Henry Wilkinson (dean)
Encyclopedia
Henry Wilkinson was an English clergyman and academic, Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford and Whyte's Professor of Moral Philosophy, and later an ejected minister.
and born there. John Wilkinson
, Principal of Magdalen Hall and President of Magdalen College, Oxford
, is stated by Anthony Wood
to have been his uncle.
After some time at Edward Sylvester's school, Oxford, Henry matriculated from Magdalen Hall on 10 October 1634, aged 17. He graduated B.A. on 28 November 1635, M.A. on 26 May 1638, and became a noted tutor and dean of his house. When the First English Civil War
broke out, Wilkinson left Oxford and joined the parliament, took the Solemn League and Covenant
, and became a preacher in much request. He was appointed lecturer or minister of Buckminster
, Leicestershire
, in 1642, and was instituted vicar of Epping
, Essex
, on 30 October 1643.
He was appointed one of the parliamentary visitors of Oxford University on 1 May 1647. He was created B.D. on 14 April 1648, fellow and vice-president of Magdalen College on 25 May, principal of Magdalen Hall on 12 August 1648, and Whyte's professor of moral philosophy on 24 March 1649. A strong parliamentarian, Wilkinson entertained Oliver Cromwell
, Thomas Fairfax
, and the other commanders at Magdalen Hall on 19 May 1649, and, preaching before them next day, ‘prayed hard for the army’. A salary for preaching regularly at Carfax
was voted him by the council of state
on 27 May 1658.
At Oxford Wilkinson was known as ‘Dean Harry’ to distinguish him from his two contemporaries, Henry Wilkinson (1566–1647), and the latter's son Henry
(1610–1675). Chancellor Hyde
, on his visitation in September 1661, addressing him as ‘Mr. Dean,’ chided Wilkinson for the nonconformity of his house, and complained that it contained only ‘factious and debauched persons’; Wood's account adds that the Chancellor declared he was afraid to come to his hall.
Wilkinson was ejected from Magdalen Hall by the 1662 Act of Uniformity, although some of the heads of the university desired to keep him there, as a good disciplinarian. After again preaching for a short time at Buckminster he returned to Essex and settled at Gosfield
. There, during an interim in the vicars (1669–72), he seems to have officiated at the parish church. The visitation book of the archdeaconry contains under date of 9 June 1671 an entry of his citation for not reading divine service according to the rubric. On 19 July he was pronounced contumacious and excommunicated. After the second indulgence he took out on 16 May 1672 a license to be a presbyterian teacher at Gosfield, as well as one for his house to be a presbyterian meeting-house. In 1673 he removed to the neighbouring parish of Sible Hedingham, where his library was distrained on his refusing to pay the fine for unlawful preaching. In November 1680 he was living at Great Cornard
in Suffolk
, where he remained until his death on 13 May 1690. He was buried at Milding, near Lavenham
.
He had a hand in compiling the ‘Catalogus Librorum in Biblioth. Aulæ Magdalenæ,’ Oxford, 1661, and wrote prefaces to Henry Hurst's ‘Inability of the Highest,’ &c., Oxford, 1659, and Nicholas Clagett's ‘Abuse of God's Grace,’ Oxford, 1659; as well as an elegy in verse appended to his funeral sermon (Oxford, 1657) on Margaret Corbet, wife of Edward Corbet
and daughter of Sir Nathaniel Brent.
Life
He was the son of William Wilkinson, curate or chaplain of Adwick-le-Street, YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and born there. John Wilkinson
John Wilkinson (President of Magdalen)
John Balls Mahoney 3 was an English churchman and academic, Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford but expelled in 1643, one of the parliamentary visitors of Oxford, and President of Magdalen College, Oxford from 1648.-Life:...
, Principal of Magdalen Hall and President of Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, is stated by 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...
to have been his uncle.
After some time at Edward Sylvester's school, Oxford, Henry matriculated from Magdalen Hall on 10 October 1634, aged 17. He graduated B.A. on 28 November 1635, M.A. on 26 May 1638, and became a noted tutor and dean of his house. When the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
broke out, Wilkinson left Oxford and joined the parliament, took the Solemn League and Covenant
Solemn League and Covenant
The Solemn League and Covenant was an agreement between the Scottish Covenanters and the leaders of the English Parliamentarians. It was agreed to in 1643, during the First English Civil War....
, and became a preacher in much request. He was appointed lecturer or minister of Buckminster
Buckminster
Buckminster is a village and civil parish within the Melton district of Leicestershire, England. It is on the B676 road, between Melton Mowbray and the A1....
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, in 1642, and was instituted vicar of Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
, 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...
, on 30 October 1643.
