The early history of the Independent church at Rothwell, alias Rowell, in Northamptonshire, from the 3rd year of the Protectorate to the death of Queen Anne

Front matter

THE EARLY HISTORY

OF

ROTH WELL, alias Rowell,

Preface

It would be well perhaps to state the reasons by which we were induced to write the following small section of church history.

Having read the work of Mr. Coleman on the Independent Churches of Northamptonshire^ it seemed to us that^ despite its many excellencies^ the accounts were too general, and the particulars too isolated to yield all the interest or instruction that might be obtained from a knowledge of the olden dissent of the county. We thought that if, leaving the work of Mr. Coleman to answer as a general record, some old and interesting section of county dissenting history were worked out with more full connection and details it might supply an apparent need, placing us in closer connection with our nonconforming ancestry, and giving us a clearer impression than could otherwise be obtained of their opinions and practices.

Whilst under the influence of these impressions we came into the possession of two old volumes of the records of the church at Rowell, containing a vast body of material for church history, and going back as far as the foundation of the church in 1656. Besides this we discovered that from a biographical work of Mr. Maurice, the fourth minister of

VI.

Preface.

the church, much information might be obtained concerning the lives and characters of those who preceded him in the pastorate. We also found in public and private libraries manyworks either written by these early ministers, or relating to them or to the church over which they presided.

In addition to this it appeared that^ compared with others, our church was a very ancient one, and that there was a time in the history of dissent in the county when the church at Rowell was almost its sole representative. (There were two General Baptist Churches in Northamptonshire during the Protectorate, one at Peterborough and the other at Ravensthorpe but the information concerning them is very slight. See Taylor's History of the General Baptists, 1818, and Wood's Condensed History of the General Baptists, 1847).

It appeared also that the first three ministers of the church at Rowell were in many respects notable and worthy men, the last of them especially being not more distinguished by the greatness of his labours, than by the intensity of the persecutions with which he was assailed.

These then were the circumstances and inducements which led to the production of the present history of the church at Rowell from its commencement to 17 14.

We have added an Appendix (A.) at the close of the work, containing a list of all the Ministers of the church at Rowell, and some memorabilia which may be interesting to the reader.

It only remains here to notice the principal sources from which we have drawn our information, in addition to those

Preface, vu.

works the titles of which will be given in the course of the narrative.

1. — The first two vols, of the Church Records [ist vol. Quarto. — 2nd vol. Folio.] These early records have been very carefully kept^ and apparently the principal part of them is in the handwriting of the respective ministers. In other cases where aid was obtained (probably from the elders) to enter the Minutes^ they seem to have been subsequently corrected by the minister.

2. — ^^Monuments of Mercys or some of the .distinguishing favours of Christ to his Congregational Church at Rowell^ as handed down in the Ministry of Mr. John Beverly^ and Mr. Thomas Browning, remembered. But more especially^ as held forth in the evangelical labours and holy conversation of Mr. Richard Davis 3 being a true account of his life and principles^ and a just vindication of his memory from the false aspersions cast thereupon by Dr. Calamy, in the continuation of his account of the ejected ministers. By Matthias Maurice. London printed for Richard Hett, at the Bible and Crown in the Poultry, near Cheapside. 1729." [8vo.] In Mr. Taylor's collection at Northampton.

Some of the aspersions referred to above are peculiarly gross, as for example accusing Mr. Davis of having greatly troubled Mr. Browning when the latter was the minister of the Established Church at Desborough^ whereas Mr. Davis never came into the county until some time after Mr. Browning's death. Mr. Maurice wrote to Dr. Calamy in vindication of Mr. Davis, but the Dr. taking no notice he published the above work in defence of his friend and predecessor.

Vlll.

Preface.

In his preface he handles the Dr. very shrewdly. A more telling piece of critical censure we have seldom read. (See Appendix B.)

3. — "'An abridgement of Mr. Baxter's history of his life and times, with an account of the ministers, &c., who were ejected after the Restoration of King Charles II. The Second Edition in 2 vols. By Edmund Calamy, D.D. London. 1713." [8vo.]

