John Henry Livingston was to the Reformed Dutch Church as John Witherspoon was to the Presbyterian Church. Both Witherspoon and Livingston were important influences for the constitutional documents of their respective churches. Both men were pastors and popular preachers as well.…each man had ancestors in Scotland thus giving both the Dutch Reformed and American Presbyterians a common bond through Scottish Presbyterianism.

The definition of presbyterian is expanded in this biography to include other denominations that are Calvinistic in theology, ruled by elders, and ordered by connectionalism. Presbyterian means most basically rule by elders and Presbyterian Churches are associated with the Calvinism developed by John Knox in Scotland. There are other denominations that follow Calvin’s teaching that have been finessed in their own historical-theological contexts by important individuals. In the case of the Reformed Dutch the consistory is similar to a session; a classis is like a presbytery; and the synod includes the classes. John H. Livingston’s life and ministry were served in what was known at the time as the Reformed Dutch Church. Other churches that can be included in the more generic category of “presbyterian” include the French (Huguenot) as well as the German and Swiss Reformed.

John Henry Livingston was a fourth-generation descendant of John Livingston who was a Presbyterian from Scotland that moved to Rotterdam in 1633 to escape persecution.  John remained in Holland for the rest of his life dying August 9, 1672.  John’s son Robert joined other Christians seeking freedom and new opportunities in the American colonies by settling in New York. John Henry was born May 30, 1746 at Poughkeepsie, New York, to Henry (Robert’s son) and Sussanah Storm (Conklin) Livingston. His early education was accomplished with Rev. Chauncey Graham for about two years, then his father hired a private tutor to guide him for another two years. For about a year he studied with Rev. Nathaniel Taylor at his school in New Mildord, Connecticut before entering Yale College in 1758 with the freshman class at the age of twelve. Some subjects of the curriculum were particularly difficult for him due to deficiencies in his preparatory work, but this did not keep him from persevering and graduating with honors in July 1762. Livingston them returned to Poughkeepsie to study law with Bartholomew Crannel until the end of 1764. However due to health problems he did not complete his studies. The illness he experienced raised concern about his salvation. Through various influences including direction by pastors he came to believe the Gospel.

When his health improved, he did not return to studying for the bar but instead prepared for the ministry of the gospel. Responding to the advice of a minister John went to Holland for theological studies. He was just shy of his twentieth birthday when he set sail for Europe, May 12, 1766, to arrive in Amsterdam on June 20. With letters of introduction opening the way, he entered the University of Utrecht and completed divinity studies in June 1769. He was examined by the Classis of Amsterdam, became a candidate, and was then licensed. The licensure was timely because he was soon invited to become the minister of the Reformed Dutch Church in New York City. Before leaving Holland the University of Utrecht granted him the Doctor of Divinity, then he was ordained by the Classis of Amsterdam before setting sail for New York to arrive in September 1770. Livingston began immediately his pastoral service by taking on the challenge of resolving a split within the church. The division was resolved in 1772 when he brought together the two parties, the conferentie Dutch, who wanted to maintain their ethnic distinctions and connection to the Classis of Amsterdam, and the coetus who wanted to organize an American classis.

Dr. Livingston was settled into his pastorate with a few years of experience under his belt when in October 1775, he married Sarah, the daughter of the merchant and patriot Philip Livingston who would sign the Declaration of Independence the next year. The wedding took place in Kingston  where Philip had moved the family because it was likely the British would invade New York. He lived with his wife’s family and went to New York to preach as he had opportunity until September 1776 when the British forces occupied New York. The hostilities and presence of the British led to Livingston accepting an invitation from the consistory of the Dutch congregation in Albany to minister there until he felt he could return to New York. He continued in Albany for three years before he moved his family from the severe climate south to his wife’s family’s manor in the summer of 1779. The Livingstons then moved to Poughkeepsie while he preached as stated supply in the local Dutch Church until he returned to New York when the British left in 1783. Livingston was the only one of four ministers that had served churches in New York before the war who was able to return and resume his labors after independence was achieved.

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