Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lynford, Thomas
LYNFORD or LINFORD, THOMAS (1650–1724), divine, son of Samuel Lynford of Cambridge, where he was born in 1650, was educated at Newark and Bury St. Edmunds, and admitted as a sizar at Christ's College, Cambridge, 16 July 1666. He is described in the admission book as ‘optimæ spei juvenis.’ He graduated B.A. in 1670–1, and proceeded M.A. in 1674, and S.T.P. in 1689, being also incorporated M.A. of Oxford on 11 July 1676. He was elected fellow of Christ's in 1675, and was also tutor from 1676 to 1685. He gave money to case with stone the front of the college, which had become dilapidated. In 1689, when he married, he was described as ‘lately the ingenious prevaricator of Cambridge’ (Foster, Marriage Licenses). Lynford was instituted rector of St. Edmund, Lombard Street, on 18 Dec. 1685 (Newcourt), and became chaplain in ordinary to William and Mary. In 1700 he was appointed canon of Westminster, and was installed on 6 May, and on 9 Sept. 1709 was collated to the archdeaconry of Barnstaple, an office which he held till his death on 11 Aug. 1724. He married by license, dated 25 Nov. 1689, Elizabeth Dillingham of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London.
Lynford contributed the ninth note to ‘Popish Notes of the Church examined and confuted’ (Bishop Gibson, Preservative against Popery, 1738, fol., iii. 360, x. 202, 372), and was the author of ‘Some Dialogues between Mr. Godden and others, with reflections upon a book called “Pax Vobis,”’ 1687, 8vo. He also published several sermons, one of which was preached before the king at St. James's, on 12 Dec. 1714.
[Memorials of Cambridge (Cooper's edit.), ii. 44; Le Neve's Fasti Eccles. Anglic.; Grad. Cantabrigienses; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Wood's Fasti, ii. 355; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714; Foster's London Marriage Licenses; information from the master of Christ's College.]