Samuel Fisher (quaker)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Fisher was an English Quaker controversialist.
, where Fisher was born. After attending a local school he matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford
, in 1623 and graduated B.A. in 1627. Of Puritan
views, he moved to New Inn Hall, where he proceeded M.A. in 1630. Gerard Croese states that he was chaplain to a nobleman for a short time, and became a confirmed Puritan.
In 1632 he was presented to the lectureship of Lydd, Kent. He was known as a powerful preacher, and became a leader among the Puritans of the district. In his 'Baby-Baptism', Fisher states that was later given a presbyterian ordination. While at Lydd Fisher associated with some Anabaptist
s, attending their meetings and offering them the use of his pulpit, in which he was stopped by the churchwardens.
About 1643 he returned his license to the bishop and joined the Baptists, supporting himself by farming. He was rebaptised, and after taking an active part in the Baptist community became minister to a congregation at Ashford, Kent
, by 1649, in which year he engaged in controversy on infant baptism
with several ministers in the presence of over two thousand people. He also disputed with Francis Cheynell
at Petworth, Sussex, in 1651, and was engaged in at least eight other disputes within three years. He wrote Tracts in defence of his principles, and Baby-Baptism meer Babism.
, stayed at Fisher's house, and convinced him of the truth of quakerism. Shortly afterwards he joined the Society of Friends, among whom he became a minister, probably before his meeting with George Fox
at Romney
in 1655. On 17 September 1656 Fisher attended the meeting of Parliament, and when Oliver Cromwell
stated that to his knowledge no man in England had suffered imprisonment unjustly attempted a reply. He was prevented from completing his speech, which he afterwards published. He subsequently attempted to address the Members of Parliament at a fast-day service in St. Margaret's Church, Westminster. He was active in Kent, where according to Joseph Besse he was roughly handled in 1658, and in 1659 he was pulled out of a meeting at Westminster by his hair and beaten.
In May 1659 he went to Dunkirk with Edward Burrough
; when the authorities ordered them to leave the town, they declined, and were then directed to be moderate. After unsuccessful encounters with the monks and nuns for a few days they returned to England. During the following year Fisher and Stubbs made a journey to Rome, travelling over the Alps on foot, where they testified to several of the cardinals, and distributed copies of Quaker literature, nor were they molested or even warned. Anthony Wood
states that when Fisher returned he was well dressed; suspected of being a Jesuit and in receipt of a pension from the pope, he was imprisoned and Fisher seems to have undergone some further persecution.
, and later that year was in Newgate Prison
. The rest of his life was mainly spent around London, where he was a successful preacher. In 1661 he was imprisoned and treated badly in the Gatehouse Prison
, Westminster. In 1662 he was arrested and sent to Bridewell Prison for being present at an illegal meeting. He was again sent to Newgate for refusing to take oaths, and was detained for upwards of a year, during which time he occupied himself in writing 'The Bishop busied beside the Business.' During part of this imprisonment he was confined with other prisoners in a room so small that they were unable to lie down at the same time.
Shortly after his discharge he was again arrested at Charlwood
, Surrey
, and committed to the White Lion Prison, Southwark, where he was confined for about two years. During the Great Plague of London
he was temporarily released, and went to the house of Ann Travers, a Quaker at Dalston
, near London, where he died of the plague on 31 August 1665. Fisher's works were Quaker text-books for more than a century. William Sewel
called him 'dextrous and well skilled in the ancient poets and Hebrew'; and William Penn
, a close associate, praised his even temper and humility.
These works, with others, were reprinted in 1679 under the title of The Testimony of Truth Exalted, &c., folio.
Early life
Fisher was the son of John Fisher, a hatter in NorthamptonNorthampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, where Fisher was born. After attending a local school he matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, in 1623 and graduated B.A. in 1627. Of Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
views, he moved to New Inn Hall, where he proceeded M.A. in 1630. Gerard Croese states that he was chaplain to a nobleman for a short time, and became a confirmed Puritan.
In 1632 he was presented to the lectureship of Lydd, Kent. He was known as a powerful preacher, and became a leader among the Puritans of the district. In his 'Baby-Baptism', Fisher states that was later given a presbyterian ordination. While at Lydd Fisher associated with some Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
s, attending their meetings and offering them the use of his pulpit, in which he was stopped by the churchwardens.
About 1643 he returned his license to the bishop and joined the Baptists, supporting himself by farming. He was rebaptised, and after taking an active part in the Baptist community became minister to a congregation at Ashford, Kent
Ashford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
, by 1649, in which year he engaged in controversy on infant baptism
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
with several ministers in the presence of over two thousand people. He also disputed with Francis Cheynell
Francis Cheynell
Franicis Cheynell was a prominent English religious controversialist, of Presbyterian views, and President of St. John's College, Oxford 1648 to 1650, imposed by the Parliamentary regime....
at Petworth, Sussex, in 1651, and was engaged in at least eight other disputes within three years. He wrote Tracts in defence of his principles, and Baby-Baptism meer Babism.
Quaker convert
In 1654 William Coton and John Stubbs, while on a visit to LyddLydd
Lydd is a town in Kent, England, lying on the Romney Marsh. It is one of the larger towns on the Marsh, and the most southerly town in Kent. Actually located on Denge Marsh, Lydd was one of the first sandy islands to form as the bay evolved into what is now called the Romney Marsh...
