Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rogers, John (1610-1680)
ROGERS, JOHN (1610–1680), ejected minister, was born on 25 April 1610 at Chacombe, Northamptonshire; his father, John Rogers, reputed to be a grandson of the martyr, John Rogers (1500?–1550) [q. v.], and author of a ‘Discourse to Christian Watchfulness,’ 1620, was vicar of Chacombe from 1587. On 30 Oct. 1629 he matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford, graduated B.A. on 4 Dec. 1632, and M.A. on 27 June 1635. His first cure was the rectory of Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire. In 1644 he became rector of Leigh, Kent, and in the same year became perpetual curate of Barnard Castle, Durham. All these livings appear to have been sequestrations. After the Restoration, Rogers, having to surrender Barnard Castle, was presented by Lord Wharton to the vicarage of Croglin, Cumberland, whither he removed on 2 March 1661. He had been intimate with the Vanes, whose seat was at Raby Castle, Durham, and visited the younger Sir Henry Vane in 1662, during his imprisonment in the Tower. In consequence of the Uniformity Act (1662) he resigned Croglin.
Rogers, who had private means, henceforth lived near Barnard Castle, preaching wherever he could find hearers. During the indulgence of 1672 he took out a licence (13 May) as congregational preacher in his own house at Lartington, two miles from Barnard Castle, and another (12 Aug.) for Darlington, Durham. Here and at Stockton-on-Tees he gathered nonconformist congregations. In Teesdale and Weardale (among the lead-miners) he made constant journeys for evangelising purposes. Calamy notes his reputation for discourses at ‘arvals’ (funeral dinners). He made no more than 10l. a year by his preaching. In spite of his nonconformity he lived on good terms with the clergy of the district, and was friendly with Nathaniel Crew [q. v.], bishop of Durham, and other dignitaries. His neighbour, Sir Richard Cradock, would have prosecuted him, but Cradock's granddaughter interceded. He died at Startforth, near Barnard Castle, on 28 Nov. 1680, and was buried at Barnard Castle, John Brokell, the incumbent, preaching his funeral sermon. He married Grace (d. 1673), second daughter of Thomas Butler. Her elder sister, Mary, was wife of Ambrose Barnes [q. v.] His son Timothy (1658–1728) is separately noticed. Other children were Jonathan, John, and Margaret, who all died in infancy; also Jane and Joseph. He published a catechism, and two ‘admirable’ letters in ‘The Virgin Saint’ (1673), a religious biography (Calamy).
[Calamy's Account, 1713, pp. 151 sq.; Calamy's Continuation, 1727, i. 226; Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, 1714, ii. 101; Palmer's Nonconformist's Memorial, 1802, i. 379 sq.; Chester's John Rogers, p. 280; Hutchinson's Hist. of Dur- ham, 1823, iii. 300; Sharp's Life of Ambrose Barnes (Newcastle Typogr. Soc.), 1828; Surtees's Hist. of Durham, 1840, iv. 82; Archæologia Æliana, 1890, xv. 37 sq.; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1891, iii. 127.]