Richard Sherlock

Richard Sherlock (11 November 1612 – 20 June 1689) was a seventeenth-century English priest. Early life Sherlock was born at Oxton, a village in the Cheshire peninsula of Wirral, on 11 November 1612, and was baptised at Woodchurch on 15 November. His father, William, a small yeoman, died while Richard was still young, but his mother gave him a learned education. (Note that alternative sources suggest Sherlock's father may have been John Sherlock; the matter is of some interest in establishing Sherlock's relationship with Thomas Wilson, Bishop of Sodor and Man). He was first sent to Magdalen Hall, Oxford, whence he was removed, to save expense, to Trinity College, Dublin There he graduated M.A. in 1633. Having entered holy orders, he became minister of several small united parishes in Ireland, where he remained till the breaking out of the rebellion of 1641. Upon James Butler, 1st Marquis of Ormonde's truce with the rebels (15 September 1643), Sherlock returned to England as chaplain of one of the regiments sent by the marquis to aid King Charles in his struggle with parliament. He was present at the Battle of Nantwich on 25 January 1644, in which Thomas Fairfax completely defeated John Byron, 1st Baron Byron and captured many prisoners. Among these was Sherlock, who, on regaining his liberty, made his way to Oxford, where he became chaplain to the governor of the garrison, and also a chaplain of New College. In consideration of several sermons that he preached, either at court or before the Oxford Parliament, the degree of Bachelor of Divinity (BD) was conferred upon him in 1646. Expelled from Oxford by the parliamentary visitors about 1648, he became curate of the neighbouring village of Cassington, where he dwelt in the same house as the mother of Anthony Wood, and made the acquaintance of the future antiquary, then a youth of seventeen. On being ejected from Cassington in 1652, Sherlock became chaplain to Robert Bindlosse, a royalist baronet residing at Borwick Hall, near Lancaster. Here he remained some years, courageously remonstrating with his patron when he gave scandal by his conduct, yet preserving his attachment to the end. While at Borwick, Sherlock entered into controversy with Richard Hubberthorne, a Quaker, publishing in 1654 a book entitled The Quaker's Wilde Questions objected against the Ministers of the Gospel.