author
Nathaniel S. (Nathaniel Scudder) Prime
1785–1856
A Presbyterian minister and historian of Long Island, he wrote with a strong sense of place and a deep interest in church life. His best-known work preserves local stories, institutions, and traditions from the region's early years.
1 Audiobook
The year of jubilee; but not to Africans a discourse, delivered July 4th, 1825, being the 49th anniversary of American independence
by Nathaniel S. (Nathaniel Scudder) Prime
About the author
Born in Huntington, Long Island, on April 21, 1785, Nathaniel Scudder Prime was an American clergyman and writer who later spent his final years in Brooklyn. He studied at Princeton, graduating in 1804, and was licensed to preach in the Presbyterian Church soon afterward.
Alongside his ministry, he became known as an author with a lasting interest in local history. His best-known book, A History of Long Island, traces the region from its early European settlement to 1845, with special attention to its ecclesiastical life. That mix of historical detail and religious perspective gives his work a distinct voice for listeners interested in early New York and community history.
Prime died on March 27, 1856. Today he is remembered both for his service as a minister and for leaving behind a substantial record of Long Island's past.