Ezekiel Rogers
Encyclopedia
Ezekiel Rogers was an English nonconformist clergyman, and Puritan
settler of Massachusetts
.
in Essex
, and younger brother of Daniel Rogers. He graduated M.A. from Christ's College, Cambridge
in 1604, and became chaplain in the family of Sir Francis Barrington in Essex. He was preferred by his patron to the living of Rowley
in Yorkshire
.
In December 1638, after seventeen years of service, Rogers was discharged from his post as rector of Rowley, after he had refused to read The Book of Sports. Believing the future of Puritanism was at stake, he left for the New World with the members of twenty families of his congregation.
He arrived in New England in December 1638 with the families on the ship John of London, and wintered at Salem, Massachusetts
. The first printing press brought to America came on board the ship with them, with the printer Stephen Daye
. Theophilus Eaton
and John Davenport
were then setting up their colony at New Haven; they tried to enlist Rogers, but without success.
Early in the spring of 1639 he and most of these twenty families settled in the town of Rowley, Massachusetts
. Rowley was incorporated on September 4, 1639. Rogers was the pastor at Rowley until his death on 23 January 1661, He was three times married: first, to Sarah, widow of John Everard; secondly, Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of John Wilson of the First Church in Boston
; thirdly, to Mary, widow of Thomas Barker. He left no children.
are published in the Massachusetts Historical Collection (4th ser. vii.)
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...
settler of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Life
He was a son of Richard Rogers, who held the living of WethersfieldWethersfield
Wethersfield may refer to:* RAF Wethersfield, a British Ministry of Defence training facility in Essex, England* Wethersfield, Connecticut* Wethersfield, Essex, an English village near RAF Wethersfield* Wethersfield, New York* Wethersfield, Vermont...
in 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...
, and younger brother of Daniel Rogers. He graduated M.A. from Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
in 1604, and became chaplain in the family of Sir Francis Barrington in Essex. He was preferred by his patron to the living of Rowley
Rowley, East Riding of Yorkshire
Rowley is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated south of Little Weighton and approximately south-west of Beverley town centre....
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
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...
.
In December 1638, after seventeen years of service, Rogers was discharged from his post as rector of Rowley, after he had refused to read The Book of Sports. Believing the future of Puritanism was at stake, he left for the New World with the members of twenty families of his congregation.
He arrived in New England in December 1638 with the families on the ship John of London, and wintered at Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
. The first printing press brought to America came on board the ship with them, with the printer Stephen Daye
Stephen Daye
Stephen Daye, Sr. was the first British North American printer.-Life:Daye was born in Sutton, Surrey London, and emigrated on June 7, 1638 to Cambridge Massachusetts onboard the "John of London" with his wife Rebecca , sons Stephen, Jr...
. Theophilus Eaton
Theophilus Eaton
Theophilus Eaton was a merchant, farmer, and Puritan colonial leader who was the co-founder and first governor of New Haven Colony, Connecticut.-Early life and first marriage:...
and John Davenport
John Davenport (clergyman)
John Davenport was an English puritan clergyman and co-founder of the American colony of New Haven.-Early life:Born in Manchester, Warwickshire, England to a wealthy family, Davenport was educated at Oxford University...
were then setting up their colony at New Haven; they tried to enlist Rogers, but without success.
Early in the spring of 1639 he and most of these twenty families settled in the town of Rowley, Massachusetts
Rowley, Massachusetts
Rowley is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,500 at the 2000 census.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Rowley.-History:...
. Rowley was incorporated on September 4, 1639. Rogers was the pastor at Rowley until his death on 23 January 1661, He was three times married: first, to Sarah, widow of John Everard; secondly, Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of John Wilson of the First Church in Boston
First Church in Boston
First Church in Boston is a Unitarian Universalist Church founded in 1630 by John Winthrop's original Puritan settlement in Boston, Massachusetts. The current building is on 66 Marlborough Street in Boston.-History:...
; thirdly, to Mary, widow of Thomas Barker. He left no children.
Works
Rogers published The Chief Grounds of the Christian Religion set down by way of catechising, gathered long since for the use of an honourable Family, London, 1642. Several of his letters to John WinthropJohn Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
are published in the Massachusetts Historical Collection (4th ser. vii.)