4. — ^''The Nonconformist's Memorial, an abridgement. Sec, of Dr. Calamy's work by Samuel Palmer in 3 vols. London. 1802 and 1803." [8vo.]

5. — ''^The history and antiquities of Dissenting Churches in London, Westminster, and Southwark, by Walter Wilson of the Inner Temple. In 4 vols. London. 1808." [8vo.]

6. — '^'^ History of Dissenters, from the Revolution in 1688, to the year 1808. In 4 vols. By David Bogue and James Bennett. London 1808." [8vo.]

7. — ''Memorials of the Independent Churches in North- » amptonshire. By Thomas Coleman. London. 18^3." [8vo.]

8. — '' English Nonconformity by Robert Vaughan, D.D., London : Jackson, Walford and Hodder, St. Paul's Church-yard, 1862." [8vo.]

N.B. — We cannot expect that the following work will be entirely free from errors, though we have reason to hope from the pains we have taken in its production that there will not be many. We should be glad to receive the correction of any misstatement, or the notice of any further information.

Contents

Page

Historical Introduction.

Containing a brief account of Puritanism in Rowell

Chap. 4

Number of members admitted during the time of Mr. Davis, and a list of the places at which the members resided at the time of their admission 3 also the number of excommunications, together with a list of the churches to which some of the members were dismissed 61

The hysterical fits with which some of the members

of the church were afflicted 8^

Chap 9

Some account of the preachers sent out by Mr. Davis,

and of the new churches which he founded ... 88

Contents,

XI.

Page

Chap. io.

Relations of the church at Rowell (exclusive of those referred to in the last chapter) with other churches in the neighbourhood or at a distance. lai

Chap. ii.

Some account of the writings of Mr. Davis. , 137

Chap. 12.

An account of sundry troubles in the church at Rowell towards the close of Mr. Davis's ministry, and a brief relation of his illness and death 145

Appendix

(A.) — List of the Ministers of the Independent Church at Rothwell, from its commencement to the year 1869 153

(B.) — Mr. Maurice's criticism of Dr. Calamy, extracted from the Preface of the work entitled Monuments of Mercy/' &c 156

Historical Introduction,

Containing a brief Account of Puritanism in Rowell, during the Reign of Charles the ist.

N the Calendar of the State Papers of the Reign of Charles 1., Domestic Series,, (published by Longman & Co., London,) there are some interesting notices of Puritanism in Rowell. These notices, as will be seen, reflect some light upon the character of several of those whose names subsequently appear upon the first church list.

1634. April 28. Presentment made by the Churchwardens and Sidesmen of Roth well, co. Northampton. They present nine persons for not doing reverence at the name of the Lord Jesus in time of divine service."

1634. May i^. Answer of William Dodson, of Rothwell, CO. Northampton, mercer, to articles objected against him by the Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical. On Sundays in the afternoons he has had repetitions of sermons and other religious exercises in his own private family, none of other families being present. Is of opinion that all persons ought to keep Sunday holy and that sports after evening prayer ought to be left. Is also of opinion that collections of money for the poor or upon any brief should be made after divine service and sermon ended. Holds it necessary for a Christian man to go from his own parish church when he has not two sermons on a Sunday there, and that it is necessary to salvation (though not of absolute necessity) to have two sermons upon every Lord's

2 Persecution of William Dodson and others.

Day^ preaching being the ordinary means ordained by God to salvation. Has sometimes omitted to stand at the reading of the Gospel and has not bowed his body at the hearing of the name of Jesus in service or sermon. Has been presented for not bowing and stands excommunicated for the same. After the serving of the letters missive on examinant and the rest he and they rode to Mr. Bagshaw^ a common lawyer dwelling in Broughton^ for his advice, and he showed them a book written, as he said, by Archbishop Whitgift, wherein it was set down that he would not have people pressed to bow at the name of Jesus because he would not have none ^ nuzeled' in popery and superstition, and the same book he afterwards shewed to Sir John Lambe."

1634. Nov. 3. Declaration prepared for the signature of William Dodson the elder, of Rothwell, co. Northampton, called in question before the Ecclesiastical Commission. It purports to make him promise not to suffer in his house any conventicle, that he will stand up at the reading of the Gospel, and will bend his body at the naming of the name of Jesus in divine service, especially in the Creed, Gospel, and Lessons. Underwritten is a memorandum that this paper was tendered to William Dodson who refused to sign it."

