Herts, and was born about the time the Mayflower started with the first batch of Pilgrims. He was ordained circa 1649. In 1662, having been at Nazing four years, he was numbered with the ever memorable 2,000, who could not give their assent to everything in the "Book of Common Prayer." At this period, having been ousted from his living he undertook to teach a school at Nazing, but owing to the Five Mile Act, he was forced to leave the place. After a lapse of time he returned to his much-loved friends at Nazing, when he met with a great deal of trouble from Justice Wroth, of the Wroths of Durance Enfield, and friends of Dr. Thomas Fuller. Wroth made a sieze upon his goods, which Browne "suffered joyfully." The Christian spirit which Browne manifested at this time of trial was a great annoyance to Wroth, who soon afterwards signed a warrant for seizing his person and the rest of his goods; and, lest the knowledge of Wroth's design should be made known, he managed the affair with such secrecy, that he only spoke of it the over night to some of his servants, who were to execute the sad business the next morning. A poor gardener in the employ of Justice Wroth overheard the orders given, which gave him so much trouble that he could not sleep. He, consequently, got up in the dead of the night and went to Mr. Browne, and informed him of what was likely to take place, and then stole back to his bed without being discovered. Mr. Browne made the best use of his time, and employed a conveyance at once, and removed all his effects out of reach and, lo! in the morning, his enemies were too late for the spoil, and of course much surprised and enraged. A month later, he appointed a day to meet his family, which he had left at Nazing, when it was supposed that some one had discovered his intentions, for he was waylaid in several places through which he was to pass; so that if he had gone that day he would have been taken. But providentially the weather proving unpropitious, and his mind misgiving him in the morning, he did not undertake the journey, and so escaped. In the year 1683 he removed to London, and in 1690, soon after the Revolution, he returned to his beloved friends at Nazing, where he probably mingled with the Independents of that locality, and "brought forth fruit in old age." He continued to preach till he was near eighty years of age, and died about the year 1700.* George Hawdon was inducted to the vicarage on Browne's ejection, Nov. 8, 1662. He was buried at Nazing, "in wollen only," Sept. 24, 1682. Laurence Pocock succeeded Hawdon, Oct. 25, 1682, and died at Nazing, 1687-8. John Church, A.B., received the living, Jan. 16, 1688-9. John Turner, A.M., June 8, 1689, and was succeeded on his death by John Apperley, 1698. Newcourt states, Nov. 20, 1701. Lewis Desbordes, Dec. 3, 1719, per mort, Apperley. George Manley, 1720-1, upon Desbordes' cess. Michael Marlow, M.A., vicar of Nazing, from 1728-9 to 1752. He was educated at Brazen Nose College, Oxford. His son, named after himself, became M.A., 1784; B.D., 1789; D.D., and President of St. John's College, 1795; Vice-Chancellor, 1798, 1799, 1800, and 1801. Thomas Salt, A.M., Nov. 11, 1761, when it is said Marlow resigned (Ogbourn, p. 228). William Pye, curate, 1769; John Sharra, curate, 1785; William Shaw, curate, 1791; Robert Henry Auber, curate, 1797; John Moir, M.A., became vicar May 24, 1806, on the death of Thomas Salt. Thomas Kidd, curate, 1812; Thomas Arnold became vicar in 1812, on the death of John Moir, who was buried in the chancel of Nazing church. George Pellew, D.D., vicar of Nazing in 1819. He was the third son of Edward, first Viscount Exmouth, born 1793, graduated B.A., at C.C. Coll., Oxford, 1814; vicar of Nazing, 1819; Canon of Canterbury, 1823; Dean of Norwich, 1828; Rector of Great Chart, Kent, 1852, having previously been vicar of Sutton Galtries, Yorkshire; Rector of St. George the Martyr's, Canterbury, and St. Dionis Backechurch, London; also Prebendary of York. He was son-in-law to Lord Sidmouth. Isaac Tomline was curate of Nazing in 1820, and in 1821 was followed by Charlton Lane.† "Noncon. Mem." vol. ii. p. 209. + Who afterwards became Vicar of Hampstead, and died in 1875. Henry Fuedall, vicar, 1821; Charles Dyson, vicar, 1828; A. Hubbard, curate, 1833; Edward Hood, vicar, 1836; Rowland Smith, vicar, 1865; Henry M. Tyrwhitt, M.A., 1872. THE ELIOT FAMILY. John Eliot, known as "the Apostle to the Indians," was born, probably at Nazing, circa November, 1604.* His father, Bennett Eliot, of Nazing, was a man of some substance as a landholder in Nazing, Hunsdon, Ware, Eastwick, Widford, and the surrounding parishes, and which accounts for his being able to give his beloved son John a collegiate education, as his will declares, bearing date Nov. 5, 1621, viz.