Thomas Larkham
Encyclopedia
Thomas Larkham or Larcome (1602–1669) was an English Puritan
clergyman, an early but not permanent settler at Dover, New Hampshire
.
, Dorset
, on 17 August 1602, matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1619, and proceeded B.A. from Trinity Hall
in 1622, and M.A. 1626. In 1622 he was living at Shobrooke, near Crediton
, where he married.
He was instituted vicar of Northam
, near Bideford, on 26 December 1626, where his puritan views brought him into trouble. A petition against him was delivered about 1639, and he was proceeded against in the Consistory Court
at Exeter
. In 1640 Larkham left with his family for New England
, going first to Massachusetts
, but moved on to Dover called also then Northam. Here he became minister, ousting a Mr. Knollys. Larkham's conduct in taking on civil as well as religious authority led to much discontent and even open warfare, and commissioners from Boston
, of whom Hugh Peters
was one, were sent to arbitrate. They found both parties in fault. Larkham remained at Dover until the end of 1642, when, in the account of John Winthrop
, he left for England after promising not to; Winthrop also mentions the birth of an illegitimate child of which Larkham was admitted to be the father. Larkham himself gives the date of his departure with his son Thomas as 14 November.
In England he became chaplain in Sir Hardres Waller's regiment going to Ireland. On 30 January 1648 he went to Devon
, proceeding in the following April to Tavistock, where Sir Hardres then had his headquarters. The vicarage of Tavistock had been vacant since George Hughes
accepted a call from the people of Plymouth
on 21 October 1643. Larkham had succeeded to the vicarage by 1649. According to the report of the commissioners, who, under the Act for Providing Maintenance for Preaching Ministers, visited Tavistock on 18 October 1650, Larkham was elected by the inhabitants, and presented by the Earl of Bedford
. On 15 November 1649 he had been dismissed from his post as chaplain of Waller's regiment, after a court-martial, which sat for two days at Plymouth, had found him guilty of inciting to insubordination. He seems nevertheless to have secured some other military post, for he speaks of receiving money in 1651 at a muster in Carlisle; and on 11 June 1652 pay from Ebthery at Bristol
. He was absent from Tavistock almost the whole of 1651–2, to the discontent of his congregation. In 1657 Larkham attacked his chief enemies in a tract. Five leading parishioners replied. It included denunciations of Larkham's affection for sack
and bowls, which his Diary corroborates. They also allude to his published attacks on tithes; his Diary proves that he made every effort to exact tithes from refractory farmers. Accusations of immorality in New England and at home had, it was further declared, been brought against him by one of the commissioners. Larkham retorted in a pamphlet and his enemies answered him again. Larkham allowed the controversy to drop there. He had in the pulpit spoken against neighbouring ministers and John Howe, then of Great Torrington
, openly protested against one of Larkham's sermons, which was afterwards published in his Attributes of God, 1656. In October 1659 a weekly lecture was established in Tavistock by his opponents, and the neighbouring ministers officiated. Larkham resisted the arrangement, but the council of state
ordered the justices living near Tavistock (17 March 1659–60) to take measures to continue the lectures, and to examine witnesses. The charges chiefly consisted of expressions he had used in sermons, in derogation of the restored Long Parliament
, and in contempt of George Monck. The justices sat to hear evidence on 17 April, and Larkham was ordered to admit others to preach in the parish church. On 19 October the justices met to consider whether he had been legally appointed to the vicarage of Tavistock, and he was bound over to appear at the Exeter assizes
. On Sunday the 21st Larkham, in compliance with the Earl of Bedford's desire, resigned the benefice. He was arrested on 18 January 1661, and spent eighty-four days in prison at Exeter. On his release he returned to Tavistock, living with his son-in-law, Condy, and preaching occasionally in retired places, but left the town on being warned of impending prosecutions under the Five Miles Act.
In 1664 he became partner with Mr. County, an apothecary in Tavistock, and carried on the business successfully after Mr. County's death. The last entry in his diary is dated 17 November 1669, and he was buried at Tavistock on 23 December.
His manuscript Diary from 1650 to 1669 was edited, abbreviated and expurgated, by the Rev. W. Lewis.
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...
clergyman, an early but not permanent settler at Dover, New Hampshire
Dover, New Hampshire
Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
.
Life
He was born at Lyme RegisLyme Regis
Lyme Regis is a coastal town in West Dorset, England, situated 25 miles west of Dorchester and east of Exeter. The town lies in Lyme Bay, on the English Channel coast at the Dorset-Devon border...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, on 17 August 1602, matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1619, and proceeded B.A. from Trinity Hall
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
in 1622, and M.A. 1626. In 1622 he was living at Shobrooke, near Crediton
Crediton
Crediton is a town and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon in England. It stands on the A377 Exeter to Barnstaple road at the junction with the A3072 road to Tiverton, about north west of Exeter. It has a population of 6,837...
, where he married.
He was instituted vicar of Northam
Northam, Devon
Northam is a small town in Devon, England, lying north of Bideford and south of Westward Ho!. It is thought to have been the site of an Anglo-Saxon castle, and is said to have been where Hubba the Dane attacked Devon and was repelled . A little over a mile away along the coast is a town called...