1634 • Articles administered by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to John James, of Barton Cortis, co. Northampton, yeoman, William Dodson [the same referred to in the previous extracts], William Foxe [afterwards entered as John Fox], John Ponder, and Thomas Wells, of Rothwell, in the same county. They were charged with having been present at one another's houses where exercises of religion had been used^ and were called upon to state how often.

Charges before the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, .3

That one of them had taken upon him to conceive and utter openly among them a prayer^ and the same by other persons present in order, and the one thought most able concluded. That they had maintained the following tenets : — That when any Christian man came into the church at the time of service, he ought to join in that particular exercise which was in hand, and that it was unlawful for him to kneel down and pray 3 that ringing a peel or two, dancing, playing at foot-ball, barley-break, and other recreations, on the Sunday after eveningprayer, or for the neighbours to sit and talk together at their doors in the street, or there to look on or view such like sports, was unlawful 3 that to gather money on briefs during divine service, but only at the church doors after service, was unlawful 3 that the father ought to answer for his child at christening, and not the godfather, and godmothers, who were but man's inventions 3 that all children were within the covenant of God, and were saved though not baptised 3 that Christians might lawfully go from their own parish church when they had not two sermons on Sunday 5 that persons excommunicated by the ordinary might come to church. They were also charged with having spoken against the ceremonies and orders of the Church of England, as, namely, against the surplice, the cross in baptism, and the ring in marriage 3 also with having been presented by the churchwardens for not bowing at the name of Jesus, which they had obstinately defended, and said that to bow at the name of Jesus was to bow to five letters, and that it was as lawful to bow at the name of Judas, or Satan, or Devil."

Of those above mentioned John James appears from subsequent entries to have withdrawn ujider the pressure of

B 2

Assessment of Ship Money, persecution. William Dodson, referred to in one of the preceding papers as ^^the elder," probably died during this reign or the early part of the Protectorate. The other three remained in Rowell as sturdy puritans, and more than twenty years after, in i6j6, they aided Mr. Beverly in the formation of an Independent Church.

In the earliest church list John Ponder is entered as the first elder, and John Fox as the first deacon, whilst the name of Thomas Wells is the third in the list of members.

When these worthies attended the Established Church at Rowell prior to their being summoned before the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, it was a very different building to what it is now, for the square tower of the church was then surmounted with a spire, and the transepts were still standing. The spire fell in 1660, and the transepts were taken down in 1673.

Some notices also occur in the Calendar of the State Papers under the date of March, 1637, relation to the assessment of Ship Money on the Hundred of Rothwell. Two petitions were sent to the Council, one from the High Constables of the Hundred, John Daulby and William Halford, and the other from the Freeholders and Tenants of the Hundred. Rothwell Hundred was charged with the payment of an eighth part of the County, and in justification of this it is stated in one of the papers that divers Hundreds are not in true value worth one manor in Rothwell." The petitions do not touch the question of the legality of the imposition of the Ship Money, but they give incidental evidence of that rising feeling of dissatisfaction, which at last culminated in the strife between King and Parliament.

Ministry of Mr. John Beverly. {Closing period oj Oliver CromweWs Protectorate.)

HE records of the Independent Church at Rowell are contained in three volumes. The first volume commences with certain Articles of Faith written out at some length in a neat hand^, and entitled '^'^A Translation and Collection out of Dr. Francis Junius his Ecclesiasticus^, or concerning the nature and administrations of the Church of God, Professor of Divinity in Leidon, a choice University in Holland, about 159^5." After the above Articles there occurs the Covenant which was agreed upon by the members of the church at its first formation. Between this Covenant and the succeeding list of the ofl[icers and members of the church the date is given, *^'Anno Domini, 1655." This must be taken as referring to the year 16^6, the date given by Mr. Maurice, and not 16^5 the date given by Mr. Coleman. The civil year at one time commenced in March and closed in February, and it was not until the second half of the sixteenth century that the civil year was made to begin on the first of January. In the church records a century later than this, the number of the month is often given according to the old style of reckoning. Thus we have the following entries, gih day of the ^th month, called July," and ''ist day of the 6th month, called August." Another relic of the old civil year contained in the church records

Mr. JoJin Beverly comes to RovcelL of the J 7th centun% and in contemporaneous published works, is the use in the early months of the year of a double date. Generally, as in the instance given above ( 1655), the figure denoting the old style of reckoning is put first, but occasionally it is put last, as for example in a subsequent QUtrj in the church books, February 9, 1692."

