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John Stoughton (1593?–1639) was an English clergyman, of influential
millennial Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the Western demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000 ...
views. He was the stepfather and preceptor in their youth of
Ralph Cudworth Ralph Cudworth ( ; 1617 – 26 June 1688) was an English Anglican clergyman, Christian Hebraist, classicist, theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is tau ...
and James Cudworth.


Origin and religious background


Thomas Stoughton, father of John

John Stoughton, baptized at Naughton, Suffolk in 1593, was one of the three sons of the clergyman Thomas Stoughton (died 1622), and his wife, Katherine. Thomas Stoughton, the father, was born an only child in
Sandwich, Kent Sandwich is a town and civil parish in the Dover District of Kent, south-east England. It lies on the River Stour and has a population of 4,985. Sandwich was one of the Cinque Ports and still has many original medieval buildings, including sev ...
. The University career suggested for him in the ''Alumni Cantabrigienses'' is shown by a detailed study to be a confusion with another person. He became Rector of Naughton from 1586 to 1594, when he was deprived by
Archbishop Whitgift John Whitgift (c. 1530 – 29 February 1604) was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 to his death. Noted for his hospitality, he was somewhat ostentatious in his habits, sometimes visiting Canterbury and other towns attended by a retinue of 8 ...
. During this time his first children, including John and Thomas, were born. Involved with the Conference of reformed ministers at
Dedham, Essex Dedham is a village within the borough of Colchester in northeast Essex, England, on the River Stour and the border of Essex and Suffolk. The nearest town to Dedham is the small market town of Manningtree. Governance Dedham is part of the ele ...
, his disputation with Andrew Oxenbridge was on the point of justification by faith alone (''sola fide''). He served as assistant minister at
Great Burstead Great Burstead is an urban settlement in Essex, England - it is contiguous with the town of Billericay. History By tradition, the origins of the church, St Mary Magdalene, at Great Burstead are linked to Saint Cedd (d.664). Cedd, a missionary m ...
, Essex before being presented by Baron Rich of Leez to the Vicarage of
Coggeshall Coggeshall ( or ) is a small town in Essex, England, between Colchester and Braintree on the Roman road Stane Street and the River Blackwater. It has almost 300 listed buildings and a market whose charter was granted in 1256 by Henry III. ...
, Essex in 1600. By 1603, when his wife Katherine died, she had borne him twelve children, of whom a further son
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
and four daughters also reached adulthood. As one not conforming to the
Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
formulae he was deprived by High Commission of his living in 1606:
Ralph Cudworth Ralph Cudworth ( ; 1617 – 26 June 1688) was an English Anglican clergyman, Christian Hebraist, classicist, theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is tau ...
, of
Emmanuel College, Cambridge Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Elizabeth I. The site on which the college sits was once a priory for Dominican mon ...
, was instituted Perpetual Vicar in his place at the presentation of Baron Rich, and held it for two years. After some time at
Great Totham Great Totham is a village and civil parish in Maldon district, Essex, England, and midway between Chelmsford and Colchester. The village includes the Island of Osea in the Blackwater estuary and is separated into two parts, north and south. The ...
Stoughton returned to Kent (by 1615) and died there in 1622.


Works

Thomas Stoughton published four principal works: * ''A Generall Treatise against Poperie'' (1598) * ''The Dignitie of God's Children'' (1610) * ''Two profitable treatises'' (1616) * ''The Christians sacrifice'' (1622) The ''Generall Treatise against Poperie'' was dedicated to Robert, Lord Rich, with a letter to his readers including friends in Kent, London, Essex and Suffolk. The ''Two Profitable Treatises'' were dedicated to the Mayor and Jurats of Sandwich, were published in London in 1616, and were dated by Stoughton from St Bartholomew's Hospital in Sandwich. ''The Christians Sacrifice'' (dedicated to Robert (2nd) Earl of Warwick, and Baron of Leez, and to his son Robert, Lord Rich) contains "The Authors Postscript to his children as it were his last will and testament unto them", dated 22 August 1622. He states he has lived to twice his father's age, and twelve years more. Having seven children then living, he declares he has nothing to leave them but his precepts. "Let none of you be grieved that I have left you nothing of my inheritance in Kent, neither of my lands since, that I purchased in Suffolke, as also in Essex, all being now gone, and the price thereof spent: not riotously or otherwise lewdly, but by other meanes."


