Calista Vinton - Early Life

Early Life

Calista Vinton was born on 19 April 1807 (1807-04-19) to Thomas and Lavinia Holman in Union, Connecticut. When she was sixteen years old she had a severe illness. After two years, her family and doctors had given up hope. Being a pious girl, she requested baptism as her dying wish and was carried on a chair and helped by the pastor and a deacon into a brook and baptized in March, 1822. She was received into the West Woodstock Baptist Church, and pastor Elder Grow, while administering the Lord's Supper to her, said "This is our sister's first communion, and it will probably be her last." However, she recovered her health and began to think her life was given to her for a special purpose. She completed her education by alternately teaching and studying.

She met Justus Vinton, who was studying at the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institute (now Colgate University). They chose Burma as their field of their future work and spent a year together at Hamilton studying the Karen language from Ko Chet Thaing, one of two native disciples brought along by Rev. Jonathan Wade on his furlough. Calista and Justus were married on April 9, 1834, and they sailed in July 1834 for Burma with other missionaries, including Rev. and Mrs. Wade and Ko Chet Thaing.