Francis Makemie : Short Biography

Francis Makemie was born in the town of Ramelton, County Donegal, in 1658. As a young man, he attended the University of Glasgow. There he entered into a life in the clergy. 

Makemie was sent to America as a missionary. He arrived in Maryland in 1683. There he established the Rehoboth Presbyterian Church, which is still in use today, making it the oldes Presbyterian Church in America. He married a woman named Naomi Anderson with whom he had two daughters. Makemie travelled extensively in America, establishing churches, and also engaging in trade, which was how he supported his family financially. 

In 1707, Makemie was arrested in New York for preaching without a license. He spent two months in jail and was eventually released on bail. 

A year later Makemie died on the plantation owned by him and his wife Naomi. His legacy lies in the vast number of churches which he established and communities which he converted, and he is generally considered to be the founder of Presbyterianism in America.