Charles, Samuel. A Substantial Manuscript Volume of Unpublished Nonconformist Notes, Journals and Sermons preached at Hull between 1677 & 1685

Folger bibliographic ID: 344392
Folger call number: V.a.698
Folger holdings ID: 495233
Accession Number: 270311

General notes

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Item information about Folger V.a.698

Purchase made possible by The Eric and Mary Weinmann Acquisitions Fund From dealer's description: "Samuel Charles (1633-1703) Non-conformist ejected minister. He was ejected in 1662 from his first parish of Mickleover, Derbyshire, and we later find him preaching in Hull. There were in 1677 two nonconformist meeting houses in Hull, one being the church of the Presbyterian Joseph Wilson and the other with Richard Astley as the Pastor. When Joseph Wilson died in 1679 it was Samuel Charles who succeeded him. In 1683 the Governor of Hull, the Earl of Plymouth, ordered the suppression of both Congregations but before the pair could be arrested Richard Astley fled. Charles, however, was apprehended and brought before the magistrates on 2nd February 1683 and, after a hearing, sentenced to 6 months in prison. His final retort to the magistrate was “Imprisoning the Minister of the Gospel is the devil's work”. After his release he was dispatched to Melton under the five-mile rule. After his return to Hull he gave regular lectures to Presbyterians until his death in 1693. It is noticeable in the text that his last entry before his trial was on 16th January 1863 and the next entry was not until he was in Melton in early 1684. There is an ownership signature on the front end paper of “Dono dedit S.S. Samueli Charles....... Derbiensi..... July 11 1679”, plus lower down a later inscription “Donum & quain Samueli Sanders ed Ireton in agro Derbiensi July 21 1677”. Samuel Sanders of Ireton (1641-1688) was a noted antiquary but what links him to this volume, other than his inscription on the front end paper, remains something of a mystery as the contents relate entirely to Samuel Charles. Also bound into the volume, at the rear, is a printed copy of 'The Whole Book of Psalms: Collected into English Meeter' (London, Printed by T.R. for the Company of Stationers, 1669). This is a very substantial unpublished manuscript and exhaustive research has established that this is the volume of Samuel Charles, the dates of his preaching tying in with his being at Hull. The expensive morocco binding would also indicate that this volume was much cherished." Ordered from A. R. Heath Rare Books, D 8936, 2015-12-29, Email quote

author: Charles, Samuel