Life


University

John Stoughton reached university age while his father was still in
East Anglia East Anglia is an area in the East of England, often defined as including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the East Angles, a people whose name originated in Anglia, in ...
, and entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1607, where he was tutored by
William Sancroft the elder William Sancroft the Elder (1582 – April 1637) served as Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1628 until 1637. Admitted to Emmanuel College, Cambridge on 12 October 1596, Sancroft gained a scholarship, and graduated B.A. 1600/1, M.A. 1604 ...
, uncle of Archbishop Sancroft. Graduating
B.A. Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...
in 1611 and
M.A. A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in 1614, he was elected a Fellow of the college in 1616. His ordination as priest is probably that recorded in December 1617, performed by
Samuel Harsnett Samuel Harsnett (or Harsnet) (June 1561 – May 1631), born Samuel Halsnoth, was an English writer on religion and Archbishop of York from 1629. Early life Born in St Botolph's parish, Colchester, Essex, the son of William Halsnoth, a baker, ...
: he took the degree of
Bachelor of Divinity In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity or Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD or BDiv; la, Baccalaureus Divinitatis) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology ...
in 1621. In the following year his father died, but by this time John was well-established in his university position. In 1623, when the Master of Emmanuel, John Preston (admitted 1622), sought confirmation of a college statute concerning the requirements for his residency, John Stoughton's signature headed the list of Fellows' names who certified their formal response in two separate orders. He was considered a preacher of unusual eloquence. Two notable sermons given by him in 1624, reflecting political circumstances of the time, concern the theme of marriage. Early in 1623/24 he preached at
Paul's Cross St Paul's Cross (alternative spellings – "Powles Crosse") was a preaching cross and open-air pulpit in the grounds of Old St Paul's Cathedral, City of London. It was the most important public pulpit in Tudor and early Stuart England, and many ...
in London ''The Love-Sick Spouse'', on a text of lament from the ''
Canticles A canticle (from the Latin ''canticulum'', a diminutive of ''canticum'', "song") is a hymn, psalm or other Christian song of praise with lyrics usually taken from biblical or holy texts. Canticles are used in Christian liturgy. Catholic Church ...
'' interpreted to signify the separation of Christ from His true Church. The ''Song of Solomon'' was a rich source for contemporary theological
exegesis Exegesis ( ; from the Ancient Greek, Greek , from , "to lead out") is a critical explanation or interpretation (logic), interpretation of a text. The term is traditionally applied to the interpretation of Bible, Biblical works. In modern usage, ...
directed against the threat to
protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...
posed by royal marital alliance with
Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
Spain or France. Stoughton quoted many classical and
patristic Patristics or patrology is the study of the early Christian writers who are designated Church Fathers. The names derive from the combined forms of Latin ''pater'' and Greek ''patḗr'' (father). The period is generally considered to run from ...
sources in his exposition. About ten months later, in ''The Happinesse of Peace'' preached during a royal visitation to Cambridge, he spoke to like point before a courtly audience which cannot have missed his meaning.


