HUNTINGDON, SELINA, Cmuitess of, was the second of three daughters and co-heir esses of Washington Shirley, second earl Ferrars, and was b. Aug. 24, 1707. She mar ried, in 1728, Theophilus, 9th earl of Huntingdon, and became a widow in Oct., 1746. Adopting the principles of the Calvinistic Methodists, the founder of which sect was the famous George Whitefield, she made that eminent preacher one of her chaplains, and assumed a leadership among his followers, who came to be known as "The countess of Huntingdon's connection." On Whitefield's death in 1770 she was appointed by his will sole proprietrix of all his possessions in the province of Georgia, on which :,he immediately set about organizing a mission to North America. Her labors at home increased with her years. education of ministers she established and maintained a college at Trevecca, in Wales; removed, in 1702, to Cheshunt, Hefts; and built, or became possessed of, numerous chapels in different parts of the country, the principal one being at Bath. She likewise expended large sums in the support of young men
trained to itinerant preaching, as well as in private charity. But with all her excel lences, she was not indisposed to play the part of a female pope, and had quite a passion for carrying her point. She died June 17, 1791. By her will, dated Jan. 11, 1790, she created a trust, bequeathing her chapels to four persons, of whom lady Anne Erskine,. a daughter of the earl of Buchan, was one, for their care and management after her death, when the number amounted to 64. Most of them have become, in doctrine and practice, almost identical with the Congregational or Independent body. There are now about 40 chapels belonging to this connection in England and Wales.