esirable an end the Reverend William
Bradford, of Wintonbury, a small parish composed, as its name imports,
of a part of three towns, Winsor, Farmington and Symsbury, offered to
instruct him in the Greek language. This benefactor promised also to
secure there for Mr. Haynes a school paying him sufficient money to
defray his expenses. Mr. Haynes said: "I exerted myself to the utmost
to instruct the children of my school, and found I gave general
satisfaction. The proficiency I made in studying the Greek language I
found greatly exceeded the expectations of my preceptor."[6] He was
thus serving as a "spiritual teacher in a respectable and enlightened
congregation in New England, where he had been known from infancy only
as a servant boy, and under all the disabilities of his humble
extraction." "That reverence which it was the custom of the age to
accord to ministers of the gospel," says his biographer, "was
cheerfully rendered to Mr. Haynes."[7] All classes and ages were
delighted with the sweet, animated eloquence of the man. In
consideration of his talents Middlebury College later conferred upon
him the degree of master of arts.[8]

This led friends to advise that he should be licensed to preach, and
on November 29, 1780, after "an examination in the languages,
sciences, doctrines and experimental religion," he was licensed and
preached intelligently from Psalm 96:1. He was ordained soon
thereafter. Then came an early call to begin his ministry at the
Congregational meeting house at Middle Granville, where he labored
five years, preaching eloquently with zeal. The time was one of moral
darkness with intemperance, profanity and infidelity rife. Strange
doctrines intruded. Vice came boldly forward, but, like a rock, the
young minister stood by his Lord and faith.

Among the pious in the church was Bessie Babbitt. She was a woman of
considerable education and was engaged as a teacher in her town.
Looking to Heaven for guidance, she was led, with consistent delicacy,
to offer her heart to her pastor. He commended the proposal to God in
prayer, and consulted other ministers. Knowing his birth and race, he
sought their counsel. They advised in favor, and on September 22,
1773, they were married. There began then their happy married life
which was blessed with nine children.[9]

From his small retired parish, among the companions of his childhood,
he was called to Torrington, Connecticut, where he continued preaching
two