Theophilus D Packard was born on March 4, 1769 in Bridgewater, Massachusetts to Abel Packard and Esther Porter. He had three siblings: Adam, Lydia, and Abigail. On February 25, 1800 he married Mary Terrill in Abington, Massachusetts. They would have at five children: Theophilus (1802), Isaac (b. 1804), Louisa (b. 1808), Laura (b. 1815), and Jane (b. 1817). He was living in Shelburne, where he would live until his death.

Theophilus became involved in the First Congretational church and was a Christian minister. Take for example two 1808 sermons in Shelburne which were put in a book titled "In Which are Plainly Exhibited the Scriptural Evidencs of the Essential Divinity of our JESUS CHRIST and the Importance of Viewing and Treating Him According to His Real Character." He was the third Congregational minister in Shelburne, succeeded by his son of the same name. Becoming a reverend, he also, during his term, prepared many pupils for the college track including Augustus Pomeroy, S. W. Kellogg,and Rowland Howes. He later went to Princeton, studying theology with his son Theophilus, in the 1820s. By 1849, he had been a pastor of the the Congregational Church for 50 years. Amariah Chandler would study under Theophilus Sr, and would help organize Amherst College.

More prominently, Theophilus Sr. was a member of the Franklin County Anti-Slavery Society (FCAS), which was formed in December 1836. He was specifically Secretary of the society. Interestingly, he was also, apparently, interested in the topic of animal magnetism, also known as "mesmerism in 19th-century America" as one writer put it. Even Theophilus Sr. was part of a group of men supporting Mary Lyon's effort to establish the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary.

Theophilus died on September 17, 1855 in Shelburne, Franklin County, Massachusetts. He would be survived by his son Theophilus and wife Mary.

Credit historyhermann