Joseph Samson was a Methodist circuit rider.
Samson was a French Canadian. He migrated south to Baltimore, where he was accepted on trial as a circuit rider at the 1805 Baltimore Conference. He rode the Hartford Circuit in 1805, followed by the Prince George Circuit in 1806, the Frederick Circuit in 1807 and the Severn Circuit in 1808, all within the Baltimore conference. In 1809, he transferred to the New York Conference.[1] He met with Bishop Asbury, who assigned him to newly created Three Rivers Circuit. In his first year, he converted eight new members to the Methodist church.[2] In 1810, with the retirement of Samuel Coate, Samson was promoted to the position of Presiding Elder of the Lower Canada District. He was the eldest man riding in Lower Canada and was a bachelor. Combined with his bilingualism, he was judged most suitable for the position, although Thomas Madden was a more experienced member of the Church.[3] He was again the presiding elder of the Lower Canada District in 1811, and rode the Three River Circuit himself as well.[4]
- ^ Carroll, John (1867). Case and his cotemporaries, or, The Canadian itinerants' memorial constituting a biographical history of Methodism in Canada, from its introduction into the Province, till the death of the Rev. Wm. Case in 1855. Vol. I. Toronto: Wesleyan Conference Office. p. 173.
- ^ Carroll, volume I, page 174
- ^ Carroll, volume I, page 216
- ^ Carroll, volume I, page 239