then, one day, at the house of John Staples, Freeborn Garrettson first laid eyes on Miss Livingston. He preached several times in the area, but he exchanged letters with Miss Livingston. Her mother was opposed to the idea of Freeborn and Catherine being together. She didn’t like her daughter attending Methodist meetings in general. She didn’t forbid her going, but she never encouraged it either.

Eventually, her mother withdrew her opposition and consented to the marriage. The wedding took place on June 30, 1793, at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Rhinebeck, New York. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend Peter Moriarty, and directly after the ceremony the newlywed couple took communion together.

They were a beautiful couple that served together. When yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia, Catherine accompanied her husband, not even hesitating to take the risk to serve the suffering. That spring they returned to New York, purchased their farm, and served a nearby church. Their daughter, Mary Rutherford Garrettson, was born in 1794 and they began building a new home. They moved into it in October 1799. As mentioned before, it was a beautiful place of hospitality where they accommodated many people, including Francis Asbury. Catherine made sure to care for the itinerate preachers who came through, mending their shirts and fixing their waistcoats.

As the years went on, Garrettson became even more intense in his work. He once stated, “I am now bending over eternity and must soon go the way of all the earth. I endeavor in every sermon. I preach to deliver it as if it were my last. I often think of my dear old friend, Bishop Asbury, who spent the last shred of his valuable life in the service of his great Master. I wish to do good, to be greatly taken up in my blessed Master's work, that my last days may be my best days.”[17]

In 1819 he helped form the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was one of the three committee members to prepare the constitution. In 1826 he had the honor of preaching his semicentennial sermon before the New York Conference. Then, in 1826 he was elected as a delegate to the General Conference of 1828, however, he passed before he was able to attend. In August of 1827, he became ill while at the home of his longtime friend, Mr. George Suckley. His wife and daughter came to him and remained with him through several difficult days. From his bed he would utter the words, “I want to go home; I want to be with Jesus… And I shall see Mr. Wesley, too.” The last words that fell from his lips were: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” He passed on the morning of the 26th of September 1827.

NOTES

[1] Ezra Squier Tipple, Freeborn Garrettson (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1910), 12-13.
[2] Ibid, 15.
[3] Nathan Bangs, The Life of the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson (New York: J. Emory and B. Waugh, 1832).
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ezra Squier Tipple, Freeborn Garrettson, 18.
[6] Ibid, 20.
[7] Nathan Bangs, The Life of the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson.
[8] Ezra Squier Tipple, Freeborn Garrettson, 25.
[9] “Freeborn Garrettson: Methodism’s Paul Revere,” The United Methodist Church, March 22, 2018, accessed June 25, 2025.
[10] Ezra Squier Tipple, Freeborn Garrettson, 37.
[11] Nathan Bangs, The Life of the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson.
[12] Ezra Squier Tipple, Freeborn Garrettson, 55.
[13] Ibid, 63.
[14] James Monroe Buckley, American Church History: A History of Methodists in the United States, Creative Media Partners, 2023.
[15] Ezra Squier Tipple, Freeborn Garrettson, 73.
[16] Ibid, 78.
[17] Ibid, 103.

Freeborn Garrettson

William McKendree

Andrew Curtis Lay