Samuel Rosewell
Encyclopedia
Reverend Samuel Rosewell (1679 – 7 April 1722) was a Presbyterian minister born at Rotherhithe
, Surrey.
(1630–1692) and his second wife, Anne Godsalve (nėe Wanley). He was only 12 years old when his father died. He was a scholar at St Paul's School, London and is said to have graduated M.A. from a Scottish University.
in 1709. They had one son, Richard, who died before 1721. He married (2) Lettice Barrett (c. 1687–1762) and had a son and two daughters: Thomas, Sussannah and Lettice who were all in their minorities in 1721. Sussannah married Henry Girle in 1747 and had one son, Reverend Samuel Girle (1757–1813), a Presbyterian/Unitarian
minister.
(c. 1675–1740) at Poor Jewry Presbyterian church and continued there until invited in 1705 to assist John Howe (1630–1705) at the Silver Street meeting, Cheapside
. He continued after Howe's death as assistant to Howe's successor, John Spademan. He was ordained by Spademan on 2 August 1705 before a large congregation. At this time he lectured at the Old Jewry on Sunday evenings alternatively with Benjamin Grosvenor. He was the sole lecturer when the lecture was moved to Founder's Hall, Lothbury
, in 1713. He resigned his preferment from ill health in October 1719 and moved to Mare Street, Hackney
.
'Mr. Rosewell was a minister of considerable abilities, a serious preacher, and for some years very much followed. His performances were accurate, judicious, and lively; fitted to inform and instruct the mind, as well as to engage the affections; and to promote a serious attention to the concerns of religion. And the fruit of his ministry was very considerable both in his own congregation, and at a lecture which he preached for a considerable number of years to young persons. In the several relations of private life, as a son, a husband, a father, and a friend, he was an ornament to his character, and discovered the prevailing influence of religious principles.'
He was the author of more than twenty works, the majority being sermons on practical and devotional subjects, but including:
Seasonable Instructions for the Afflicted, London, 1711.
The Protestant Dissenters' Hopes from the present Government freely declared, London, 1716.
The Life and Death of Mr. T. Rosewell
, London, 1718. This is generally prefixed to the account of the trial of the latter.
He was responsible for completing St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians in Matthew Henry's
biblical 'Commentary' after Henry's death.
. He was buried in Bunhill Fields
, London, near his father's grave. The funeral sermon was preached by Jeremiah Smith.
His grave was situated between the grave of Thomas Rosewell and the obelisk for Daniel Defoe
, which are both still there. However, the area was bombed during World War II and the intervening graves destroyed. The area has been paved over.
The headstone was inscribed as follows:
In Memory of
SAMUEL ROSEWELL
Minister of the Gospel,
Whose zeal and labour of God,
Whose charity and love of men,
Whose courage and patience under long and acute pains,
And whose joyful hope and triumph in death,
Gave the world a glorious example of Christianity.
Born 1679. Died in the year 1722, aged 42.
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
, Surrey.
Early years and education
Samuel was the eldest son of Reverend Thomas RosewellThomas Rosewell
Reverend Thomas Rosewell was a non-conformist minister of Rotherhithe, Surrey who was found guilty of treason but subsequently pardoned by King Charles II.-Early years and education:...
(1630–1692) and his second wife, Anne Godsalve (nėe Wanley). He was only 12 years old when his father died. He was a scholar at St Paul's School, London and is said to have graduated M.A. from a Scottish University.
Marriages
He married (1) Rebekah Russell (d. in or before 1713) at St Katharine's by the TowerSt Katharine's by the Tower
St Katharine's by the Tower--full name Royal Hospital and Collegiate Church of St. Katharine by the Tower--was a medieval church and hospital next to the Tower of London. The establishment was founded in 1148 and the buildings demolished in 1825 to build St Katharine Docks, which takes its name...
in 1709. They had one son, Richard, who died before 1721. He married (2) Lettice Barrett (c. 1687–1762) and had a son and two daughters: Thomas, Sussannah and Lettice who were all in their minorities in 1721. Sussannah married Henry Girle in 1747 and had one son, Reverend Samuel Girle (1757–1813), a Presbyterian/Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister.