, stayed at Fisher's house, and convinced him of the truth of quakerism. Shortly afterwards he joined the Society of Friends, among whom he became a minister, probably before his meeting with George Fox
George Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
at Romney
New Romney
New Romney is a small town in Kent, England, on the edge of Romney Marsh, an area of flat, rich agricultural land reclaimed from the sea after the harbour began to be silted up. New Romney was once a sea port, with the harbour adjacent to the church, but is now more than a mile from the sea...
in 1655. On 17 September 1656 Fisher attended the meeting of Parliament, and when Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
stated that to his knowledge no man in England had suffered imprisonment unjustly attempted a reply. He was prevented from completing his speech, which he afterwards published. He subsequently attempted to address the Members of Parliament at a fast-day service in St. Margaret's Church, Westminster. He was active in Kent, where according to Joseph Besse he was roughly handled in 1658, and in 1659 he was pulled out of a meeting at Westminster by his hair and beaten.
In May 1659 he went to Dunkirk with Edward Burrough
Edward Burrough
Edward Burrough was an early English Quaker leader and controversialist. He is regarded as one of the Valiant Sixty, early Quaker preachers and missionaries....
; when the authorities ordered them to leave the town, they declined, and were then directed to be moderate. After unsuccessful encounters with the monks and nuns for a few days they returned to England. During the following year Fisher and Stubbs made a journey to Rome, travelling over the Alps on foot, where they testified to several of the cardinals, and distributed copies of Quaker literature, nor were they molested or even warned. Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
states that when Fisher returned he was well dressed; suspected of being a Jesuit and in receipt of a pension from the pope, he was imprisoned and Fisher seems to have undergone some further persecution.
Later life
In 1660 Fisher held a dispute with Thomas Danson at Sandwich, KentSandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
, and later that year was in Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
. The rest of his life was mainly spent around London, where he was a successful preacher. In 1661 he was imprisoned and treated badly in the Gatehouse Prison
Gatehouse Prison
Gatehouse Prison was a prison in Westminster, built in 1370 as the gatehouse of Westminster Abbey and first used as a prison by the Abbot, a powerful churchman who held considerable power over the precincts and sanctuary...
, Westminster. In 1662 he was arrested and sent to Bridewell Prison for being present at an illegal meeting. He was again sent to Newgate for refusing to take oaths, and was detained for upwards of a year, during which time he occupied himself in writing 'The Bishop busied beside the Business.' During part of this imprisonment he was confined with other prisoners in a room so small that they were unable to lie down at the same time.
Shortly after his discharge he was again arrested at Charlwood
Charlwood
Charlwood is a village and civil parish in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England. It is immediately northwest of London Gatwick Airport in West Sussex, close west of Horley and north of Crawley. The historic county boundary between Surrey and Sussex ran to the south of Gatwick Airport...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and committed to the White Lion Prison, Southwark, where he was confined for about two years. During the Great Plague of London
Great Plague of London
The Great Plague was a massive outbreak of disease in the Kingdom of England that killed an estimated 100,000 people, 20% of London's population. The disease is identified as bubonic plague, an infection by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted through a flea vector...
he was temporarily released, and went to the house of Ann Travers, a Quaker at Dalston
Dalston
Dalston is a district of north-east London, England, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, near London, where he died of the plague on 31 August 1665. Fisher's works were Quaker text-books for more than a century. William Sewel
William Sewel
-Life:He was son of Jacob Williamson Sewel, a free citizen and surgeon of Amsterdam where he was born. His paternal grandfather, William Sewel, a Brownist of Kidderminster, emigrated from England to escape religious persecution, and married a native of Utrecht...
called him 'dextrous and well skilled in the ancient poets and Hebrew'; and William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
, a close associate, praised his even temper and humility.
Works
His works include:- 'Baby-Baptism meer Babism, or an Answer to Nobody in Five Words, to Everybody who finds himself concerned in it. (1) Anti-Diabolism, or a True Account of a Dispute at Ashford proved a True Counterfeit ; (2) Anti-Babism, or the Babish Disputings of the Priests for Baby-Baptism Disproved; (3) Anti-Rantism, or Christ'ndome Unchrist'nd; (4) Anti-Ranterism, or Christ'ndome New Christ'nd; (5) Anti-Sacerdotism the deep dotage of the D.D. Divines Discovered, or the Antichristian C.C. Clergy cleared to be that themselves which they have ever charged Christ's Clergy to be,' &c., 1653.
- 'Christianismus Redivivus, Christ'ndom both unchrist'ned and new-christ'ned,' &c., 1655.
- 'The Scorned Quaker's True and Honest Account, both why and what he should have spoken (as to the sum and substance thereof) by commission from God, but that he had not permission from Men,' &c., 1656.
- 'The Burden of the Word of the Lord, as it was declared in part, and as it lay upon me from the Lord on the 19th day of the 4th mo. 1656, to declare it more fully,' &c., 1656.
- 'Rusticus ad Academicos in Exercitationibus Expostulatoriis, Apologeticis Quatuor. The Rusticks Alarm to the Rabbies, or the Country correcting the University and Clergy,' &c., 1660.
- 'An Additional Appendix to the book entitled "Rusticus ad Academicos,"' 1660.
- 'Lux Christi emergens, oriens, effulgens, ac seipsam expandens per universum,' &c., 1660.
- 'One Antidote more against that provoking Sin of Swearing,' &c., 1661.
- 'Ἀπόκρυπτα ἀποκάλυπτα, Velata Quædam Revelata,' &c., 1661.
- 'Ἐπίσκοπος ἀπόσκοπος; the Bishop Busied beside the Businesse,' &c., 1662.
These works, with others, were reprinted in 1679 under the title of The Testimony of Truth Exalted, &c., folio.