John Tufts

TUFTS, John. b. Medford, Massachusetts, 26 February 1689; d. Amesbury, Massachusetts, 17 August 1750.  Tufts was a minister, merchant, probably a singing teacher, and possibly a composer.  He compiled An Introduction to the Art of Singing Psalm-Tunes (1721?), considered the first American music textbook. John Tufts was the third son of Captain Peter Tufts (1648-1721) and Mercy Cotton Tufts (1666-1715).  He graduated from Harvard College (AB, 1708), and was ordained on 30 June 1714 in connection with his appointment as pastor of the Second (Congregational) Church in Newbury, Massachusetts (later the church became First Church of West Newbury).  On 9 November 1714, Tufts married Sarah...