Shropshire Routes to Roots - Shropshire places - Wem
by Samuel Garbet
THOMAS LAWRENCE, M. A. Fellow of St. John's college, Cambridge, and chief master of the free school at Shrewsbury, was probably a native of Wem, and seems to have passed the last stage of his life in this town. It is evident from the register that he was buried here January 23rd, 1629.
Sir THOMAS ADAMS, knight and baronet, was born in Wem. Of him I have given a large account in the chapter of, "The Founder of the School."
RICHARD RODERICK, B. D. eldest son of the chief master of this name, was student of Christ church, in Oxford, and vicar of Blandford, in Dorsetshire. He was presented by the dean, and chapter of Winchester to this living, said to be worth £400. per annum. He has published one sermon against schisms and divisions among christians, preached in his own church December 19th, 1682, at the visitation of the bishop of Bristol. His memory Was so strong that it was reported of him, he could repeat verbatim any sermon he had lately heard.
CHARLES RODERICK, D. D. of whom I have given an account among the chief masters of Wem school.
SAMUEL LAWRENCE, son of William Lawrence, dyer, was born in this town in 1661. He had his grammar education here under the Rodericks, and after the resignation of the last of them, at Newport under Mr. Edwards. Being furnished with school learning, he was instructed by Mr. Philip Henry, at Broad Oak; Mr. Tallents, at Shrewsbury; and Mr. Maiden, at Alkington, near Whitchurch, in which last place he improved himself much in Greek and Hebrew. On Mr. Maiden's death in 1681, he was sent to Mr. Charles Moreton's private academy, at Newington Green, near London. Here he went through a course of University learning. When the laws against dissenters obliged Moreton to break up his academy, Mr. Lawrence spent two, or three years as an assistant to a grammar school in Clerkenwell Close. Thence he was preferred to a domestic chaplain to the lady Irby, in Dean's yard, West minster, with whom he continued till 1688, when Mr. Baxter and Mr. Philip honourably recommend ed him to be a minister to a dissenting congregation, at Nantwich, in Cheshire. He died at Nantwich, the 24th of April, 1712, in the fifty-first year of his age.
JOHN WHITFIELD, D. D. was born at Wem in 1681, educated at the free school there, admitted batchelor in Trinity college, Cambridge, in 1698, where he was successively chosen scholar, minor, and major fellow, steward of the college, latin, greek, and head lecturer, senior dean of the college. He was a favourite of the master, doctor Bently, who gave him the curacy of Haddenham, in the isle of Ely, worth £60. per annum. In 1724, he was presented by the said master, and senior fellows to the rectory of Diclebury, in Norfolk, of the yearly value of about £300. Here be married the daughter of William Palgrave, gentleman, with a fortune of £1100. He published three sermons, one of which was preached at an assizes at Ely, another at the bishop's visitation there, and the third before the university of Cambridge. He died of an atrophy October 13th, 1731, and in his epitaph has the character of, viz. Bonis literis, eloquio, et humanitate. Si quis alius, insignis.
JOHN TYLSTON, a pedler, was remarkable for his great age. He was a big boy at Edge-hill fight, died February 13th, 1733, and consequently could not be less than a hundred years old.
Page created 7 September 2003 and last updated 22 June 2007