Aller, Somerset

In 1624 the College living of
Aller Aller may refer to: Places Rivers * Aller (Germany), a major river in North Germany *Aller (Asturian river), a river in Asturias, Spain *River Aller, a small river on Exmoor in Somerset, England Inhabited places in the United Kingdom *Aller, Devo ...
, in
Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...
, became vacant by the death of Dr. Ralph Cudworth, who had resigned his own fellowship to marry and settle in the Rectory there in 1610. John Stoughton succeeded him as Rector in 1624 and married his widow Mary (née Machell). Here he developed connections with Sir Thomas and Dame Margaret Wroth of
Petherton Park Petherton Park (also known as North Petherton Park or Newton Park) was a Deer park around North Petherton within the English county of Somerset. The origins are unclear but the area was part of an earlier Royal Forest stretching from the River P ...
, who were highly active in colonial enterprises in North America. Dame Margaret, cousin of Robert Rich and sister of Sir Nathaniel Rich, and probably a near relation of Dr. Stoughton's wife, had witnessed the elder Dr. Cudworth's deathbed testament. Also present was the minister Anthony Earbury of nearby
Westonzoyland Westonzoyland is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is situated on the Somerset Levels, south east of Bridgwater. History The name of the parish derives from its location on the "island" of Sowy, an area of slightly higher groun ...
. As stepfather he took in hand the education of his wife's young sons and daughters. The younger Ralph later described this as a "diet of
Calvinism Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Cal ...
". Stoughton was awarded the degree of
Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...
in 1626. Under his instruction his stepchildren flourished, and he thought
Ralph Cudworth Ralph Cudworth ( ; 1617 – 26 June 1688) was an English Anglican clergyman, Christian Hebraist, classicist, theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is tau ...
(junr.) 'as wel grounded in Schol-Learning as any Boy of his Age that went to the University', when commencing his studies at Emmanuel College in 1632. In 1630 Stoughton's brother Thomas (by then married and with a family) was among the emigrants in the sailing of the ''
Mary and John ''Mary and John'' was a 400-ton ship that is known to have sailed between England and the American colonies four times from 1607 to 1633. She was during the later voyages captained by Robert Davies and owned by Roger Ludlow (1590–1664), one of t ...
'' of London to
New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
, arranged by John White of
Dorchester, Dorset Dorchester ( ) is the county town of Dorset, England. It is situated between Poole and Bridport on the A35 trunk route. A historic market town, Dorchester is on the banks of the River Frome to the south of the Dorset Downs and north of the ...
to found the town of
Dorchester, Boston Dorchester (colloquially referred to as Dot) is a Boston neighborhood comprising more than in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Originally, Dorchester was a separate town, founded by Puritans who emigrated in 1630 from Dorchester, ...
, in
Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the ...
. A younger brother Israel Stoughton followed in 1632.


St Mary Aldermanbury, City of London

In that year Dr. Stoughton left Aller and was appointed curate and preacher in the
City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...
church of
St Mary Aldermanbury St Mary Aldermanbury was a parish church in the City of London first mentioned in 1181 and destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Rebuilt in Portland stone by Christopher Wren, it was again gutted by the Blitz in 1940, leaving only the ...
, a strong focus of
Puritan The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England of Catholic Church, Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become m ...
ism, in the place of Thomas Taylor. In October 1632
John Winthrop John Winthrop (January 12, 1587/88 – March 26, 1649) was an English Puritan lawyer and one of the leading figures in founding the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the second major settlement in New England following Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led t ...
and John Wilson, hearing of his favour for spreading the Gospel in New England, wrote from Boston inviting him to take up his ministry there. Stoughton remained in London: in the nine months from Michaelmas to Midsummer he preached three sermons a week, and two a week during the late summer. In 1634 his eldest stepson James Cudworth emigrated permanently to Scituate,
Plymouth Colony Plymouth Colony (sometimes Plimouth) was, from 1620 to 1691, the British America, first permanent English colony in New England and the second permanent English colony in North America, after the Jamestown Colony. It was first settled by the pa ...
. Mary Stoughton died in the summer of 1634, and in December of that year Cudworth wrote at length to his stepfather describing
John Endicott John Endecott (also spelled Endicott; before 1600 – 15 March 1664/1665), regarded as one of the Fathers of New England, was the longest-serving governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which became the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He ser ...
's mutilation of the banner and detailing the appointments of ministers and teachers in the various New England townships. Israel Stoughton's letter to his brother also referred to the political and religious differences occasioned by the mutilation of the flag. Dr Stoughton's wide circle of correspondence reflected his involvement in, or support for, the propagation and unification of international Protestantism. Through 1634 and 1635 he received news of English ministers ( John Davenport,
William Ames William Ames (; Latin: ''Guilielmus Amesius''; 157614 November 1633) was an English Puritan minister, philosopher, and controversialist. He spent much time in the Netherlands, and is noted for his involvement in the controversy between the Cal ...
and others) in
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
and
Delft Delft () is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, Netherlands. It is located between Rotterdam, to the southeast, ...
through James Forbes (son of John Forbes, pastor of the British church at Delft). John White had mediated
John Dury John Dury (1596 in Edinburgh – 1680 in Kassel) was a Scottish Calvinist minister and an 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 ...
's approach to Dr Stoughton for funds, and Stoughton was among those who supported Dury's journey to Sweden. He was among the "several Godly Ministers" engaged in compiling the ''Body of Practical Divinity'' advocated to
James Ussher James Ussher (or Usher; 4 January 1581 – 21 March 1656) was the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625 and 1656. He was a prolific scholar and church leader, who today is most famous for his ident ...
at this time. John Browne the younger of Frampton, Dorset, a close associate of John White's, and committee member of the Dorchester (New England) Company, 1624–1627, was writing familiarly to Stoughton in August 1634 to condole over the death of his wife, and to bring news of the
Earl of Holland Earl of Holland was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1624 for Henry Rich, 1st Baron Kensington. He was the younger son of Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warwick, and had already been created Baron Kensington in 1623, also in the Pe ...
's fines and of superstitious ceremonies being enforced in the English Church. These sympathies were already attracting the attention of
Archbishop Laud William Laud (; 7 October 1573 – 10 January 1645) was a bishop in the Church of England. Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by Charles I in 1633, Laud was a key advocate of Charles I's religious reforms, he was arrested by Parliament in 16 ...
's agents when Henry Whitfield wrote to Stoughton in March 1635, saying he had heard that Stoughton was likely to be questioned.


