Thomas Alcock (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Alcock was a clergyman
in the Church of England
, a pluralist and an author.
, near Runcorn
, Cheshire
the third son of David Alcock and his wife Mary née Breck. David Alcock was a descendent of Bishop John Alcock
, the founder of Jesus College, Cambridge
. Thomas was educated at Warrington School, then matriculated from Brasenose College, Oxford
in 1728, proceeded B.A.
in 1731 and M.A. in 1741.
of Stonehouse, Plymouth
in 1731. In November 1732 he began acting as the minister of the nearby parish of St Budeaux to which he was officially licensed the following year. He was also instituted as vicar of Runcorn in 1756 and ran this parish as a pluralist with the aid of curates. He was a Cheshire J.P.
but continued to spend most of his time in Devon
and only returned to Runcorn towards the end of his life.
He became popular locally, particularly when he omitted to collect tithe
s. He was also noted for his eccentric habits, his spartan
lifestyle, and his kindness to the poor to whom he also acted as doctor and lawyer. In 1769 the living of St Andrew, Plymouth became vacant and Alcock expected to be elected to it. He was unsuccessful and refused to preach his regular sermon at the church or indeed to enter the church again.
In 1771 he helped to purchase land at Weston Peverel
to provide a master for the St Budeaux charity school and to clothe the poor. In 1769 he was granted the freedom of the borough of Plymouth
.
and this was repeal
ed in 1766. It had been suggested that a severe colic
peculiar to Devon was the result of lead poisoning
from the press
es, pipework, and storage vessels of cider. This was refuted by Alcock who argued that the colic resulted only from the small shot
used in bottle cleansing.
included £20,000 in 3% consol
s as well as land and property in Runcorn.
After the death of his brother Nathan
in 1779, Thomas produced Some Memoirs of the Life of Dr Nathan. In 1796 he also edited and arranged for the publication of Nathan's The Rise of Mahomet, Accounted for on Natural and Civil Principles.
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, a pluralist and an author.
Early life
He was born at AstonAston, Vale Royal
right|thumb|200px|Map of civil parish of Aston within the former borough of Vale RoyalAston is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 111...
, near Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
the third son of David Alcock and his wife Mary née Breck. David Alcock was a descendent of Bishop John Alcock
John Alcock (bishop)
-Biography:Alcock was born at Beverley in Yorkshire, son of Sir William Alcock, Burgess of Kingston upon Hull and educated at Cambridge. In 1461 he was made dean of Westminster, and his subsequent promotion was rapid in both church and state. In the following year he was made Master of the Rolls,...
, the founder of Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. Thomas was educated at Warrington School, then matriculated from Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
in 1728, proceeded B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1731 and M.A. in 1741.
Ministry
He was licensed as curateCurate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Stonehouse, Plymouth
Stonehouse, Plymouth
East Stonehouse is one of three towns that were amalgamated into modern-day Plymouth. West Stonehouse was a village that is within the current Mount Edgcumbe Country Park in Cornwall...
in 1731. In November 1732 he began acting as the minister of the nearby parish of St Budeaux to which he was officially licensed the following year. He was also instituted as vicar of Runcorn in 1756 and ran this parish as a pluralist with the aid of curates. He was a Cheshire J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
but continued to spend most of his time in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and only returned to Runcorn towards the end of his life.
He became popular locally, particularly when he omitted to collect tithe
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
s. He was also noted for his eccentric habits, his spartan
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
lifestyle, and his kindness to the poor to whom he also acted as doctor and lawyer. In 1769 the living of St Andrew, Plymouth became vacant and Alcock expected to be elected to it. He was unsuccessful and refused to preach his regular sermon at the church or indeed to enter the church again.
In 1771 he helped to purchase land at Weston Peverel
Peverell
Peverell is a neighbourhood of Plymouth in the English county of Devon. The 2001 Census estimated the population as 6,455.The area was originally part of the manor of Weston Peverell, and is named in the Domesday Book. Two of the main roads are named Peverell Park Road and Weston Park Road...
to provide a master for the St Budeaux charity school and to clothe the poor. In 1769 he was granted the freedom of the borough of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
.
Farmer and cidermaker
Thomas Alcock farmed at Ernesettle and described himself as ‘A Cydermaker’. He attacked the excise duty on ciderCider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
and this was repeal
Repeal
A repeal is the amendment, removal or reversal of a law. This is generally done when a law is no longer effective, or it is shown that a law is having far more negative consequences than were originally envisioned....
ed in 1766. It had been suggested that a severe colic
Devon colic
Devon colic is an affliction caused by lead poisoning which was suffered by the people of Devon during parts of the 17th and 18th centuries....
peculiar to Devon was the result of lead poisoning
Lead poisoning
Lead poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems...
from the press
Fruit press
A fruit press is a device used to separate fruit solids - stems, skins, seeds, pulp, leaves, and detritus - from fruit juice.-Cider press:A cider press is used to crush apples or pears...
es, pipework, and storage vessels of cider. This was refuted by Alcock who argued that the colic resulted only from the small shot
Lead shot
Lead shot is a collective term for small balls of lead. These were the original projectiles for muskets and early rifles, but today lead shot is fired primarily from shotguns. It is also used for a variety of other purposes...
used in bottle cleansing.
Personal and family life
He married Mary Harwood of Ernesettle, Plymouth and through his marriage he obtained considerable property locally. The marriage was childless and Mary died in 1777. Alcock married again at the age of 78 and returned to Runcorn where he died in 1798. His estateEstate (law)
An estate is the net worth of a person at any point in time. It is the sum of a person's assets - legal rights, interests and entitlements to property of any kind - less all liabilities at that time. The issue is of special legal significance on a question of bankruptcy and death of the person...
included £20,000 in 3% consol
Consols
Consol is a form of British government bond , dating originally from the 18th century. The first consols were originally issued in 1751...
s as well as land and property in Runcorn.
After the death of his brother Nathan
Nathan Alcock
-Early life and education:Nathan Alcock was born at Aston, near Runcorn, Cheshire, the second son of David Alcock and his wife Mary née Breck. David Alcock was a descendent of Bishop John Alcock, the founder of Jesus College, Cambridge. He was educated initially by his parents and then at a local...
in 1779, Thomas produced Some Memoirs of the Life of Dr Nathan. In 1796 he also edited and arranged for the publication of Nathan's The Rise of Mahomet, Accounted for on Natural and Civil Principles.
Publications
- Observations on the Defects of the Poor Laws (1752)
- Remarks on Two Bills for the Better Maintenance of the Poor (1752)
- Observations on that Part of the Late Act of Parliament which Lays an Additional Duty on Cider (1763)
- Cursory Remarks on Dr. Baker's Essay on the Endemial Colic in Devon (1767)
- The Endemial Colic of Devon not Caused by a Solution of Lead in the Cyder (1769)