William Sedgwick (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
William Sedgwick was an English clergyman of Puritan
views and mystical tendencies, known as the “apostle of the Isle of Ely” and “Doomsday Sedgwick”.
about 1610. He matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford
, on 2 December 1625 at the age of 15, and graduated B.A. 21 June 1628, M.A. 4 May 1631. His tutor was George Hughes
.
On 5 February 1634, he was instituted to the rectory of Farnham, Essex
; he held the living of there until 1644, when he was succeeded by Giles Archer (instituted 27 April); but in 1642, leaving Farnham in charge of a curate, he moved to London. On 5 October 1641, a petition was made against William Fuller
, dean of Ely
and vicar of St. Giles-without-Cripplegate, by the parishioners of Cripplegate, complaining that he had hindered the appointment of Sedgwick as Thursday lecturer at St. Giles's.
In 1642 Sedgwick became chaplain to the regiment of foot raised by Sir William Constable. In 1644 he became the chief preacher in Ely
, and by his evangelism gained the title of 'apostle of the Isle of Ely.' He has been classified as a Seeker
, and was ready to listen to any claims to prophetic power. A woman in the neighbourhood of Swaffham Prior
, Cambridgeshire
, proclaimed the near advent of the day of judgment. Sedgwick adopted her date, and announced it at the house of Sir Francis Russell of Chippenham, Cambridgeshire
(father-in-law of Henry Cromwell
). Nothing happened on the predicted day, but during the night there was a storm. From this episode, Sedgwick got the name of 'Doomsday Sedgwick.'
At the end of 1647, he attended Charles I
at Carisbrooke Castle
with his Leaves of the Tree of Life. Charles read part of the book and gave it back, saying he thought "the author stands in some need of sleep." In 1652 he was attracted by John Reeve
, and, without becoming a disciple, supported him until Reeve died. In June 1657, he explained his position in a correspondence with Reeve.
His preaching at Ely being terminated by the Restoration
, he retired to Lewisham
, Kent
. In 1663, having conformed, he became rector of Mattishall Burgh, Norfolk
, and he died in London about 1669.
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...
views and mystical tendencies, known as the “apostle of the Isle of Ely” and “Doomsday Sedgwick”.
Life
He was the son of William Sedgwick of London, and was born in BedfordshireBedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
about 1610. He matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
, on 2 December 1625 at the age of 15, and graduated B.A. 21 June 1628, M.A. 4 May 1631. His tutor was 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...
.
On 5 February 1634, he was instituted to the rectory of Farnham, Essex
Farnham, Essex
Farnham is a small village in Essex, England, situated near Bishop's Stortford. The main features are the primary school, the church and the Three Horseshoes pub in Hazel End, which some consider a hamlet in its own right. The population is approximately 300...
; he held the living of there until 1644, when he was succeeded by Giles Archer (instituted 27 April); but in 1642, leaving Farnham in charge of a curate, he moved to London. On 5 October 1641, a petition was made against William Fuller
William Fuller (dean)
William Fuller was dean of Ely and later dean of Durham. He was in serious trouble with parishioners and Parliament during the early 1640s.-Life:...
, dean of Ely
Dean of Ely
The position of Dean of Ely Cathedral, in East Anglia, England, was created at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The first Dean of Ely had been the last Benedictine prior of Ely.-List of Deans:*1541-1557 Robert Steward or Welles...
and vicar of St. Giles-without-Cripplegate, by the parishioners of Cripplegate, complaining that he had hindered the appointment of Sedgwick as Thursday lecturer at St. Giles's.
In 1642 Sedgwick became chaplain to the regiment of foot raised by Sir William Constable. In 1644 he became the chief preacher in Ely
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Ely is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England, 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about by road from London. It is built on a Lower Greensand island, which at a maximum elevation of is the highest land in the Fens...
, and by his evangelism gained the title of 'apostle of the Isle of Ely.' He has been classified as a Seeker
Seeker
Seeker may refer to:Religion* Seeker, a member of the 17th century religious group the Seekers, a forerunner of the Quakers*Seeker, a person perceived by Quakers as likely to become an adherent and thus come to be a "convinced Friend"Fictional characters...
, and was ready to listen to any claims to prophetic power. A woman in the neighbourhood of Swaffham Prior
Swaffham Prior
Swaffham Prior is a village in East Cambridgeshire, England.Lying 5 miles west of Newmarket, and two miles south west of Burwell, the village is often paired with its neighbour Swaffham Bulbeck, and are collectively referred to as 'The Swaffhams'. Swaffham Prior was often known as Great Swaffham in...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, proclaimed the near advent of the day of judgment. Sedgwick adopted her date, and announced it at the house of Sir Francis Russell of Chippenham, Cambridgeshire
Chippenham, Cambridgeshire
Chippenham is a village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England, part of East Cambridgeshire district around north-east of Newmarket and north-east of Cambridge.-History:The parish of Chippenham covers at the eastern end of Cambridgeshire...
(father-in-law of Henry Cromwell
Henry Cromwell
Henry Cromwell was the fourth son of Oliver Cromwell and Elizabeth Bourchier, and an important figure in the Parliamentarian regime in Ireland.-Life:...
). Nothing happened on the predicted day, but during the night there was a storm. From this episode, Sedgwick got the name of 'Doomsday Sedgwick.'
At the end of 1647, he attended Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
at Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle is a historic motte-and-bailey castle located in the village of Carisbrooke, near Newport, Isle of Wight, England. Charles I was imprisoned at the castle in the months prior to his trial.-Early history:...
with his Leaves of the Tree of Life. Charles read part of the book and gave it back, saying he thought "the author stands in some need of sleep." In 1652 he was attracted by John Reeve
John Reeve
John Reeve was an English plebeian prophet who believed the voice of God had instructed him to found a Third Commission in preparation for the last days of earth. This commission was third in succession to the Mosaic Law and the gospel of Christ Jesus.He and his followers came to be known as...
, and, without becoming a disciple, supported him until Reeve died. In June 1657, he explained his position in a correspondence with Reeve.
His preaching at Ely being terminated by 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...
, he retired to Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. In 1663, having conformed, he became rector of Mattishall Burgh, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, and he died in London about 1669.
Works
Besides two sermons before Parliament (1642 and 1643), he published:- The Leaves of the Tree of Life, 1648.
- Some Flashes of Lightenings of the Sonne of Man, 1648; reprinted 1830.
- The Spirituall Madman ... a Prophesie concerning the King, the Parliament, 1648
- Justice upon the Armie Remonstrance, &c., 1649.
- A Second View of the Army Remonstrance, 1649.
- Mr. W. S.'s Letter to ... Thomas Lord Fairfax in prosecution of his Answer to the Remonstrance of the Army, 1649; part of this, with title Excerpta quaedam ex W. S. remonstrantia ad Generalem Exercitus, is in Sylloge Variorum Tractatuum, 1649.
- Animadversions on a Letter ... to His Highness ... by ... Gentlemen. . .in Wales, 1656.
- Animadversions upon a book intituled Inquisition for the Blood of our Soveraign, 1661.