Henry Hammond Pinckney

Bio: Henry Hammond Pinckney

Details: Henry Hammond Pinckney

***Henry Hammond Pinckney***

(b. January 11, 1860?/1861?, d. April 2 1920)

South Carolina. Black.

Occupation: carpenter, minister.

Father's occupation: carpenter

Henry Hammond Pinckney was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Historical sources are inconsistent about his birth year with one source listing 1860 and another 1861. Sources are also inconsistent about his mother. One source says she was Matilda Pinckney, while another says she was Priscilla Owens (Hammond) Pinckney. Henry's father was Joseph Pinckney, a free person of color who worked as a carpenter.

Henry began his education in Charleston and attended the Avery Normal Institute. He also became involved with the AME church as a teenager. At age 15 (around 1875), he made a public confession of faith at the Emanuel AME Churchin Charleston.

After graduating from Avery, Henry enrolled at the University of South Carolina, entering as a freshman following the modern studies track at some point after February 1875. The university closed before he completed his degree.

After the university closure, Henry returned to Charleston. There he lived with his father and worked as a carpenter. He also began to become more involved with the AME Church, joining the church in 1878. He was licensed to preach in 1883, joined the South Carolina Annual Conference (the regional church body) in 1884, and then was ordained as a deacon in 1885.

Around 1886, Henry left Charleston for the New Jersey. He was ordained as an elder in 1887 in Trenton, New Jersey and then served as a church pastor at churches in various cities in New Jersey: Rahway (1887-90), Snow Hill (1892-94), Gouldtown (1894-96), Burlington (1896-98), and Bordentown (1898-99).

Around 1899, Henry decided to continue his education. He attended the Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia for 15 months and was a student at the Seminary at Princeton for 2 years. He left before completing a degree. While in Princeton, he was pastor at the Mt Pisgah AME Church in Princeton. At some point, he received a D.D. degree from Paul Quinn College.

Around the end of Pinckney's time at Princeton, he began serving as a presiding elder. He was presiding elder of the Trenton district from 1901-05, the Newark District 1905-1907, and the New York Conference (1907). During this period, he also worked as assistant editor of the Christian Recorder (the official publication of the AME church) from 1900-06, serving as editor in 1900 and 1908. 

Later Henry settled in Camden, New Jersey and worked as a pastor at the Mt. Pisgah AME church in Salem, New Jersey. He died in Camden on April 2, 1920. He was buried in the city, in Mount Peace Cemetery. 

Sources

1. Hawkins, John Russell. Centennial Encyclopedia of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Book Concern of the A.M.E. Church, Philadelphia, PA. 1916.

2. "The Princeton Seminary Bulletin." May, 1920. Trustees of the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church.

3. 1860; Census Place: Charleston Ward 5, Charleston, South Carolina; Page: 402

4. 1870; Census Place: Charleston Ward 4, Charleston, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1486; Page: 256B

5. 1880; Census Place: Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina; Roll: 1222; Page: 251A

6. New Jersey State Archive; Trenton, NJ, USA; State Census of New Jersey, 1905; Reference Number: L-07; Film Number: 5

7. 1910; Census Place: Camden Ward 3, Camden, New Jersey; Roll: T624_872; Page: 6A

Posted 10/22/20