Arrest

It was however in October 1635, when a carrier was asked by John White and John Browne in Dorchester (Dorset) to take a large sum of money to Dr Stoughton in London, purportedly inheritance money owing to Stoughton's stepchildren, that tongues fell to wagging and "twatlinge". It was officially suspected that this was the "Puritan purse", money collected to support the dissenting puritan ministry at home and abroad. Sir John Lambe, who dared not act alone, persuaded Laud to have the papers of Stoughton, White and Browne searched. Stoughton's study was sealed and the correspondence found, including a particularly dangerous letter, addressed via a third party for concealment, from Sir Thomas Wroth, newly written from Petherton, lamenting the state of the Church and speaking of "resistance in blood". Stoughton and White were arrested and brought before
William Juxon William Juxon (1582 – 4 June 1663) was an English churchman, Bishop of London from 1633 to 1646 and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1660 until his death. Life Education Juxon was the son of Richard Juxon and was born probably in Chichester, a ...
,
Bishop of London A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
, and the Court of High Commission.
Samuel Hartlib Samuel Hartlib or Hartlieb (c. 1600 – 10 March 1662)
M. Greengrass, "Hartlib, Samuel (c. 1600–1662)", ''Oxford D ...
bore news of Stoughton's danger to Amsterdam, where John Dury, fearing to be implicated, sought to dissociate himself, and Dury's patron Sir
Thomas Rowe Thomas Rowe (20 July 1829 – 14 January 1899) was a British-born architect, builder and goldminer who became one of Australia's leading architects of the Victorian era. He was also a politician, who was the first Mayor of Manly. Early life ...
sought to reassure him. With the support of
Sir Robert Harley ''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English language, English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist i ...
and the Earl of Holland Stoughton managed to escape the worst consequences, though the investigation against him continued until May 1636, when he was discharged. Archbishop Laud, accounting for the year 1635, wrote that Dr Stoughton had been "convented" for breach of the canons of the Church in sermons or practice (or both): but he having promised amendment for the future, and submission to the Church in all things, proceedings were not continued against him. Various surviving letters, and a list of contributors in the Hartlib Papers, do suggest that Stoughton was acting as a treasurer and distributor for puritan funds. Letters of July and September 1636 from Stoughton to Samuel Hartlib show him eager to support Dury. In March 1637 Sir
Nathaniel Brent Sir Nathaniel Brent (c. 1573 – 6 November 1652) was an English college head. Life He was the son of Anchor Brent of Little Wolford, Warwickshire, where he was born about 1573. He became 'portionist,' or postmaster, of Merton College, Oxford, i ...
reported that letters of Stephen Marshall, minister of
Finchingfield Finchingfield is a village in the Braintree district in north-west Essex, England, a primarily rural area. It is approximately from Thaxted, farther from the larger towns of Saffron Walden and Braintree. Nearby villages include Great Bardfield ...
in Essex, deemed to be a dangerous person, had been found in the search of Stoughton's papers. Marshall mediated between Stoughton and White, and Hartlib and Dury, concerning funds from Katherine Barnardiston's bequest. Among Stoughton's other correspondents were Samuel Ward and William Sancroft.