The first church list commences with the names of the oflicers

John Beverly, Pastor.

John Ponder, |

John Cooper, j

John Fox, -)

Ralph Mui., i^'^^^"^^- And then occur the names of thirty members.

]VIr. John Beverly, who was a devoted puritan, after labouring in several parts of Scotland, came to Rowell about the year i6jj (the church being formed in the following year). He was a man not only of great piety, but also of considerable learning, and he had been a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Though olFered through the influence of Colonel Read a living of ^200 per anmun he preferred remaining at Rowell, where, as he says, in a letter to Mr. Collins, preacher to the Council in Scotland, he was not sure of a^jO per annum.

He seems to have come to Rowell in search of health, and having gathered around him a company of true believers, some of them converted under his ministry, he was loth to leave them. He sufiered great weakness of body and continual indisposition, but never relaxed his earnest efforts for the conversion of sinners and the edification of the people of God.

Mr. Beverly s Character.

It was through his influence that Mr. Thomas Browning, who afterwards succeeded him in the pastorate, was chosen by the people of Desborough Church (that is the Established Church) for their minister in 16^7, and during the short interval between Mr. Browning's appointment to Desborough and Mr. Beverly's death, the friendship of these two godly men was very dear and intimate.

The character of Mr. Beverly is clearly shewn in a letter to him in 1657 from Mr. Robert Scot of Trinity College, Cambridge. — The remembrance of your exemplary heavenly conversation, your self-denial, humility, meekness, tenderness of spirit, your caution of offending your brethren, and readiness to pass by offences from them, your unwearied desires of promoting grace and holiness, both in yourself and others, your more than ordinary love to such as you apprehended to be lovers of Christ, with many other blessed fruits of God's spirit in you, whereby you were endeared to the hearts of all your Christian acquaintance 3 the remembrance I say of these will, I hope, ever have an influence upon my heart in provoking me to press after the same spirit.*'

The following entries in Mr. Beverly's journal during the last year of his ministry at Rowell reveal the depth and sincerity of his piety.

March 14, [i6j8]. The Lord in mercy prepared me for, and assisted me in, this first day's public labours on Isaiah 56-8 [this Mr. Maurice tells us was his last sermon] to the refreshment of the piously affected, and to the confusion of others. One most remarkable instance we had of a most desperate loose sinner, and opposer of my ministry, who not being humbled by the loss of a child, by God's stroke (for

Mr. Beverly s Diary.

that a little before he had scornfully objected to me that I had no children, nor never would, when I reproved him for no better educating his) he since, by over drinking, ran mad, and came stripj>ed naked in a frenzy, with a drawn knife in his hand, as to have done me hurt on purpose (so great was the devil in him) yet it pleased the Lord he was stopped 'ere he got to me 5 but still he cried out. Oh for Beverly ! Beverly ! whereupon hearing his sad condition I went to see him, and prayed with other neighbours at his bedside for mercy to him, and gave sundry instructions."

March 25. I was much cast down, yet the Lord in mercy gave me real experience of having a predominant frame of cordial love to the persons so sinning, [probably members of his church] , and joy in myself, notwithstanding their offence against me. Oh the power of love, sound love ! it can .... as a ship well ballasted, bear a great burden of sense of apparent evils, yet without turbulent inward shakings. It makes one to be as a rock in the midst of waves, and assaults of contrary temptations. Ob how small a thing will trouble one when love is wanting I and on the contrary, when love abounds more can easily be indulged ; personal failings not then imputed to question their state in grace. Oh look above saints' failings \ triumph in Christ j expect the weakest saint shall once triumph with thee, and the sinfulest of the godly shall be crowned as the rest ! Oh how noble and divine a frame solid love is ! how cheerfully did I act, being thus poised by so blessed affection ! "