, near Bideford, on 26 December 1626, where his puritan views brought him into trouble. A petition against him was delivered about 1639, and he was proceeded against in the Consistory Court
Consistory court
The consistory court is a type of ecclesiastical court, especially within the Church of England. They were established by a charter of King William I of England, and still exist today, although since about the middle of the 19th century consistory courts have lost much of their subject-matter...
at Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
. In 1640 Larkham left with his family for New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, going first to 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...
, but moved on to Dover called also then Northam. Here he became minister, ousting a Mr. Knollys. Larkham's conduct in taking on civil as well as religious authority led to much discontent and even open warfare, and commissioners from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, of whom Hugh Peters
Hugh Peters
Hugh Peters [or Peter] was an English preacher.-Early life:He was baptized on 29 June 1598 in Fowey, and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge....
was one, were sent to arbitrate. They found both parties in fault. Larkham remained at Dover until the end of 1642, when, in the account of John Winthrop
John 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...
, he left for England after promising not to; Winthrop also mentions the birth of an illegitimate child of which Larkham was admitted to be the father. Larkham himself gives the date of his departure with his son Thomas as 14 November.
In England he became chaplain in Sir Hardres Waller's regiment going to Ireland. On 30 January 1648 he went to 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...
, proceeding in the following April to Tavistock, where Sir Hardres then had his headquarters. The vicarage of Tavistock had been vacant since George Hughes
George Hughes (clergyman)
-Life:Born in Southwark, he was sent to Corpus Christi College, Oxford aat the beginning of 1619. He was admitted B.A. on 19 February 1623, and proceeded M.A. on 23 June 1625 as a Fellow of Pembroke College. About 1628 he was ordained, and, after serving curacies in and near Oxford, he was chosen...
accepted a call from the people 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...
on 21 October 1643. Larkham had succeeded to the vicarage by 1649. According to the report of the commissioners, who, under the Act for Providing Maintenance for Preaching Ministers, visited Tavistock on 18 October 1650, Larkham was elected by the inhabitants, and presented by the Earl of Bedford
William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford
William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford KG PC was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 until 1641 when he inherited his Peerage and sat in the House of Lords...
. On 15 November 1649 he had been dismissed from his post as chaplain of Waller's regiment, after a court-martial, which sat for two days at Plymouth, had found him guilty of inciting to insubordination. He seems nevertheless to have secured some other military post, for he speaks of receiving money in 1651 at a muster in Carlisle; and on 11 June 1652 pay from Ebthery at Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. He was absent from Tavistock almost the whole of 1651–2, to the discontent of his congregation. In 1657 Larkham attacked his chief enemies in a tract. Five leading parishioners replied. It included denunciations of Larkham's affection for sack
Sack (wine)
Sack is an antiquated wine term referring to white fortified wine imported from mainland Spain or the Canary Islands. There were sack of different origins such as:* Canary sack from the Canary Islands,* Malaga sack from Málaga,...
and bowls, which his Diary corroborates. They also allude to his published attacks on tithes; his Diary proves that he made every effort to exact tithes from refractory farmers. Accusations of immorality in New England and at home had, it was further declared, been brought against him by one of the commissioners. Larkham retorted in a pamphlet and his enemies answered him again. Larkham allowed the controversy to drop there. He had in the pulpit spoken against neighbouring ministers and John Howe, then of Great Torrington
Great Torrington
Great Torrington is a small market town in the north of Devon, England. Parts of it are sited on high ground with steep drops down to the River Torridge below...
, openly protested against one of Larkham's sermons, which was afterwards published in his Attributes of God, 1656. In October 1659 a weekly lecture was established in Tavistock by his opponents, and the neighbouring ministers officiated. Larkham resisted the arrangement, but the council of state
English Council of State
The English Council of State, later also known as the Protector's Privy Council, was first appointed by the Rump Parliament on 14 February 1649 after the execution of King Charles I....
ordered the justices living near Tavistock (17 March 1659–60) to take measures to continue the lectures, and to examine witnesses. The charges chiefly consisted of expressions he had used in sermons, in derogation of the restored Long Parliament
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
, and in contempt of George Monck. The justices sat to hear evidence on 17 April, and Larkham was ordered to admit others to preach in the parish church. On 19 October the justices met to consider whether he had been legally appointed to the vicarage of Tavistock, and he was bound over to appear at the Exeter assizes
Assizes
Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to::;in common law countries :::*assizes , an obsolete judicial inquest...
. On Sunday the 21st Larkham, in compliance with the Earl of Bedford's desire, resigned the benefice. He was arrested on 18 January 1661, and spent eighty-four days in prison at Exeter. On his release he returned to Tavistock, living with his son-in-law, Condy, and preaching occasionally in retired places, but left the town on being warned of impending prosecutions under the Five Miles Act.
In 1664 he became partner with Mr. County, an apothecary in Tavistock, and carried on the business successfully after Mr. County's death. The last entry in his diary is dated 17 November 1669, and he was buried at Tavistock on 23 December.
Works
His other works are:- 'The Wedding Supper,' London, 1652. Dedicated to the parliament.
- 'A Discourse of Paying of Tithes by T. L., M.A., Pastour of the Church of Tavistocke,' London, 1656. Dedicated to Oliver Cromwell.
- 'The Attributes of God,' &c., London, 1656. Dedicated to the fellows, masters, and presidents of colleges at Cambridge.
His manuscript Diary from 1650 to 1669 was edited, abbreviated and expurgated, by the Rev. W. Lewis.