Later life

In January 1635/36 Stoughton took as his second wife Jane, the widowed daughter of John Browne, by whom he had two daughters, and acquired further stepchildren. Three months after their marriage Elizabeth Cudworth, sister of James, Ralph and John, married the
Rutland Rutland () is a ceremonial county and unitary authority in the East Midlands, England. The county is bounded to the west and north by Leicestershire, to the northeast by Lincolnshire and the southeast by Northamptonshire. Its greatest len ...
clergyman Josias Beacham. Beacham was rector of Seaton in Rutland; this has given rise to a confusion, for John White purchased the rectory of Seaton with Beer in Devon to support the church of Dorchester, and a connection has been mis-inferred. Robert Woodford the diarist frequently heard Stoughton's preaching. He admired him as one "who deales honestly and faithfully and boldly", and thought the continuing pressure brought upon him by the authorities to be through "the malice of Satan and his instruments". He chose Dr Stoughton to act as a referee in the settlement of a dispute in which he became involved. He was also frequently heard by diarist Samuel Rogers, who was usually stirred by his preaching, though on one occasion slightly disappointed. Dr Stoughton was a friend of Samuel Hartlib and a member of the
Hartlib Circle The Hartlib Circle was the correspondence network set up in Western and Central Europe by Samuel Hartlib, an intelligencer based in London, and his associates, in the period 1630 to 1660. Hartlib worked closely with John Dury, an itinerant figure ...
. Some letters survive. Stoughton's millennial pamphlet ''Felicitas ultimi saeculi'' was in the form of an address, dated 1638, to John Tolnai (a contact of
Comenius John Amos Comenius (; cs, Jan Amos Komenský; pl, Jan Amos Komeński; german: Johann Amos Comenius; Latinized: ''Ioannes Amos Comenius''; 28 March 1592 – 15 November 1670) was a Czech philosopher, pedagogue and theologian who is considere ...
) in Hungary. Two years later, after Stoughton's death, Hartlib published the pamphlet with a covering letter of his own, and a dedication to György Rákóczi.
Hugh Trevor-Roper Hugh Redwald Trevor-Roper, Baron Dacre of Glanton (15 January 1914 – 26 January 2003) was an English historian. He was Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford. Trevor-Roper was a polemicist and essayist on a range of ...
comments on the language of inauguration of international Protestantism in this work, which upholds Comenius,
Francis Bacon Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (; 22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626), also known as Lord Verulam, was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. Bacon led the advancement of both ...
and
John Dury John Dury (1596 in Edinburgh – 1680 in Kassel) was a Scottish Calvinist minister and an 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 ...
as its apostles. In addition to this work, Stoughton prepared a large number of his own sermons for publication towards the end of his life. In his stepfather's last months Ralph Cudworth sought his guidance in the question of a possible college fellowship. Dr. Stoughton died in May 1639 making his wife Jane and her father John Browne his executors, with legacies to her and to their two daughters, and gifts of £25 each to Emmanuel College and to 'Mr Hartlipp a Dutchman'. Jane Stoughton delivered his sermons to the editor who saw them through the press.