He was appointed one of the parliamentary visitors of Oxford University on 1 May 1647. He was created B.D. on 14 April 1648, fellow and vice-president of Magdalen College on 25 May, principal of Magdalen Hall on 12 August 1648, and Whyte's professor of moral philosophy on 24 March 1649. A strong parliamentarian, Wilkinson entertained 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....
, Thomas Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron was a general and parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War...
, and the other commanders at Magdalen Hall on 19 May 1649, and, preaching before them next day, ‘prayed hard for the army’. A salary for preaching regularly at Carfax
Carfax
Carfax may refer to: about car history.* Carfax , a website with vehicle history information* Carfax 250, a motor race* Carfax, Oxford, England* The centre of Horsham, West Sussex, England...
was voted him by the council of state
English Council of State
The English Council of State, later also known as the Protector's Privy Council, was first appointed by the Rump Parliament on 14 February 1649 after the execution of King Charles I....
on 27 May 1658.
At Oxford Wilkinson was known as ‘Dean Harry’ to distinguish him from his two contemporaries, Henry Wilkinson (1566–1647), and the latter's son Henry
Henry Wilkinson (canon)
Henry Wilkinson was an English clergyman, in the Commonwealth period a canon of Christ Church, Oxford, Lady Margaret professor of divinity, and member of the Westminster Assembly. Later he was a nonconformist preacher.-Life:...
(1610–1675). Chancellor Hyde
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon was an English historian and statesman, and grandfather of two English monarchs, Mary II and Queen Anne.-Early life:...
, on his visitation in September 1661, addressing him as ‘Mr. Dean,’ chided Wilkinson for the nonconformity of his house, and complained that it contained only ‘factious and debauched persons’; Wood's account adds that the Chancellor declared he was afraid to come to his hall.
Wilkinson was ejected from Magdalen Hall by the 1662 Act of Uniformity, although some of the heads of the university desired to keep him there, as a good disciplinarian. After again preaching for a short time at Buckminster he returned to Essex and settled at Gosfield
Gosfield
Gosfield is a village near Halstead, Essex. It is the location of Gosfield School, an independent school.-External links:*...
. There, during an interim in the vicars (1669–72), he seems to have officiated at the parish church. The visitation book of the archdeaconry contains under date of 9 June 1671 an entry of his citation for not reading divine service according to the rubric. On 19 July he was pronounced contumacious and excommunicated. After the second indulgence he took out on 16 May 1672 a license to be a presbyterian teacher at Gosfield, as well as one for his house to be a presbyterian meeting-house. In 1673 he removed to the neighbouring parish of Sible Hedingham, where his library was distrained on his refusing to pay the fine for unlawful preaching. In November 1680 he was living at Great Cornard
Great Cornard
Great Cornard is a large village located just outside Sudbury, in Suffolk, England.-History:The area now called Great Cornard has been occupied since pre-history, with evidence of Palaeolithic, Bronze Age and Roman settlements in the parish. The village is accounted for in the Domesday Book as the...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, where he remained until his death on 13 May 1690. He was buried at Milding, near Lavenham
Lavenham
Lavenham is a village and civil parish in Suffolk, England. It is noted for its 15th century church, half-timbered medieval cottages and circular walk. In the medieval period it was among the 20 wealthiest settlements in England...
.
Works
As well as sermons, Wilkinson published works in Latin, including:- ‘Conciones tres apud Academicos,’ Oxford, 1654.
- ‘Brevis Tractatus de Jure Diei Dominicæ,’ Oxford, 1654.
- ‘The Hope of Glory,’ Oxford, 1657.
- ‘Conciones sex ad Academicos,’ Oxford, 1658.
- ‘The Gospel Embassy,’ Oxford, 1658.
- ‘De Impotentia Liberi Arbitrii ad bonum spirituale,’ Oxford, 1658.
- ‘Three Decads of Sermons,’ Oxford, 1660.
- ‘The Doctrine of Contentment briefly explained and practically applied,’ London, 1671.
- ‘Two Treatises,’ London, 1681.
He had a hand in compiling the ‘Catalogus Librorum in Biblioth. Aulæ Magdalenæ,’ Oxford, 1661, and wrote prefaces to Henry Hurst's ‘Inability of the Highest,’ &c., Oxford, 1659, and Nicholas Clagett's ‘Abuse of God's Grace,’ Oxford, 1659; as well as an elegy in verse appended to his funeral sermon (Oxford, 1657) on Margaret Corbet, wife of Edward Corbet
Edward Corbet
Edward Corbet was an English clergyman, a member of the Westminster Assembly.-Life:He was born at Pontesbury in Shropshire, and was educated at Shrewsbury and Merton College, Oxford, where he was admitted a probationer fellow in 1624. Meanwhile he had taken his B.A. degree on 4 December 1622, and...
and daughter of Sir Nathaniel Brent.