The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

HUTCHINS, Alfred S. (1823-1894) and (first wife) Esther M. (1834-1860) and (second wife) Abigail (“Abbie”) D. (1836-1902)

A minister and administrator, Alfred Hutchins was honored by his obituarist as “almost … the father of the [Vermont] Conference” for his long and devoted service in that state dating back to 1852. Just prior to that time he had been a minister in the Freewill Baptist Church for five years. From 1852 to the early 1860s A. S. Hutchins preached widely in New England, New York, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Canada East. For the next 20 years his efforts were more focused on Vermont, where he also served as conference president from 1875 to 1885. Hutchins suffered from poor health during much of his working life and spent protracted periods receiving treatment at the sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan. 1EGWLM 850.5

A. S. Hutchins married Esther M. Barrows, also of Vermont, probably in 1855 or 1856. Esther came from a family with Millerite background and had been baptized a Sabbatarian Adventist by Joseph Bates in 1849 or 1850. After her marriage she assisted Alfred in his evangelistic work and accompanied him on his travels, for which she was later commended by Ellen White. Esther died at age 26 in 1860. Alfred subsequently married Esther's sister, Abigail Barrows. 1EGWLM 850.6

Hutchins was a firm supporter of the visions of Ellen White, even when he was the object of censure. His faith was especially tested in 1864 when he received a testimony of reproof for being too “exacting” and “fault-finding” in his pastoral work. Ellen White urged Hutchins “to comfort and entreat the church and lay aside the whip.” Some months later in a short article to the Review he humbly craved “for wisdom to improve under the chastening rod,” probably a reference to his own recent experience. 1EGWLM 851.1

See: Obituary: “A. S. Hutchins,” Review, July 17, 1894, p. 458; obituary: “Esther M. Hutchins,” Review, June 5, 1860, p. 23; obituary: “A. D. Hutchins,” Review, May 13, 1902, p. 31; Arthur H. Locke, A History and Genealogy of Captain John Locke [1627-1696] of Portsmouth and Rye, N.H., and His Descendants Also of Nathaniel Locke of Portsmouth and a Short Account of the History of the Lockes in England (Concord, N.H.: Rumford Press, 1916?), p. 115; Pekka Ilmari Tahti, “‘The Father of the Vermont Conference,’ The Study of Alfred S. Hutchins, One of the First Pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church” (Berrien Springs, Mich.: Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, 1975); Ellen G. White, Lt 10, 1863 (Nov. 28); Lt 5, 1864 (Feb. 22); A. S. Hutchins, “Guarding the Wrong Point,” Review, June 14, 1864, p. 1; Denis Fortin, Adventism in Quebec, pp. 75-77, 82-84, 95, 96, 114, 116. 1EGWLM 851.2