*^ April 28. The Lord gave in to me an apprehension of the certainty of my restoration in body at the last day 3 and that notwithstanding all the weakness and consumption sin

Mr. Beverly's Diary.

had brought;, and could bring upon my body j yet should 1, with these very bodily organs more gloriously renewed^ be acceptedly instrumental in praising the Almighty in the church above 3 howbeit for the present I can be no way useful to Christ and his Church below. Oh the meltiiigness of this apprehension ! In discourse with such as visited me, I was glad to think of death 3 exhorting them to live above. Yet at one of the brethren, and others, weeping to see me so dead-like, my old spiritual love-spring began to issue in tears 3 which I studiously suppressed."

May 5 and 6. These days I was sensible of much spiritual deadness and unsuitableness in my soul, as to walking with God. ... I poured out my complaints of my sins, losses, wants and misery, especially at such a time, when death approaching and I not awakened. I, like an unconverted soul ! Oh it pleased the Lord to pierce me in great mercy (because he knew my feebleness), upon my first addresses ! Oh what a flood was made to flow out of my heart's rock by his spirit ! Mourning for his special revisit, he gave me some secret persuasions for my further settlement in his mercy and loving-kindness. Oh this was a comfortable heart-breaking ! a soul refreshment ! Oh the unsearchable seasons and methods of grace in Christ ! This night the brethren met, and brother Cooper the Lord helped to pray affectionately to my and all our refreshment."

May 13. Pretty cheerful, till brother Browning's return from Essex, who told me the saddest news (among some other more refreshing), that there was some discord in the New England churches. ... Oh what a fountain of tears broke my heart forthv/ith, to conceive that Satan should infest lo Mr, Beverly* s Death and Burial.

those precious churches^ which the Lord had hitherto so gloriously carried as on eagles' wings ! "

''May 30. It pleased the Lord, after all public excercise was done [probably at a Sunday's service in which he took part], something being spoke preparatory, as to the ordinance, I administered baptism to three or four children of the church. The last public personal service I am in this life like to do for this holy flock ^ who I expect to meet in heaven."

'' May 31. I am all this while purely speechless, whoever comes to me, in a manner doing all by signs : yet it is strange that I have no apprehensions now of dying at all \ but as in my [life] making Christ my refuge, I hope so to find him in death also. I never was under such constant weakness, and total indisposition of soul or body. Sweet Christ ! I will lean on thee alone, while I pass out of this pilgrimage. Oh for an everlasting rest ! ' '

''June I. The same weakness continued night and day. The Lord drew out his saints' hearts much for me in prayer. Oh the hope of Israel ! "

This last entry was made on the day before his death, for he died on the 2nd of June, 1658. (Mr. Beverly's death occurred about three months before that of Oliver Cromwell). There is but little doubt that Mr. Beverly was interred in the burial ground attached to the Established Church. Unfortunately the burial registers preserved at Rowell do not extend further back than the commencement of the i8th century, and the copies of the burial registers which were sent to Peterborough from all the parishes in the county during the 17th century have been lost. There is an old tomb close to the buttress at the south-east corner of the Chancel which

Mr. Beverly's Writings,

II we believe to be that of Mr. Beverly. In the nearly effaced inscription we fancied we could read " Here lyeth the body of holy, humble John Beverly/' but fearing that imagination "might have led us astray we did not venture to have the stone re-cut.

Mr. Beverly wrote several works in defence of Congregational principles, two of which were published in the year after his death. Of the two works, one in Latin and the other in English, the English one was published last, for it contains in its preface a reference to the Latin work as having been recently issued. Both of these works^ the titles of which we will now give, are in the British Museum 5 the English one is also in Mr. Taylor's Collection at Northampton.

There is an Epistle to the Reader in Latin recommending the work, with the following names of ministers attached. Joh. Stalham. Sam. Crossman. Guliel. Sparrow. Job. Sammes. Joh. Bulkley.