Family

John Stoughton married first (c.1624) Mary Machell, widow of Dr Ralph Cudworth senr (Rector of Aller c. 1610–1624), by whom he had no issue. He married secondly (18 Jan. 1635/36) Jane Browne (widow of Walter Newburgh, Rector of
Symondsbury Symondsbury () is a village and civil parish in southwest Dorset, England, west of Bridport and west of Dorchester. The village is located just to the north of the A35 trunk road, which runs between Southampton and Honiton. The village has a ...
, Dorset 1624–31, to whom John Browne, father and son, were executors). Jane died before 1 November 1658. John and Jane Stoughton had two daughters, * Jane Stoughton (c.1637-1680). As her mother Jane Stoughton née Browne was dead in 1658, this daughter is very likely the Jane Stoughton who married Thomas Burwell, Doctor of Physick of Dorchester, on 15 September 1659 at Frampton, by whom she had two sons and three daughters, and was buried at Frampton on 5 March 1679/80. * Marie Stoughton, buried at Frampton in 1640. In New England, John's brother Thomas Stoughton (1588–1661) was among the group which left Dorchester, Massachusetts to establish the town of
Windsor Windsor may refer to: Places Australia * Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area * Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland **Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...
in the
Connecticut River Valley The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...
in 1635. His brother Israel Stoughton (c.1603-1644) was a co-worker with
John Endicott John Endecott (also spelled Endicott; before 1600 – 15 March 1664/1665), regarded as one of the Fathers of New England, was the longest-serving governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which became the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He ser ...
in
Massachusetts Colony The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a colony in British America which became one of the Thirteen Colonies, thirteen original states of the United States. It was chartered on October 7, 1691, by William III of England, William III and Mary II ...
, and Israel's son William Stoughton (1631–1701), John Stoughton's nephew, lived to be chief magistrate at the
Salem witch trials The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, 19 of whom w ...
of 1692–93.


The stepchildren

Mary Machell's children * James Cudworth (1612–1682), of Scituate, Massachusetts, strongly disapproved of the religious persecutions against Quakers during the later 1650s, and stood out against their treatment. He became an Assistant Governor of Massachusetts and a Commissioner of the United Colonies. * Elizabeth Cudworth (1615–1654) became the second of three wives of Josias Beacham of
Broughton, Northamptonshire Broughton is a large village and civil parish in North Northamptonshire, England. The village is around south-west of Kettering and is bypassed by the A43 road. At the 2011 census, the population of the parish was 2,208. The village's name is ...
(Rector of
Seaton, Rutland Seaton is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. The population of the civil parish was 178 at the 2001 census, including Stoke Dry and Thorpe by Water, increasing to 250 at the 2011 census. Nearb ...
from 1627 to 1676) in 1636, by whom she had several children. Beacham was ejected by the Puritans in 1653 but reinstated by 1662. * Ralph Cudworth (1617–1688) became a leading philosopher and theologian among the
Cambridge Platonists The Cambridge Platonists were an influential group of Platonist philosophers and Christian theologians at the University of Cambridge that existed during the 17th century. The leading figures were Ralph Cudworth and Henry More. Group and its na ...
, Regius Professor of Hebrew, and Master of
Christ's College, Cambridge Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college includes the Master, the Fellows of the College, and about 450 undergraduate and 170 graduate students. The college was founded by William Byngham in 1437 as ...
: he was the father of
Damaris Cudworth Masham ] Damaris, Lady Masham (18 January 1659 – 20 April 1708) was an English writer, philosopher, theologian, and advocate for women's education who is characterized as a proto-feminist. She overcame some weakness of eyesight and lack of access to ...
(Lady Masham), friend of
John Locke John Locke (; 29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "father of liberalism ...
. * Mary Cudworth, christened at Aller 14 February 1618/19. * John Cudworth (1622–1675), of London and of
Bentley, Suffolk Bentley is a village and civil parish in the Babergh district of Suffolk, England, about southwest of Ipswich. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 776. Bentley has a Church of England parish church, a Reformed Baptist churc ...
, became an Alderman of London and Master of the
Worshipful Company of Girdlers The Worshipful Company of Girdlers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Girdlers were granted the right to regulate their trade in the City from 1327 and obtained a Royal Charter in 1449. Girdlers, or makers of belts and g ...
in 1667–68. He left four orphans of whom Thomas (1661–1726) and Benjamin (d. 1725) both attended Christ's College, Cambridge. * A certain Jane or Joan Cudworth living unmarried in 1647 might also have been a daughter of Mary's (the youngest?), but this is not finally confirmed. Jane Browne's children * John Newburgh (living 1658) * Elizabeth Newburgh (living 1658)


