Kiffin in Cathcart Part 1

Kiffin, Rev. William, was born in London in
1616. In 1625 the plague, which swept over his
native city, deprived him of both his parents and
left him with six plague sores, the cure of which
was regarded as impossible. Through two sermons
preached by Mr. Davenport and Mr. Coleman, in
London, Mr. Kiffin obtained from Christ a divine
life which defied the evils of seventy stormy years.
He united with a Congregational church, by which
he was first called to the ministry. In 1638 he
joined the Baptist church of which the Rev. John
Spilsbury was pastor. From this community a
colony went forth in 1640 which formed another
church. The new organization met in Devonshire
Square. It elected Mr. Kiffin pastor. an office
which he retained for sixty-one years, the duties
of which three assistant pastors at different times
aided him to discharge.

Cathcart, The Baptist Encyclopedia (1881), pg. 654.