The preface to the work by Mr. Beverly is dated Rothwelli, Oct. 27, 1657."

Watts in his Bibliotheca Britannica gives the titles of two Latin tracts by Hoornbeck in reply to the above work of Mr. Beverly. The first was published in Leyden in 1660^

12 Mr, Beverly's Writings.

and the second in Utrecht in 1661. John Hoornbeck was professor of divinity in the Universities of Utrecht and Leyden.

2. Unio Reformantium. Or the Presbyterian and Independent Vindicated, from the Contradictious Way of Free Admission : .... In Seven Chapters. By John Beverly, sometime Fellow of Trin. Col. Camb. and lately Pastour of the Church of Christ at Rothwell in Northamptonshire. 'Oi; /xei/ <^o/3o{)ftat Tr]v dvaTp€7T(o. London, Printed by Ja. C. for John Allen at the Rising-Sun in Pauls Church-yard. 1659." This was seven years before the Great Fire of London, and when Old St. Paul's was still standing. [This work like the other is in sm. 8vo.]

There is prehxed to the above work a letter of condolence from the church of Christ at Terling in Essex to the church of Christ at Rothwell upon the death of their pastor Mr. Beverly. The letter is signed John Stalham, Pastour."

This English work of Mr. Beverly abounds in quotations from the Greek and Latin Fathers, criticisms of the Greek text of the New Testament, and references to the polemical writers of the day. Though many of the arguments are conclusive, and many of the criticisms show considerable acumen, yet there is in the work such an utter lack of system as makes the reading of it rather tedious. Mr. Beverly seems to have been somewhat conscious of this, as we gather from the following note which concludes the work. This note, as the reader will see, is not remarkable for its lucidity.

Reader, My defect in Method I was necessitated to, by that Rambling Discourse, the Rhapsody of Mistakes, the kvk€(ov of heady mischarges, the too truly-confused suggestions of

The Elders and Deacons of the Church. 13 the Author (especially in this Close) I had to do withal. But Truth may shine through the Lattice of some immethodicalness."

We have seen^ from the preceding list of the officers of the church, that there were two elders as well as two deacons. The duty of the elders related to the spiritual affairs of the church, and, in most of the subsequent entries in the church books in relation to the election of such officers, they are referred to as ruling elders. The custom, however, of having such officers has long since died out in this church, and in the other churches of the same order. These officers, both elders and deacons, were, after their election, set apart at a meeting of the church by fasting and prayer and imposition of hands. (Subsequently to this, in the time of Mr. Davis, we have an entry concerning the election of deaconesses. The entry referred to is as follows : — i Feb., 1691. Sister Day and Sister Frizby were chosen deaconesses. Sister Day consented. Sister Frizby desired time.")

The following is all the information which we can gather concerning the first elders and deacons of the church. We have already referred in our Introduction to John Fox and John Ponder as having been summoned before the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in the reign of Charles ist. John Cooper has also been referred to in one of the extracts from Mr. Beverly's journal as having greatly comforted his pastor by his prayers. In the work of Mr. Maurice, John Ponder is said to have been sent by the church to present their call to Mr. Browning, of Desborough, in 1662. The said John Ponder seems to have been in some fair way

John Ponder^ of RothvdelL of business^ judging from a brass token we have seen which was dug up on the farm of Mr. Cook of Orton. On one side of this token, which is about the size of a sixpennypiece, there is the inscription John Ponder of Rowel/' and on the other side Half Penny, 1664,'' that is two years after the incident above referred to of his mission to Desborough. We have seen the drawing of another token of John Ponder's bearing the date of 1655, and on one side of it there is a trade sign having very much the appearance of a number of candles strung on a cord, perhaps therefore he may have been a grocer. Private tokens were early used in our country and are mentioned by Erasmus as being used in England in his day. They were provided by tradesmen for their ow^n customers, and were intended to compensate for the scarcity of half-pence and farthings. They were prohibited by James the ist in 1613, but during the distractions of the Civil Wars they were again brought into use by tavern-keepers, grocers, and tradesmen in general. These tokens ^vere usually of brass, and were stamped ^\•ith various devices, besides bearing the name, ficc, of the person by whom they were issued.