The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

[ Previous ][ Next ]

Henry Sampson (1629 - 1700)

Church of England minster (ejected for nonconformity), physician, antiquarian, and historian of dissent:
Sampson was for many years engaged in preparing a history of puritanism and nonconformity in which he sought to represent the nonconformists 'as a Considerable, an injured & misjudged people' by examining their lives, learning, and usefulness to the church (H. Sampson to R. Thoresby, 9 May 1699, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, MS 7). He therefore drew up a list of ejected ministers for each county, and 'there were few Counties in which he did not add some Characters of the Ejected, (either from his own Knowledge, as particularly in Warwickshire; or from the Information of others)' (Calamy, Abridgement, 2.xxiii, 752). Ralph Thoresby, the Leeds antiquary, was among those who assisted him. He also co-operated with Roger Morrice, who was engaged in a similar project. The history was never published, as Sampson himself admitted the undertaking proved too great for him: 'Onus impar humeris' (H. Sampson to R. Thoresby, 9 May 1699, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, MS 7). Calamy when preparing his own account of the ejected ministers relied greatly on Sampson's manuscript collections, particularly in his Account (1713) and the Continuation (1727). (Wykes, ODNB)
He was also step-brother of Nehemiah Grew. Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/24592 Relevant locations: Lived at or near London, England
 Relationships: Henry Sampson was a relative of Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712)
Henry Sampson was a friend of Ralph Thoresby (1658-1725)

 References in Documents:
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

Diodati's Annotations upon the Holy Bible, expounding the difficult Places, 2d Edit. 1648. Lond. 4to. delicately bound, painted and gilt, with the Lord Fairfax's Arms, &c. being perhaps a Present to the General. But this, and those commonly called the Assemblies Annotations upon the Bible, in 2 Vol Fol. scarce come within the Design of this Catalogue, not having the Words of the Text entire, and continued. I say commonly called the Assemblies, but it is most certain that many Episcopal Divines, as Bishop Richardson, Dr. Featly, &c. had their Parts therein, as appears by a List of the Authors transmitted to me, An. 1696, by the Learned Dr. Sampson, a Person of Learning and Curiosity, and particularly knowing in those Affairs.

Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713) 162. Memoirs of the Rev. Mr. Woodcock, with Collections from his M. S. Notes, containing Historical Passages, Remarkable Providences, &c. transcribed by my honoured Friend, Dr. Sampson of London, whose Legacy it was.
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713) 180. Extracts from the Day-Book, a curious M.S. of my honoured Friend Dr. Hen. Sampson, and from Mr. Heywood's Diaries. Memoirs of Dr. Sam. Winter, not in the printed Narrative. The Life of Mr. John Shaw, Vicar of Rotheram, from the Original, writ by himself. Mr. Reyner of Lincoln, from his Diary, &c. The Life and Death of Archbp. Tobie Matthews, by Dr. Sampson; and of Mr. Elk. Wales of Pudsey, near Leedes, which I collected from Registers, M.S. and Original Papers in this Musæum.
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713) 181. The Life of Mr. John Bois, one of the Translators of the Bible, by his Grand-Son, Dr. Anth. Walker. The Memoirs of Bishop Bentham, and Dean Nowell. Also the Characters of Mr. Jer. Whitaker, John Foxcroft, Rob. Johnson, Rich. Clayton, Ol. Bowles, Tho. Mickethwait (Father of Sir John, the noted Physician) Hen. Wilkinson, sen. and jun. Joshua Hoyl, William Rathband, and Theodore Bathurst, Yorkeshire Members of the Assembly of Divines, transcribed from Dr. Sampson's Papers.
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

Gratitude to my Benefactors obligeth me to acknowledge to whose Kindess I am obliged for some of the most valuable of the said Originals, viz. to the most Rev. his Grace the late Lord Archbishop of Yorke, the Right Reverend Bishops of Sarum, Carlisle, and Man; the Rev. Mr. Atkinson, Banks, Boyse, Calamy, Chorley, Clarke, Coningham, Cooke, Cressey; Daubuz, Deering, Drake, Dwyer; Fall; Gale (Dean of Yorke, to whom, and to Dr. Hudson the greatest Number of the Learned Foreigners are directed) Gibson; Hardy, Hickes, Hill, Hough, Hudson, Humfrey; Milner; Nalson, Noble; Pearson, Plaxton, Priestley; Smith, Stretton, Strype (for some very valuable temp. Reg. Eliz.) Talbot, Tallents; Wasse, and Wilkinson. And of the Laity, Mr. Bayns, Blythman, Brenand, Sir Walter Calverley, John Chamberlayn Esq; Mr. Churchill; Rob. Dale, Jo. Dyneley, and John Evelyn Esquires, the Executors of the Lord Evers; Tho. Lord Fairfax, Barwick, Tho. Robert, and Bryan Fairfax Esqrs; Roger Gale, and Will. Gilpin Esqrs; Sir Andr. Fountaine; Jo. Hare, and Rob. Hitch Esqrs; Mr. Holmes, and Houghton; Tho. Kirk Esq; Dr. Lister, Mr. Lhwyd, Sir Will. Lowther, Sir John Middleton, Robert Molesworth Esq; Robert Nelson Esq; Peter le Neve Esq; Norroy; Hen. Newman Esq; the Right Honourable Sir Tho. Parker, Lord Chief-Justice; Will. Petyt Esq; Mr. Petiver, Dr. Richardson, Tho. Rymer Esq; Dr. Sampson, Theo. Shelton Esq; Sir Phil. Sydenham, Robert Stephens Esq; the Hon. Mr. Wentworth; Sir Geo. Wheeler, and Dr. Woodward.