Christopher Lawne
Encyclopedia
Christopher Lawne was an English merchant and Puritan
of note, born in Blandford, Dorset, who emigrated to Virginia Colony on the Marygold in May 1618 and died the following year.
Lawne's Creek, on the south bank of the James
in present-day Isle of Wight County, is named for Christopher Lawne, who settled a plantation there with 15-20 Puritan colonists. Lawne sat as a burgess in Governor Yeardley's First General Assembly of the Virginia House of Burgesses, Governor and Council of Virginia in July 1619, Soon thereafter, Lawne fell ill and died that November. His will was witnessed by Nathaniel West (younger brother of Thomas West, Lord De La Warr
), and surgeon Pharao Flynton.
Like many English Dissenters
, Lawne initially left England for Holland, drawn by the atmosphere greater religious tolerance. He was an Elder among the Ancient Brethren of Francis Johnson
's church. However, he eventually grew disenchanted with the often-fractious sect, and eventually returned to London, where he had published The prophane schisme of the Brownists or Separatists With the impietie, dissensions, lewd, and abhominable vices of that impure sect: Discovered by Christopher Lawne, John Fowler, Clement Saunders, Robert Bulward; lately returned from the Company of Master Johnson, that wicked Brother, into the bosom of the Church of England, their true Mother in 1612 and Brownism turned the inside outward: Being a Parallel between the Profession and the Practice of the Brownists' religion. By Christopher Lawne, lately returned from that wicked Separation London, 1613.
He may have been influenced in his writings by the Rev. John Paget
of Nantwich, Cheshire, first minister of the English Reformed Church
in Amsterdam.
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...
of note, born in Blandford, Dorset, who emigrated to Virginia Colony on the Marygold in May 1618 and died the following year.
Lawne's Creek, on the south bank of the James
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
in present-day Isle of Wight County, is named for Christopher Lawne, who settled a plantation there with 15-20 Puritan colonists. Lawne sat as a burgess in Governor Yeardley's First General Assembly of the Virginia House of Burgesses, Governor and Council of Virginia in July 1619, Soon thereafter, Lawne fell ill and died that November. His will was witnessed by Nathaniel West (younger brother of Thomas West, Lord De La Warr
Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr
Thomas West, 3rd and 12th Baron De La Warr was the Englishman after whom the bay, the river, and, consequently, an American Indian people and U.S. state, all later called "Delaware", were named....
), and surgeon Pharao Flynton.
Like many English Dissenters
English Dissenters
English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.They originally agitated for a wide reaching Protestant Reformation of the Established Church, and triumphed briefly under Oliver Cromwell....
, Lawne initially left England for Holland, drawn by the atmosphere greater religious tolerance. He was an Elder among the Ancient Brethren of Francis Johnson
Francis Johnson (Brownist)
Francis Johnson was an English presbyterian separatist minister, pastor to an English exile congregation in the Netherlands.-Early life:...
's church. However, he eventually grew disenchanted with the often-fractious sect, and eventually returned to London, where he had published The prophane schisme of the Brownists or Separatists With the impietie, dissensions, lewd, and abhominable vices of that impure sect: Discovered by Christopher Lawne, John Fowler, Clement Saunders, Robert Bulward; lately returned from the Company of Master Johnson, that wicked Brother, into the bosom of the Church of England, their true Mother in 1612 and Brownism turned the inside outward: Being a Parallel between the Profession and the Practice of the Brownists' religion. By Christopher Lawne, lately returned from that wicked Separation London, 1613.
He may have been influenced in his writings by the Rev. John Paget
John Paget
John Paget was an English nonconforming clergyman, who became pastor at the English Reformed Church, Amsterdam.-Life:He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, proceeding B.A. in 1595, and M.A. in 1598. After having held some other benefices, he was appointed in 1598 rector of Nantwich....
of Nantwich, Cheshire, first minister of the English Reformed Church
English Reformed Church, Amsterdam
The English Reformed Church is one of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam, situated in the centre of the city. It is home to an English-speaking congregation which is affiliated to the Church of Scotland and to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands...
in Amsterdam.