Elhanan Winchester (September 30, 1751 – April 18, 1797) was an American theologian who explored numerous theological paths before becoming an advocate for universal restoration. As a result, Winchester is considered among the early leaders of American Universalism. Early Life Elhanan Winchester was born on September 30, 1751, in the small town of Muddy Water Village, later known as Brookline, Massachusetts, located 30 miles southwest of Boston. He was the eldest son of Elhanan Winchester (1719-1810) and his second wife, Sarah Belcher (1729-1760). The senior Winchester, a fourth-generation Massachusetts colonist, was married three times and sired sixteen children. The elder Winchester was a farmer and shoemaker. He was well-known and held administrative offices in the village. He was a member of the town's Congregationalist First Church, where he occasionally preached, leading him to be called Deacon Winchester. Later, the evangelical revivalist movement known as the First Great Awakening, led by Anglican cleric Rev. George Whitefield influenced Deacon Winchester. Deacon Winchester opened his home for services to Whitefield's followers, known as New Lights. As the number of followers grew, Deacon Winchester built a new home with a hall to accommodate the growing number of the sect's followers. Whitefield's revivalist New Lights movement had a lasting influence on the young Winchester. He retained Whitefield's revivalist and evangelical preaching style throughout his ministerial career. Education Elhanan Winchester had limited formal education. He furthered his education primarily by self-study, mastering Latin, French, Greek, and acquiring a foundational command of Hebrew which he used to enhance his biblical scholarship. Winchester had a prodigious memory and great eloquence—skills he used throughout his ministerial career. Marriage and Children Winchester's personal life was filled with tragedy. When he was eight, his mother died, giving birth to his brother Benjamin. Four of his five wives died. Of his seven children, most died at or near childbirth. Only one survived infancy, Reconcile, who lived only 17 months. At his death in 1797, at the age of 46, his only survivor was his fifth wife. His wives were: Alice Rogers (1750-1776) of Rowley, Massachusetts, died while traveling with Winchester to South Carolina. Sarah Peck (1738-1777) of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, died in Welch Neck, South Carolina. Maria Luke (1775-1779) of South Carolina died in Welch Neck Baptist, South Carolina. Mary Morgan (DOB-1783) a widow from Philadelphia. Maria Knowles (1750-1816) survived her husband and died in Virginia. Theological Development Winchester, at the age of