Potts, which grew out of an assertion that Rufus Choate made at a celebration of the New England society. The orator said that the Pilgrim fathers had founded a "state without a king and a church without a bishop." At the dinner that followed, Wainwright, in responding to a sentiment, said in reply that "there is no church without a bishop." The subsequent discussion with Potts, which was carried on in nineteen letters in the New York Commercial Advertiser, was published as a book No Church Without a Bishop; or, the Controversy between the Rev. Drs. Potts and Wainwright. With a Preface by the Latter, and an Introduction and Notes by an Anti-Sectarian. On October 1, 1852, Wainwright was elected provisional bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Personal life In August 1818, Wainwright was married to Amelia Maria Phelps (1797–1885), the daughter of Timothy Phelps and Janet (née Broome) Phelps. Together, they were the parents of fourteen children: Elizabeth Mayhew Wainwright (1819–1822), who died in childhood. Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II (1821–1863), who married Maria Page (1822–1854) in 1844. He was killed in action during the Battle of Galveston during the Civil War. Elizabeth Mayhew Wainwright (1824–1882), who married William Holley Hudson in 1844. Henry Wainwright (1825–1825), who died in infancy. Henry Phelps Wainwright (1826–1827), who died in infancy. Henry Phelps Wainwright (1828–1846), who died in infancy. John Howard Wainwright (1829–1871), who married Margaret Livingston Stuyvesant (1839–1928). Maria Trumball Wainwright (1831–1905), who married Theodore Bailey Bronson in 1851. Daniel Wadsworth Wainwright (1833–1863), a physician who died in New Orleans during the Civil War. Janet Phelps Wainwright (1837–1842), who died in childhood. Amelia Maria Wainwright (1838–1867), who married Col. Henry Cary Bankhead (1828–1894) in 1863. Francis Chetwood Wainwright (1839–1874), who married Frances Mary Davis. Edward Bibby Wainwright (1841–1841), who died in infancy. William Augustus Muhlenberg Wainwright (1844–1895), who married Helena Barker "Nellie" Talcott, the daughter of Sarah and Thomas Talcott. He died at his residence at 5:00 pm on September 21, 1854, in Manhattan, New York City. He was buried at Trinity Church Cemetery. Descendants Through his son John Howard, he was the grandfather of Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright (1864–1945), a U.S. Representative and United States Assistant Secretary of War. Through his son Jonathan, he was the grandfather of Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright (1849–1870) and Robert Powell Page Wainwright (1852–1902). Works Besides the pamphlet mentioned above, he wrote: Four Sermons on Religious