Ministries
Samuel Rosewell was chosen about 1701 as assistant to William HarrisWilliam Harris (presbyterian minister)
-Life:He was born about 1675, probably in Southwark, where his mother was living as a widow in 1692. Walter Wilson, following Josiah Thompson, thinks he was educated at Timothy Jollie's Attercliffe Academy, near Sheffield ; records of the presbyterian board show that in 1692–6 he studied...
(c. 1675–1740) at Poor Jewry Presbyterian church and continued there until invited in 1705 to assist John Howe (1630–1705) at the Silver Street meeting, Cheapside
Cheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street. To the east is Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the major road junction above Bank tube station. To the west is St. Paul's Cathedral, St...
. He continued after Howe's death as assistant to Howe's successor, John Spademan. He was ordained by Spademan on 2 August 1705 before a large congregation. At this time he lectured at the Old Jewry on Sunday evenings alternatively with Benjamin Grosvenor. He was the sole lecturer when the lecture was moved to Founder's Hall, Lothbury
Lothbury
Lothbury is a street in the City of London. It runs east-west, between Gresham Street to the west and Throgmorton Street to the east. The area was populated with coppersmiths in the Middle Ages before later becoming home to a number of merchants and bankers. The Bank of England is on the southern...
, in 1713. He resigned his preferment from ill health in October 1719 and moved to Mare Street, Hackney
Hackney (parish)
Hackney was a parish in the historic county of Middlesex. The parish church of St John-at-Hackney was built in 1789, replacing the nearby former 16th century parish church dedicated to St Augustine . The original tower of that church was retained to hold the bells until the new church could be...
.
Works
Samuel was very popular especially with the younger congregations. He was described as follows:'Mr. Rosewell was a minister of considerable abilities, a serious preacher, and for some years very much followed. His performances were accurate, judicious, and lively; fitted to inform and instruct the mind, as well as to engage the affections; and to promote a serious attention to the concerns of religion. And the fruit of his ministry was very considerable both in his own congregation, and at a lecture which he preached for a considerable number of years to young persons. In the several relations of private life, as a son, a husband, a father, and a friend, he was an ornament to his character, and discovered the prevailing influence of religious principles.'
He was the author of more than twenty works, the majority being sermons on practical and devotional subjects, but including:
Seasonable Instructions for the Afflicted, London, 1711.
The Protestant Dissenters' Hopes from the present Government freely declared, London, 1716.
The Life and Death of Mr. T. Rosewell
Thomas Rosewell
Reverend Thomas Rosewell was a non-conformist minister of Rotherhithe, Surrey who was found guilty of treason but subsequently pardoned by King Charles II.-Early years and education:...
, London, 1718. This is generally prefixed to the account of the trial of the latter.
He was responsible for completing St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians in Matthew Henry's
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry was an English commentator on the Bible and Presbyterian minister.-Life:He was born at Broad Oak, a farmhouse on the borders of Flintshire and Shropshire. His father, Philip Henry, had just been ejected under the Act of Uniformity 1662...
biblical 'Commentary' after Henry's death.
Portraits
A portrait engraved by Van den Bergh is printed in the May 1794 issue of the Protestant Dissenters' Magazine. Another was engraved in 1707 by John Faber (1660–1721) after John Wollaston (c. 1672–1749), portrait painter. A print by J Lawrence is located at the British Museum.Death
Samuel died at Hackney, after a tedious illness, on 7 April 1722. His demeanor on his deathbed excited the admiration of his friend Isaac WattsIsaac Watts
Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
. He was buried in Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields is a cemetery in the London Borough of Islington, north of the City of London, and managed by the City of London Corporation. It is about 4 hectares in extent, although historically was much larger....
, London, near his father's grave. The funeral sermon was preached by Jeremiah Smith.
His grave was situated between the grave of Thomas Rosewell and the obelisk for Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe , born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, and pamphleteer, who gained fame for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain and along with others such as Richardson,...
, which are both still there. However, the area was bombed during World War II and the intervening graves destroyed. The area has been paved over.
The headstone was inscribed as follows:
In Memory of
SAMUEL ROSEWELL
Minister of the Gospel,
Whose zeal and labour of God,
Whose charity and love of men,
Whose courage and patience under long and acute pains,
And whose joyful hope and triumph in death,
Gave the world a glorious example of Christianity.
Born 1679. Died in the year 1722, aged 42.