Nicholas Lockyer

Nicholas Lockyer (1611–1685) was an English clergyman and Independent minister, a close supporter of Oliver Cromwell and Provost of Eton College, and later an ejected minister and nonconformist.

Life

Early career He was son of William Lockyer of Glastonbury, Somerset. On 4 November 1631 he matriculated at Oxford at New Inn Hall, graduated B.A. on 14 May 1633, was incorporated at Cambridge in 1635, and proceeded M.A. from Emmanuel College in 1636. Upon the outbreak of the First English Civil War he took the covenant and engagement, and became known as a fervid, powerful preacher. He was frequently called upon to deliver the fast sermon before the House of Commons.

In 1649, Cromwell made him his chaplain. His persistent disregard of Act compelled him to retire for a time to Rotterdam in September 1666. In 1670 he had again to leave the country for publishing anonymously a tract entitled Some Seasonable Queries upon the late Act against Conventicles. To the last he persisted in exercising his ministry. He ultimately settled at Woodford, Essex where he died on 13 March 1685, and was buried at St. Mary, Whitechapel. He left a son, Cornelius, and five daughters.

He had accumulated property. On 30 June 1653 the council of state resolved to settle lands of inheritance to the value of £200 a year on him and his heirs forever out of deans' and chapters' lands, and an ordinance was passed to that effect on 3 February 1651. He bargained to have the value in money at ten years' purchase, and accordingly received £2,100, with which he purchased the manors of Hambleton and Blackwell, Worcestershire, by indenture dated 27 September 1654. Besides his Worcestershire estates he possessed property at Woodford and Barking, and in Ireland in Munster, which he purchased by virtue of an act made for speedily reducing the rebels of Ireland.

Family He was married with six children. 'England faithfully watch't with in her Wounds, or Christ as a Father sitting up with his Children in their Swooning State, the summe of severall Lectures painfully preached upon Colossians i.,' London, 1646. 'An Olive Leaf, or a Bud of the Spring, viz. Christ's Resurrection and its end', London, 1650. 'A Memorial of God's Judgments. Spiritual and Temporal, or Sermons to call to Remembrance,' London, 1671. 'Spiritual Inspection, or a Review of the Heart.' 'The Young Man's Call and Duty.' 'Biblical sincerity discovered' 'Christ’s resurrection from the dead'

He also published two fast sermons delivered before the House of Commons in 1646 and 1659.