Introduction

Biography

Thomas was the son of Will­iam Vas­sar and Ma­ry Ha­ge­man, and hus­band of Tam­ma Guern­sey Sack­ett (mar­ried 1861). He was a de­scend­ant of Mat­thew Vas­sar, found­er of Vas­sar Col­lege, and ne­phew of ev­an­gel­ist John Vas­sar.

Vassar was or­dained a Bap­tist min­is­ter in 1857. Dur­ing the Am­eri­can ci­vil war, he was chap­lain of the 150th New York Vol­un­teer In­fan­try, and was at the Bat­tle of Get­tys­burg.

He held pas­tor­ates at the South Bap­tist Church, New­ark, New Jersey, and con­gre­ga­tions in Amen­ia, New York; Lynn, Mas­sa­chu­setts; Flem­ing­ton, New Jer­sey; and Kan­sas City.

He served as pre­si­dent of the New Jer­sey Bap­tist Sun­day School Un­ion.

Works

• Uncle John Vas­sar: Or, The Fight of Faith, 1879. A bio­gra­phy of his un­cle, lay preach­er and mis­sion­ary John El­li­son Vas­sar.