Thomas Hooker
Born 7 JUL 1586 Marfield, Leicestershire, ENGLAND
Died 7 JUL 1647 Hartford CT
Other Facts
Education 1611 BA, MA, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, England
Occupation Clergyman
Notes
American clergyman, through his piety, zeal, & wisdom, was unquestionably one of the foremost of colonial pastors. He took his M.A. at the intellectual center of Puritanism, remained there as a fellow for few years, & then preache d in the parish of Esher in Surrey. About 1626 he became lecturer to the church of St. Mary at Chelmsford, Essex, delivering on market days & Sunday afternoon evangelical addresses which were notable for their moral fervor. In 1629 Archbishop Lau d took measures to suppress church lectureships, which were an Puritan innovation. Hooker was cited to appear before the court of high commission, but he forfeited his bond & fled to Holland. In 1633 he emigrated, on the ship "Griffin", to the col ony of Massachusetts Bay in America. He became pastor at Newtowne (now
Cambridge MA) of a company of Puritans who had arrived from England in the previous year, and, in expectation of his joining them, were called "Mr. Hooker's Company."
Hooker publicly criticized the limitation of suffrage to church members, and, according to a contemporary historian, "After Mr. Hooker's coming over it was observed that many of the freemen grew to be very jealous of their liberties." He was a lea der of the emigrants who in 1636 founded Hartford Connecticut. He declared that "the choice of public magistrates belongs unto the people by God's own allowance" & "they who have the power to appoint officers & magistrates, it is in their power , also, to set the bounds & limitations of the power & place unto which they call them." This theory was in advance of the age & caused many historians to call him "the father of American democracy." Yet, Hooker had no idea of the separation of ch urch & state. He said that "the privilege of election, which belongs to the people" must be exercised "according to the blessed will & law of God."
He remained the pastor of the Hartford church until his death.
Education 1611 BA, MA, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, England
Occupation Clergyman
Notes
American clergyman, through his piety, zeal, & wisdom, was unquestionably one of the foremost of colonial pastors. He took his M.A. at the intellectual center of Puritanism, remained there as a fellow for few years, & then preache d in the parish of Esher in Surrey. About 1626 he became lecturer to the church of St. Mary at Chelmsford, Essex, delivering on market days & Sunday afternoon evangelical addresses which were notable for their moral fervor. In 1629 Archbishop Lau d took measures to suppress church lectureships, which were an Puritan innovation. Hooker was cited to appear before the court of high commission, but he forfeited his bond & fled to Holland. In 1633 he emigrated, on the ship "Griffin", to the col ony of Massachusetts Bay in America. He became pastor at Newtowne (now
Cambridge MA) of a company of Puritans who had arrived from England in the previous year, and, in expectation of his joining them, were called "Mr. Hooker's Company."
Hooker publicly criticized the limitation of suffrage to church members, and, according to a contemporary historian, "After Mr. Hooker's coming over it was observed that many of the freemen grew to be very jealous of their liberties." He was a lea der of the emigrants who in 1636 founded Hartford Connecticut. He declared that "the choice of public magistrates belongs unto the people by God's own allowance" & "they who have the power to appoint officers & magistrates, it is in their power , also, to set the bounds & limitations of the power & place unto which they call them." This theory was in advance of the age & caused many historians to call him "the father of American democracy." Yet, Hooker had no idea of the separation of ch urch & state. He said that "the privilege of election, which belongs to the people" must be exercised "according to the blessed will & law of God."
He remained the pastor of the Hartford church until his death.