Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Berriman, William
BERRIMAN, WILLIAM, D.D. (1688–1750), divine, son of John Berriman, apothecary in Bishopsgate Street, London, in the parish of St. Ethelburga (by Mary, daughter of William Wagstaffe, of Farnborough, Warwickshire), and grandson of the Rev. Charles Berriman, rector of Beddington, Surrey, was born on 24 Sept. 1688. His first school was at Banbury, Oxfordshire; he continued there seven years. Thence he was removed to Merchant Taylors' School, London, under Dr. Shorting, in 1700. He was entered commoner of Oriel College, Oxford, on 4 March 1705. He went to reside in Oxford on 21 June 1705; was B.A. 2 Nov. 1708; M.A. 2 June 1711; D.D. 25 June 1722. His brother, in his memoir of him, lauds his learning at the university, and Glocester Ridley, LL.B., in his funeral sermon remarks: ‘Aware of the ridiculousness of that dangerous and troublesome acquisition, “a little learning,” he did not quit the university when yet but a novice there, and rush into the world to be a teacher of it, till he had formed his judgment by the compleat axle of academical sciences and the exercises of the school’ (p. 11). He mastered Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic. He was ordained deacon at Oxford by Bishop Talbot, but continued in residence at the university till he was settled in London on 5 May 1712. He is found as curate at Allhallows in Thames Street in 1712. He was ordained priest on 12 Dec. 1712 by the Bishop of Hereford (Dr. Bisse). He was chosen lecturer of St. Michael's, Queenhithe, 22 July 1714. He became domestic chaplain to Dr. Robinson, bishop of London, April 1720, and resided at Fulham. On 26 April 1722 he was presented to St. Andrew's Undershaft, and thereupon resigned his lectureship at Queenhithe. He was known privately as author of 'A seasonable Review of Mr. Whiston's Account of Primitive Doxologies,' 1719, and of 'A Second Review,' also 1719. In 1723-4 was delivered his 'Historical Account of the Trinitarian Controversy,' being the Lady Moyer's lecture, published 1725. In 1731 followed 'A Defence of some Passages in the Historical Account,'
On 17 Nov. 1724 he married Mary Hudson. On 16 June 1727 he was elected fellow of Eton College, and for the remainder of his life took special interest in this foundation. Eton became his summer residence. In 1780-1 he preached the Boyle lecture, published in 1733 (2 vols. 8vo). In 1733 appeared his 'Brief Remarks on Mr. Chandler s Introduction to the History of the Inquisition.' There were other occasional sermons and tractates. He died on 5 Feb. 1749-50, in his sixty-second year. His brother John [q. v.] published posthumously two volumes sermons, entitling them 'Christian Doctrines and Duties explained and recommended in xl Sermons' (1751).
[Memoir by John Berriman in his Christian Dfxitrines, 1751; The Good Christian never dies, by Glocester Ridley, 1750; Chandlers Answer to William Berriman, D.D., 1733; with A Second Letter, 1733, and A Vindication against the Misrepresentations of William Berriman, 1734; Biog. Brit.; Wilson's Dissenting Churches, ii. 365.]