John Stoughton (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
John Stoughton was an English clergyman, of influential millennial
views.
in 1593. He was one of three sons of the clergyman Thomas Stoughton (c.1557–c.1622), who lost his living of Coggeshall
, Essex
in 1606 as a nonconformist, and his wife, Katherine (c.1560–c.1603); Israel Stoughton
was a younger brother.
He was a student at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
from 1607, graduating B.A. in 1611, M.A. 1614, B.D. 1621, and D.D. 1626. A Fellow from 1616, he became rector of Aller
in Somerset in 1624, and then succeeding Thomas Taylor
he preached at St Mary, Aldermanbury in London from 1632.
During the 1630s Stoughton came under suspicion from the authorities, and his mail was watched; his numerous correspondents included John Forbes
, John Winthrop
, Stephen Marshall, Samuel Ward
and William Sandcroft (his old tutor). In 1635 he was before William Juxon
, the Bishop of London
for supposed nonconformity, with John Goodwin
and Sidrach Simpson
. In 1636 he was caught up in the investigation of John White of Dorchester, that involved also Henry Whitefield. With the support of Sir Robert Harley and other patrons Stoughton managed to avoid serious problems.
At the end of his life Stoughton came into contact with Samuel Hartlib
. His millennial pamphlet Felicitas ultimi saeculi was taken to Hungary in 1638 by John Tolnai, a contact of Comenius
. It was intended for György Rákóczi. Two years later, after Stoughton's death, Hartlib published the pamphlet with Stoughton's covering letter. Hugh Trevor-Roper comments on the language of inauguration of international Protestantism in this work, centred on Comenius, Francis Bacon
and John Dury
.
). This made Stoughton step-father to Ralph Cudworth
, whom he educated, as well as the New England colonist James Cudworth. Mary died in 1624, and Stoughton then married Jane Browne, widow of Walter Newburgh, and daughter of John Browne, in 1636. His brother Israel Stoughton was a co-worker with John Endicott in Massachusetts Colony, and hence William Stoughton
, chief magistrate of the Salem witch trials
, was John Stoughton's nephew.
Millennialism
Millennialism , or chiliasm in Greek, is a belief held by some Christian denominations that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth in which "Christ will reign" for 1000 years prior to the final judgment and future eternal state...
views.
Life
He was baptized at Naughton, SuffolkNaughton, Suffolk
Naughton is a village located in Suffolk, England. It is north-west of Ipswich and south-west of Stowmarket. It's a part of the old Hundreds of Suffolk of Cosford...
in 1593. He was one of three sons of the clergyman Thomas Stoughton (c.1557–c.1622), who lost his living of Coggeshall
Coggeshall
Coggeshall is a small market town of 3,919 residents in Essex, England, situated between Colchester and Braintree on the Roman road of Stane Street , and intersected by the River Blackwater. It is known for its almost 300 listed buildings and formerly extensive antique trade...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in 1606 as a nonconformist, and his wife, Katherine (c.1560–c.1603); Israel Stoughton
Israel Stoughton
Israel Stoughton was an early English colonist in Massachusetts, and later a Parliamentarian officer in the First English Civil War.-Life:...
was a younger brother.
He was a student at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
from 1607, graduating B.A. in 1611, M.A. 1614, B.D. 1621, and D.D. 1626. A Fellow from 1616, he became rector of Aller
Aller
The Aller is a river, long, in the states of Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony in Germany. It is a right-hand, and hence eastern, tributary of the River Weser and is also its largest tributary. Its last form the Lower Aller federal waterway...
in Somerset in 1624, and then succeeding Thomas Taylor
Thomas Taylor (clergyman)
Thomas Taylor was an English clergyman.-Life:He was born in 1576 at Richmond, Yorkshire, where his father,was known as a friend to puritans and silenced ministers in the north. He distinguished himself at Cambridge, became fellow and reader in Hebrew at Christ's College, proceeded B.D. 1628, and...
he preached at St Mary, Aldermanbury in London from 1632.
