Farrar, Cynthia (1795–1862)

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Farrar, Cynthia (1795–1862)

American missionary. Born Cynthia Farrar, April 20, 1795, in Marlborough, New Hampshire; died Jan 25, 1862, in Ahmednagar, India; dau. of Phinehas and Abigail (Stone) Farrar; attended Union Academy in Plainfield, NH.

Converted to Congregational church after attending religious festival in Marlborough, NH (1815); was the 1st unmarried American woman missionary sent overseas, traveling to Mumbai (Bombay), India, to found and run schools for girls (1827); worked for Marathi mission, establishing and directing schools in Mumbai (1827–36) and in Ahmednagar (1839–62), gaining support of prominent city residents.