Francis Tallents
Encyclopedia
Francis Tallents was a non-conforming English
Presbyterian clergyman.
, Derbyshire
, in November 1619. His father dying when he was fourteen, Tallents was sent by an uncle, Francis Tallents, to the free schools at Mansfield
and Newark
.
Tallents studied at Peterhouse, Cambridge
from 1635, and then moved to Magdalene College, Cambridge
, to become sub-tutor to the sons of Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
. In 1642 he travelled abroad with his pupils, and stayed for a time at Saumur
. On his return he was chosen Fellow and tutor of Magdalene. He received presbyterian ordination at St Mary's Woolnoth, London, on 29 November 1648. In October 1649 he was chosen one of the twelve graduates who had power to preach without episcopal license.
In 1652 Tallents was invited by the mayor and aldermen, and urged by Richard Baxter
, to become lecturer and curate at St. Mary's, Shrewsbury
. His nomination was dated 4 January 1653, and the committee of plundered ministers added £50 to his income. At the Restoration
the commissioners appointed to restore deposed ministers were petitioned to allow him to remain, his predecessor, one Prowde, concurring. On 10 October 1661 he received confirmation of his office, but the next year was several times imprisoned in Shrewsbury Castle
for preaching, and, on his refusal to receive further ordination, he was ejected in September 1662.
After that time he regularly attended worship at St. Mary's, only preaching himself at different hours, and thus he escaped molestation. From February 1671 to about 1674 he resided with his pupil, John Hampden the younger, near Paris. On his return he joined with John (died 1699), eldest son of John Bryan, D.D., in ministering to the presbyterian congregation at Oliver Chapel, High Street, Shrewsbury. An indictment was framed against him for holding a conventicle in December 1680, but he was able to prove an alibi, having spent the whole of the winter in France.
He was under suspicion after Monmouth's rebellion in 1685, and was lodged in Chester Castle
, but was soon released, and on James II's progress to Shrewsbury in September 1686 he joined in the presentation to him of a purse of gold in recognition of the Indulgence. He died at Shrewsbury on 11 April 1708, aged nearly eighty-nine, and was buried on the 15th in St. Mary's Church. He composed his own epitaph.
Besides a sermon preached at the funeral of Philip Henry
, republished in ‘Eighteen Sermons,’ London, 1816, Tallents published:
A manuscript journal of Tallents's travels was in the possession of Job Orton
, and then was owned by the Rev. John Brickdale Blakeway in 1825, who used it in compiling the History of Shrewsbury.
By his first wife only had he issue—a son Francis, born on 7 September 1656, admitted to Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1672, graduated thence B.A. 1675, M.A. 1679. He became chaplain to Sir D. Gauden, the sheriff of London, was acquainted with Pepys, and died in early life.
Francis Hutchinson
was the son of his sister Mary. Tallents directed his historical studies, and employed him (about 1680) in taking the manuscript of his View of Universal History to Edward Stillingfleet
, William Beveridge
, and Richard Kidder
, for their corrections before it was printed.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Presbyterian clergyman.
Life
He was the eldest son of Philip Tallents, whose father, a Frenchman, accompanied Sir Francis Leake to England after saving his life. Francis Tallents was born at Pilsley in the parish of North WingfieldNorth Wingfield
North Wingfield is a large village in the English county of Derbyshire, located approximately 4½ miles south-east of Chesterfield, and 1 mile north-east of Clay Cross. It is in the North East Derbyshire district...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, in November 1619. His father dying when he was fourteen, Tallents was sent by an uncle, Francis Tallents, to the free schools at Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
and Newark
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
.
Tallents studied at Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
from 1635, and then moved to Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
, to become sub-tutor to the sons of Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, KG was an English nobleman and politician.Born at the family estate of Saffron Walden, he was the son of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, by his second wife Catherine Knyvet of Charlton, and succeeded his father in 1626.Sir Theophilus Howard was named in...
. In 1642 he travelled abroad with his pupils, and stayed for a time at Saumur
Saumur
Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
. On his return he was chosen Fellow and tutor of Magdalene. He received presbyterian ordination at St Mary's Woolnoth, London, on 29 November 1648. In October 1649 he was chosen one of the twelve graduates who had power to preach without episcopal license.
In 1652 Tallents was invited by the mayor and aldermen, and urged by Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
, to become lecturer and curate at St. Mary's, Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
. His nomination was dated 4 January 1653, and the committee of plundered ministers added £50 to his income. At the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
the commissioners appointed to restore deposed ministers were petitioned to allow him to remain, his predecessor, one Prowde, concurring. On 10 October 1661 he received confirmation of his office, but the next year was several times imprisoned in Shrewsbury Castle
Shrewsbury Castle
Shrewsbury Castle is a red sandstone castle in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. It stands on a hill in the neck of the meander of the River Severn on which the town originally developed. The castle is situated directly above Shrewsbury railway station....
for preaching, and, on his refusal to receive further ordination, he was ejected in September 1662.
