Blacksmith and foundational religious figure in Norwich, CT
| When Burke met | 1787 |
| Where Burke met | Norwich Landing, CT |
| Occupation | Blacksmith |
| Interaction with Burke | Burke worked for him |
| Identity Status | Probable |
| Genealogy | Wikitree |
| Memoir Pages | 32 |
Notes
Deacon Elijah Herrick (c. 1757–December 2, 1817) was a blacksmith and foundational religious figure in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut. He married Elizabeth Rogers in 1780, with whom he had several children, and is documented in an 1803 family land sale in neighboring Waterford. Initially a member of the First Congregational Church in Norwichtown, Herrick later associated with Separatist congregations. Alongside Ephraim Story, he is recognized as one of the first regular Baptists in Norwich. They began hosting informal religious meetings around 1790, which culminated in the organization of the First Baptist Church in West Chelsea by 1800. While his birth location is uncertain, it may have been Dutchess County, New York. Consequently, it remains unclear if he is the same individual as Captain Elijah Herrick, a Revolutionary War veteran with ties to Dutchess County and nearby Preston, Connecticut.
Sources
Burke, William. Memoir of William Burke: A Soldier of the Revolution, Reformed from Intemperance, and for Many Years a Consistent and Devoted Christian; Carefully Prepared from a Journal Kept by Himself; to Which Is Added, an Extract from a Sermon Preached at His Funeral, by Rev. Nathaniel Miner. Hartford, CT: Case, Tiffany, 1837.