Published works

Dr. Stoughton's sermons and other works were mostly published in the year after his death, and were edited by
Anthony Burgess John Anthony Burgess Wilson, (; 25 February 1917 – 22 November 1993), who published under the name Anthony Burgess, was an English writer and composer. Although Burgess was primarily a comic writer, his Utopian and dystopian fiction, d ...
. The opening dedications indicate that "The Widdow of the deceased Authour, in testimonie of her humble and thankefull acknowledgement of his noble favour and respect, shewed to her dearest Husband in his life time, presenteth these ensuing Sermons, which are now, according to the trust reposed in him, published by A.B." *''A Learned Treatise'': in Three Parts, 1. The definition 2. The distribution of Divinity 3. The happinesse of man; as it was scholastically handled by John Stoughton D.D. in Immanuell Colledge Chappell in Cambridge, while he was fellow there: and now published according to the copy left under his own hand (John Bellamy, Daniel Frere and Ralph Smith, London 1640). *''Seaven Sermons, Preached Vpon Severall Occasions''. ::1. ''The Christians Prayer for the Churches Peace''. One Sermon on Psal. 122.6 (Preached at the Mercers' chapel). One Sermon on 1 Sam. 2.30 ::2. ''Baruchs Sore Gently Opened; Gods Salve Skilfully Applyed''. In two Sermons on Jeremy 45.5. ::3. ''The Araignement of Coveteousnesse.'' In three Sermons on Luke 12.15. ::By John Stoughton, Doctor in Divinitie, sometimes fellow of Immanuel Colledge in Cambridge, late of Aldermanbury, London. (Iohn Bellamie, Henry Overton, Iohn Rothwell, Richard Serger, and Ralph Smith, London 1640). *''XV. Choice Sermons : Preached upon Selected Occasions''. ::1. ''The Happinesse of Peace'': before K. James at Trinity Colledge in Cambridge. ::2. ''The Love-sicke Spouse'': at S. Paul's Crosse. ::3. ''The Burning Light'': at a visitation in Christ's Church, London. ::4. ''The Magistrates Commission, or, Wisdome Justified'': before the judges. ::5. ''The preachers dignity, and duty'': in five sermons, on 2 Cor. 5.20. Preached in Cambridge. ::6. ''Christ Crucified, the Tree of Life'': in sixe sermons, on 1 Cor. 2.2. Preached in Cambridge. ::By John Stoughton, Doctor in Divinity, sometime fellow of Immanuel Colledge in Cambridge, late preacher of Aldermanburie, London. According to the originall copie, which was left perfected by the authour before his death. (I. Bellamie, H. Overton, I. Rothwell, R. Royston, D. Frere, and R. Smith, London 1640). *''XIII. Sermons: Preached in the Church of Aldermanbury, London''. ::1. ''The Form of Wholsome Words, or An Introduction to the Body of Divinity''. In 3 sermons on 2 Tim. 1.13. ::2. ''The Righteous Mans Plea to True Happinesse''. In 10 sermons on Psal. 4.6. ::By John Stoughton, Doctor in Divinity, sometimes fellow of Immanuel College in Cambridge, and late preacher of Aldermanbury, London. (J. Bellamy, H. Overton, A. Crook, J. Rothwell, R. Sergeir, J. Crook, D. Frere, and R. Smith, London 1640). *''The Heauenly Conuersation and the Naturall Mans Condition'': In two treatises. ::By Iohn Stoughton, Doctor in Divinitie, sometimes fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge; and late preacher of Gods word in Aldermanbury London. (John Bellamie and Ralph Smith, at the three Golden Lyons, London, 1640). *''Felicitas Ultimi Sæculi: epistola in qua, inter alia, calamitosus ævi præsentis status seriò deploratur, certa felicioris posthac spes ostenditur, & ad promovendum publicum Ecclesiæ & rei literariæ bonum omnes excitantur'': in gratiam amici cujusdam paulo ante obitum, scripta à reverendo viro Johanne Stoughtono, SS. Theol. Doctore, Coll. Emanuel. Cantabr. olim socio, postea, eccles. Aldermanburiensis Londini, pastore dignissimo: nunc, post decessum ejus ad fidem autographi, publici juris facta à S.H. (Samuel Hartlib). (Londini : Typis Richardi Hodgkinson, impensis Danielis Frere habitantis in Parva Britannia, ad insigne Tauri rubri, Anno MDCXL). (1640)Full text with images of original
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek/Münchener Digitalisierungszentrum


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoughton, John 1593 births 1639 deaths 17th-century English Anglican priests People from Babergh District