Allen, William (d. 1686), religious writer and controversialist, went to London about 1630. Nothing is known of his earlier life. In 1640 or 1641 he joined the church ministered to by John Goodwin, vicar of St Stephen, Coleman Street, London. He continued as a member when in 1645 it adopted congregational principles, and subsequently he became an elder. ...
Article
Allen, William (d. 1686), religious writer and controversialist
N. H. Keeble
Article
Coppin, Richard (fl. c. 1645–1659), nonconformist preacher and writer
Nigel Smith
Coppin, Richard (fl. c. 1645–1659), nonconformist preacher and writer, about whom little is known except what he recounts in Truths Testimony (1655), was probably from Kent, and grew up to be an unexceptional pious believer within the established church. He was probably a student at ...
Article
Mayne, Zachary (1631–1694), religious writer
Bertha Porter
revised by H. J. McLachlan
Mayne, Zachary (1631–1694), religious writer, son of Richard Maine, was born at Exeter and baptized at St Petrock's Church there on 1 January 1632. He entered Christ Church, Oxford, on 15 October 1649, but by favour of the parliamentary visitors was soon made a demy of ...
Article
Parr, Susanna (fl. 1650–1659), religious writer
Karen O'Dell Bullock
Parr, Susanna (fl. 1650–1659), religious writer, is of unknown parents and background. Nothing is known of her early life, but by 1654 she had married a Mr Parr. What is known of Susanna is chronicled in six or more pamphlets documenting religious disputes in ...
Article
Penington, Isaac (1616–1679), Quaker and writer
Richard L. Greaves
Penington, Isaac (1616–1679), Quaker and writer, was born in London, the eldest son of Isaac Penington (c. 1584–1661), alderman, and his first wife, Abigail (b. 1588), daughter of the London merchant John Allen. He was admitted to the Inner Temple in November 1634 and called to the bar on 3 November 1639. In the meantime he matriculated from ...
Article
Rous, Francis (1580/81–1659), religious writer and politician
Colin Burrow
Rous, Francis (1580/81–1659), religious writer and politician, was born at Dittisham, Devon, the fourth son of Sir Anthony Rous of Halton, Cornwall (knighted in 1603), and his first wife, Elizabeth (née Southgate). On 6 July 1593, aged twelve, he matriculated with two of his elder brothers as a commoner of ...
Article
Woodward, Hezekiah (1591/2–1675), educationist and divine
M. Greengrass
Woodward, Hezekiah (1591/2–1675), educationist and divine, was born in Worcestershire, the youngest of nine children. Like most educational reformers, Woodward was critical of his own upbringing. According to the autobiographical details in his 'Of the child's portion' (1640), published in A Sons Patrimony and a Daughters Portion...