During the 1630s Stoughton came under suspicion from the authorities, and his mail was watched; his numerous correspondents included John Forbes
John Forbes (preacher)
-Life:He was born about 1568, was educated at the university of St. Andrews, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1583, and was ordained minister of Alford, Aberdeenshire in 1593. When the proceedings of the synods of Aberdeen and Moray against George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly were interfered...
, John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
, Stephen Marshall, Samuel Ward
Samuel Ward (scholar)
Samuel Ward was an English academic and a master at the University of Cambridge.-Life:He was born at Bishop Middleham, county Durham. He was a scholar of Christ's College, Cambridge, where in 1592 he was admitted B.A. In 1595 he was elected to a fellowship at Emmanuel, and in the following year...
and William Sandcroft (his old tutor). In 1635 he was before William Juxon
William Juxon
William Juxon was an English churchman, Bishop of London from 1633 to 1649 and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1660 until his death.-Life:...
, the Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
for supposed nonconformity, with John Goodwin
John Goodwin (preacher)
John Goodwin was an English preacher, theologian and prolific author of significant books.-Early life:Goodwin was born in Norfolk and educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. and obtained a fellowship on 10 November 1617. He left the university and married, took orders and...
and Sidrach Simpson
Sidrach Simpson
Sidrach Simpson was an English Independent minister, one of the leaders of the Independent faction in the Westminster Assembly.-Life:Sidrach Simpson came from Lincolnshire. He was educated as a sizar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge....
. In 1636 he was caught up in the investigation of John White of Dorchester, that involved also Henry Whitefield. With the support of Sir Robert Harley and other patrons Stoughton managed to avoid serious problems.
At the end of his life Stoughton came into contact with Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib was a German-British polymath. An active promoter and expert writer in many fields, he was interested in science, medicine, agriculture, politics, and education. He settled in England, where he married and died...
. His millennial pamphlet Felicitas ultimi saeculi was taken to Hungary in 1638 by John Tolnai, a contact of Comenius
Comenius
John Amos Comenius ; ; Latinized: Iohannes Amos Comenius) was a Czech teacher, educator, and writer. He served as the last bishop of Unity of the Brethren, and became a religious refugee and one of the earliest champions of universal education, a concept eventually set forth in his book Didactica...
. It was intended for György Rákóczi. Two years later, after Stoughton's death, Hartlib published the pamphlet with Stoughton's covering letter. Hugh Trevor-Roper comments on the language of inauguration of international Protestantism in this work, centred on Comenius, Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
and John Dury
John Dury
John Dury was a Scottish Calvinist minister and a significant intellectual of the English Civil War period. He made efforts to re-unite the Calvinist and Lutheran wings of Protestantism, hoping to succeed when he moved to Kassel in 1661, but he did not accomplish this...
.
Family
Stoughton's predecessor at Aller Ralph Cudworth (the elder) died in 1624, and Stoughton married his widow Mary (known in her own right as Mary Machell, formerly nurse to Henry Frederick, Prince of WalesHenry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
). This made Stoughton step-father to Ralph Cudworth
Ralph Cudworth
Ralph Cudworth was an English philosopher, the leader of the Cambridge Platonists.-Life:Born at Aller, Somerset, he was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, gaining his MA and becoming a Fellow of Emmanuel in 1639. In 1645, he became master of Clare Hall and professor of Hebrew...
, whom he educated, as well as the New England colonist James Cudworth. Mary died in 1624, and Stoughton then married Jane Browne, widow of Walter Newburgh, and daughter of John Browne, in 1636. His brother Israel Stoughton was a co-worker with John Endicott in Massachusetts Colony, and hence William Stoughton
William Stoughton (Massachusetts)
William Stoughton was a colonial magistrate and admininstrator in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. He was in charge of what have come to be known as the Salem Witch Trials, first as the Chief Justice of the Special Court of Oyer and Terminer in 1692, and then as the Chief Justice of the...
, chief magistrate of the Salem witch trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
, was John Stoughton's nephew.