After that time he regularly attended worship at St. Mary's, only preaching himself at different hours, and thus he escaped molestation. From February 1671 to about 1674 he resided with his pupil, John Hampden the younger, near Paris. On his return he joined with John (died 1699), eldest son of John Bryan, D.D., in ministering to the presbyterian congregation at Oliver Chapel, High Street, Shrewsbury. An indictment was framed against him for holding a conventicle in December 1680, but he was able to prove an alibi, having spent the whole of the winter in France.
He was under suspicion after Monmouth's rebellion in 1685, and was lodged in Chester Castle
Chester Castle
Chester Castle is in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It is sited at the southwest extremity of the area bounded by the city walls . The castle stands on an eminence overlooking the River Dee. In the castle complex are the remaining parts of the medieval castle together with the...
, but was soon released, and on James II's progress to Shrewsbury in September 1686 he joined in the presentation to him of a purse of gold in recognition of the Indulgence. He died at Shrewsbury on 11 April 1708, aged nearly eighty-nine, and was buried on the 15th in St. Mary's Church. He composed his own epitaph.
Works
His 1705 History of Schism involved him in controversy with the nonjuring clergyman Samuel Grascome (1641–1708).Besides a sermon preached at the funeral of Philip Henry
Philip Henry
Philip Henry may refer to:*Philip Henry *Philip Henry , Jamaican artist*Philip Henry , English clergyman...
, republished in ‘Eighteen Sermons,’ London, 1816, Tallents published:
- ‘A View of Universal History,’ London, 1685, a series of chronological tables which he had engraved on sixteen copper-plates in his own house.
- ‘A Sure and Large Foundation,’ 1689?; a copy of this was given by him to the school library at Shrewsbury, in 1696, but the work is not otherwise known; and
- ‘A Short History of Schism,’ London, 1705. This was answered by ‘S. G.,’ i.e. Samuel Grascome, in ‘Moderation in Fashion, or an Answer to a Treatise,’ &c., 1705. Tallents followed with ‘Some few Considerations upon S. G.'s Large Answer to the Short History,’ &c., London, 1706, and Grascome rejoined in ‘Schism triumphant, or a Rejoinder to a Reply,’ &c., London, 1707.
A manuscript journal of Tallents's travels was in the possession of Job Orton
Job Orton
Job Orton was an English dissenting minister.-Life:He was born at Shrewsbury. He entered the academy of Dr Philip Doddridge at Northampton, became minister of a congregation formed by a fusion of Presbyterians and Independents at High Street Chapel, Shrewsbury , received Presbyterian ordination...
, and then was owned by the Rev. John Brickdale Blakeway in 1825, who used it in compiling the History of Shrewsbury.
Family
Tallents was four times married:- To Anne (died 1658), daughter of Gervase Lomax;
- to Martha (d. 1663), daughter of Thomas Clive of Walford, near Baschurch;
- in 1673, to Mrs. Mary Greenhill, a widow, of Harrow-on-the-Hill.
- His fourth wife was buried at St. Mary's on 11 March 1702.
By his first wife only had he issue—a son Francis, born on 7 September 1656, admitted to Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1672, graduated thence B.A. 1675, M.A. 1679. He became chaplain to Sir D. Gauden, the sheriff of London, was acquainted with Pepys, and died in early life.
Francis Hutchinson
Francis Hutchinson
Francis Hutchinson was Bishop of Down and Connor and an opponent of witch-hunting.Hutchinson was born in Carsington, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, the second son of Mary and Edward Hutchinson or Hitchinson...
was the son of his sister Mary. Tallents directed his historical studies, and employed him (about 1680) in taking the manuscript of his View of Universal History to Edward Stillingfleet
Edward Stillingfleet
Edward Stillingfleet was a British theologian and scholar. Considered an outstanding preacher as well as a strong polemical writer defending Anglicanism, Stillingfleet was known as "the beauty of holiness" for his good looks in the pulpit, and was called by John Hough "the ablest man of his...
, William Beveridge
William Beveridge (bishop)
-Life:He was born at Barrow, near Leicester, and baptized there February 21, 1637. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, and was rector of Ealing, 1661–72, and of St. Peter's, Cornhill, London, 1672–1704, when he became bishop...
, and Richard Kidder
Richard Kidder
Richard Kidder was an English Anglican churchman, Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1691 to his death. He was a noted theologian.He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was a sizar, from 1649, graduating 1652. He became a Fellow there in 1655, and vicar of Stranground,...
, for their corrections before it was printed.
Works
- Universal History, 1685
- A Sure and Large Foundation
- A History of Schism, 1705
- Some few considerations upon Mr S G's large answer to the Short history of schism; and especially upon the new and bold assertion, that there can be no church, or salvation, ... without a canonical bishop, 1706
Further reading
- J. W. Ashley Smith, Modern History as Subject Matter for Higher Education: The Contribution of Francis Tallents, Paedagogica Historica (1975), 15, 1, 5-15, 75.