— "I give and bequeath all the rents and profitts of all my coppy and customary lands, tenements, &c., beinge in the sev'all p'ishes of Ware, Widford, Hunsdon, and Estweeke, in the county of Hartford, unto my trusty and well-beloved friends, William Curtis, my son-inlaw; Nicholas Camp, the younger; and John Keyes, all of the sayde parishe of Nazinge, for the space of eight yearss, from the time of my decease, quarterly to pay unto my sonne, John Elliott, the some of eight pounds a yeare of lawfull money of England, for and towards the maintenance in the univ'sity of Cambridge, where he is a scholler." John Eliot matriculated as a pensioner in Jesus College, Cambridge, March 20, 1619, and took his B.A. in 1623. On leaving College he went to reside with the celebrated Thomas Hooker, who at that time kept school at Little Baddow, near Chelmsford, co. Essex. This was a memorable time in the religious experience of Eliot, who in after years wrote : "To this place was I called through the infinite riches of God's mercy in Christ Jesus to my poor soul, for here the Lord said unto my dead soul, live, live! and, through the grace of God, I do live for ever! When I came to this blessed family I then saw as never before the power of godliness in its lovely vigour and efficacy." * Though his father resided at Nazing, his baptism does not occur in the Parish Register. And which great change fitted him, with the learning he possessed, for the evangelical mission, which God had in His providence allotted for him, and which is so ably and largely recorded by Cotton Mather, Jared Sparks, Nehemiah Adams, and a number of later American authors.* Bennett Eliot, father of the "Apostle " John, made his will, bearing date Nov. 5, 1621, which was proved March 28, 1628. He was buried at Nazing, Nov. 21, 1621. With regard to his daughter, the wife of William Curtis, there appears to be a clerical error in the will, as she is there called Mary instead of Sarah. There is no mention made in the will of the wife of Bennett Eliot; probably she predeceased him, and she may have been the "Lettes Ellyot," buried at Nazing, March 16, 1620-1. If so, she died after giving birth to her youngest child, Mary. John, the "Apostle to the Indians," appears to be the fifth child of Bennett Eliot, the fourth son, and the second of that name—that is, provided the John Eliot, baptized at Nazing, Feb. 6, 1602-3, and buried the 18th of the same month, was son of the said Bennett. The family of Bennett Eliot may be arranged as follows: I. Philip, is said to have married circa 1621. No entry occurs in the Nazing Registers to that effect. 2. Sarah, born circa 1600; married William Curtis, August, 1618, at Nazing. 4. John, baptized Feb. 6, 1602—3 (buried “infans," 18th of same month). 5. John, born circa Nov. 1604; married Ann Mountford, Oct. 1632. 6. Lydia, baptized at Nazing, July 1, 1610. April 10, 1615; went to N.E. 8. Mary John Eliot, "the apostle to the Indians," was the first of * In the Cambridge University "Library Catalogue," vol. v. p. 530, is the annexed item, " 12 Notices of John Eliot, Apostle to the Indians." the Nazing Pilgrims who ventured to emigrate to America in the cause of truth and religious freedom. Young William Curtis, a "hopeful scholar," joined him company, as did also Governor Winthrop, who lost his little daughter Ann, about a year and a half old soon after they set sail. There were, says Winthrop, "about sixty persons who arrived in good health, having been ten weeks at sea." The ship which carried them safely across the Atlantic, was The Lyon, William Pierce, master; it arrived at Natascot on November 2, 1631, and the following day it anchored before Boston. John Eliot married in October, 1632, to Ann Mumford, or Mountford, who was betrothed to him in England. They had issue, Hannah, born September 17, 1633; John, born August, 1636; Joseph, born December 20, 1638; Samuel, born June 22, 1641; Aaron, born February 19, 1644, died November 19, 1655; and Benjamin, born January 29, 1647. The eldest daughter was living when Cotton Mather wrote the life of her father, and the youngest son was a preacher, and assisted his father many years, and died October 15, 1687. Four of Eliot's sons received a college education. It is said that John Eliot lived nearly opposite Thomas Dudley's, on the other side of the Brook, just back of the spot where Guild Hall stands." He died May 20, 1690, in his eighty-sixth year, and was buried in "the ministers' tomb," which was built partly by subscription.* One of the great literary works of John Eliot is his translation of the New Testament into the Indian language, published in 1661; 2nd Ed. 1680; and in 1663 appeared a translation of the whole Bible in 4to. bearing the following title:"Mamusse Wunneetupamatamwe Up-Biblum God naneeswe Nukkone Testament kah wonk Wusku Testament." A new edition was published in 1685, revised by Dr. Cotton. Philip Eliot appears to be the eldest son of Bennett Eliot. * 66 |