Durin Lee Brayton

(1808-1900)
Missionary to Myanmar (Burma)
Pwo Karen

Durin Lee Brayton was born 27 October 1808, in Hubbartlton, Vt. At a young age, Brayton's father
died. With the family in financial distress, Brayton became apprenticed to a shoe-maker until the age of
twenty-one. During his apprenticeship, at the age of eighteen, Brayton became an ardent follower of Jesus
Christ. Through incredible perseverance, he went on to study at Brown University, graduating in 1837, at the
age of twenty-nine.

On 28 October 1837, along with E.A. Stevens, Lyman Stilton and their wives arriving at Moulmein on
16 February 1838. In 1839, D.L. Brayton began work among the Pwo Karen in Mergui. Mergui was also a
more favorable location for recovery, as, at that time, Mrs. Brayton's health was in a dangerous condition.
Within three years, six Pwo Karen churches came out of Brayton's work in Mergui. While in Mergui, Brayton
attempted to give the Selongs (Celones) of the Mergui Archipelago the Bible in their language. By 1849, there
were over twenty-five members. Sadly, when Brayton turned his attention to the pressing Pwo Karen work, no
one ABMU missionary carried on the ministry to the Selongs, which led to significant setbacks.

From December 1848 to January 1849, Brayton and several Karen evangelists crossed over into Siam
to explore mission work there. The party was forced to turn back after cases of smallpox broke out in their
party. Another trip was accomplished in January 1851, where the group reached Sangkhlaburi.

In 1853, a delegation of two men, Rev. Solomon Peck and Rev. James N. Granger from the American
Baptist Missionary Union (ABMU), visited Burma. During the convention of 1853, discussions were held on
evangelism, preaching, tracts, education, self-support, and local authority, with the final two issues being the
most divisive. ABMU missionaries working among the Karen in Rangoon and Bassein were particularly in
disagreement with the conference results. At that time, another war had commenced between the English and
Burman in lower Burma, and the situation was in significant flux. The missionaries in the fields most affected
felt it was best to have more local authority in decision making.

In 1855, after spending a year in Henzada, the Braytons came to Rangoon to serve the Pwo Karen.
They joined the Vinton family, who were working among the Sgaw Karen. By 1856, it became clear the
differences from the 1853 convention had led the Braytons, Roses, Vintons, Beechers, and Harrises to separate
themselves from the ABMU and instead connect themselves with the American Baptist Free Mission Society.

The Karen mission work continued with D.L. Brayton focused on evangelistic outreach, training Pwo
Karen national workers, and formed a Pwo Karen normal school. In 1859, Brayton was instrumental in
brokering a deal with his friend Dr. Joseph Binney of the ABMU, who had just returned from the USA. An
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 Durin Lee Brayton
(1808-1900)

amicable agreement was reached for the missionaries from these two Baptist societies to work together for
the Karen work in Rangoon.

By the early 1860s, the Braytons and others reestablished ties with the ABMU. Throughout the
1860s, Brayton would regularly teach at the school in Kemendine, Rangoon, during the rainy season. He
would do itinerant evangelism work with his wife throughout the Rangoon and delta region during the dry
season, often reaching Bassein on these tours.

In 1870, after thirty plus years in the field, the Braytons returned to the U.S. for a convalescence. This was
D.L. Braton’s first and only trip to the USA and only the second and last for his wife. While in the USA,
Rev. Brayton pushed and received approval to establish a higher education school for the Sgaw and Pwo
Karen. Since the establishment would be a large fundraising endeavor, the ABMU permitted it as a separate
fundraiser. However, the ABMU did commit to future assistance for the project.

Throughout his mission career, Mr. Brayton, the Rev. Myat That (a Pwo Karen pastor), and Mary
Brayton Rose (D.L. Brayon's daughter) worked on translating scriptures into Pwo Karen. They built upon
Edwin Bullard and Jonathan Wade's early work, who both passed away before having sufficient time in
doing sufficient Pwo Karen translation work. The first translated Pwo Karen scripture was Matthew, then
John and Acts. By 1852, all of the Epistles and Revelations were translated. In 1857, Genesis, the first
twenty chapters of Exodus, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, and Jonah were rendered. By 1859, the first edition of the
Pwo New Testament was completed and printed.

In 1872, Pwo Karen church leaders approached Brayton and shared their desire for him to do a
complete translation and revision of the Pwo Karen Bible. Brayton resisted as he felt called to continue in
his evangelism and itinerant work. However, by 1874, Brayton became convinced God was calling him to
let go of the evangelistic work and set on translating the entire Bible into Pwo Karen. Brayton's translation
work at the latter half of his missionary career was possibly his most outstanding and lasting contribution to
the Pwo Karen church. In 1878, after four years of intensive work, Brayton completed his entire revision of
the Pwo Karen Bible. Proofing each book's prints remained an incredible task. The first edition of the whole
Pwo Karen Old Testament was proofed and printed in 1882. The second edition of the Pwo Karen New
Testament was completed in 1884.

