Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Howe, Obadiah
HOWE, OBADIAH (1616?–1683), divine, born in Leicestershire about 1616, was the son of William Howe, incumbent of Tattershall, Lincolnshire (Cox, Magna Britannia, 'Lincolnshire,' p. 1444). In 1632 he became a member of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and graduated B.A. on 23 Oct. 1635 (Wood, Fasti Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 478), M.A. on 26 May 1638 (ib. i. 501). At the time of the battle of Winceby (1643) he was rector of Stickney, Lincolnshire, and is said to have entertained the leaders of the parliamentary forces the day before the fight (Thompson, Hist. of Boston, ed. 1856, pp. 171-2). He was afterwards vicar of Horncastle and rector of Gedney, Lincolnshire. At the Restoration he again changed sides, and managed to obtain the vicarage of Boston (1660). On 9 July 1674 he accumulated his degrees in divinity at Oxford (Wood, Fasti, ii. 344, 345). He died on 27 Feb. 1682-3, and was buried in Boston Church (Thompson, p. 777). The well-known John Howe (1630-1705) [q. v.] was his nephew. Besides two sermons, he published:
- 'The Universalist examined and convicted, destitute of plaine Sayings of Scripture, or Evidence of Reason. In Answer to a Treatise entituled "The Universality of Gods free Grace in Christ to Mankind,"' 4to [London], 1648.
- 'The Pagan Preacher silenced; or, an Answer to a Treatise of Mr. John Goodwin entituled "The Pagans Debt & Dowry" … With a Verdict on the Case depending between Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Howe by the learned George Kendal, D.D.,' 2 pts. 4to, London, 1655. Goodwin, in the preface to his 'Triumviri' (4to, London, 1658), says of Howe 'that he was a person of considerable parts and learning, but thought so most by himself.'
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), iv. 65-6.]