Rev. Joseph Grove John Bend (1759-1812)

He was born in New York, the nephew and heir of Grove Bend, shopkeeper, of New York. He was raised in Barbados by his parents where he received a good classical and commercial education. He was ordained and came to Pennsylvania in 1789 where he was Assistant Minister of Christ Church, Philadelphia. In 1791, he was appointed Rector of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore, Maryland. He was Preacher to the Convention in 1808 and was Secretary to the Maryland Convention; Member of the Standing Committee; and, Delegate to the General Convention. He published three occasional sermons and edited a number of works for distribution. His first wife was Mary Boudinot, sister of Elias Boudinot, Director of the U.S. Mint. In 1807, he married his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Captain Robert Polk (a privateer who was killed in command of "Black Joke" in 1777) and Elizabeth Digby Peale (sister of the famous painter). She was the widow of Septimus Claypoole, owner of the "American Daily Advertiser".