In 1886, Brayton sat at the bedside of his dying missionary friend, Edward A. Stevens. The two had
traveled together to Burma in 1837, almost fifty years prior. Upon Steven's death, Brayton became the elder
statesmen among the ABMU missionaries. He soon became called "Father Brayton" by young ABMU
missionaries and the numerous and ethnically diverse churches throughout Burma. Even at an elder age, he
continued in his Pwo Karen translation work, providing a commentary on the Book of Acts and many large
tracts.
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 Durin Lee Brayton
(1808-1900)

Mrs. Mary Brayton, the lifelong companion, and helpmate to D.L. Brayton died in Rangoon on 16
December 1890. Around this time, Brayton's letters reveal his expectancy that he would die shortly, yet this
was not the case. Even with the loss of his wife, he remained resolute. His place was to live, serve and die in
Burma, and he saw no need to go to the USA, even when he had ample opportunity to do so. Instead, he
focused on creating commentaries, tracts, and a reference bible for the Pwo Karen Church. His work
continued, and in 1898, he and Mrs. E.A. Stevens celebrated their 60th diamond anniversary in the mission
field.

During his many years of work, Brayton was offered the honorary title Doctor of Divinity. He would
kindly refuse such an honor as he attested his calling to be only a servant of His Lord (Mark 10:35-45;
Matthew 20: 20-28; 23:8). In early 1900, Brayton's health was waning. The 40th anniversary of the Pwo
Karen Church Association (which he was markedly responsible for forming) was held at his compound to
ensure his attendance. A month before his death, he addressed the assembly, and he called on the Pwo Karen
church to proclaim and live out their lives for their Lord Jesus Christ. In Brayton's final address before his
death on 23 April 1900, he wrote:

“For more than seventy years, ever since I first accepted Christ as my Savior, he has been first, foremost,
and uppermost in my thoughts, plans and efforts. It has been my highest pleasure to seek first his kingdom
and do his will.

By his grace, I have been enabled to fight the good fight, and to keep the faith. And when it shall please the
loving Father, he will call me to himself, to be with Christ forever. I know there is a crown of glory laid up
for me that fadeth not away.”

BIOGRAPHY BY: AUSTIN HOUSE

For over fifteen years, Austin has served and taught in villages,
refugee camps, schools, and universities throughout SE Asia. He enjoys
taking time to gather, redeem, and share long-forgotten saints' stories in
SE Asia's Church and Mission history. These often include the work of local
church leaders and women.

Austin continues to live and serve in SE Asia with his wife and three
children. He has a BA in History from Virginia Military Institute, a Master of
Divinity from Payap University (Chiang Mai, Thailand), and a Doctor of
Intercultural Studies from Western Seminary (Portland, Oregon).

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 Durin Lee Brayton
(1808-1900)

Sources for Further Study:

Book Resources:

Binney, J.G. Mrs. Twenty-Six Years in Burmah: Records of the Life and Work of Joseph G. Binney,
D.D. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1880.

Carpenter, C.H. Self-support, Illustrated in the History of the Bassein Karen Mission from 1840 to
1880. Boston: The Franklin Press, 1883.

Hovemyr, Anders P. In Search of the Karen King: A Study in Karen Identity with Special Reference to
19th Century Karen Evangelism in Northern Thailand. Doctoral Thesis at the University of Uppsala:
Sweden 1989.

Phinney, Frank D. The Judson Centennial Celebrations in Burma:1813-1913. Rangoon: American

Baptist Mission Press, 1914.

Ranney, Ruth Whitaker. A Sketch of the Lives and Missionary Work of Rev. Cephas Bennett and His
Wife Stella Kneeland Bennett. New York: Silver, Burdett & Company, 1892.

Titterington, Sophie Bronson A Century of Baptist Missions: An Outline Sketch. Philadelphia:

American Baptist Publication Society, 1891.

Torbet, Robert G. Venture of Faith: The Story of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society and the
Woman’s American Baptist Foreign Mission Society 1814-1954. Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1955.

Wylie, Macleod Mrs. The Gospel in Burmah; The Story of its Introduction and Marvelous Progress
Among the Burmese and Karens. New York: Sheldon & Company, 1860.

Article Resources:

Brayton, D.L. “Gah Too.” American Baptist Magazine Vol. 79 (April, 1899): 135-136.

_____ “Missionary Correspondence - Mission to Karens – Letter from Mr Brayton – September 17,
1878.” Baptist Missionary Magazine Vol. 59 (January, 1879). 12-14.

_____ “Oo-Pan-Deet.” Baptist Missionary Magazine Vol. 64 (May, 1884). 126-127.

Rose, Mary M. “A Diamond Jubilee” 1898 Baptist Missionary Magazine Vol. 78 (May, 1898).
176-178.