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The Autobiography of
Archbishop Thomas Seeker
FOLIO 1 AUG 1766
I have determined to write down such things, relating
to myself, as {seem} (appear) to me proper. For I have as much Leisure
now to look into my old Papers, as I can expect ever to have. And my
Memory hath seemed for some time beginning to decay: so that I might
better have done it sooner; but think it is not yet too late. Some
Particulars I shall set down, merely that I may not forget them, but
recollect them more easily & certainly for my own Use: & some to
inform my Relations & Friends of such Matters, as they may wish to
know. Some Facts and Dates may prevent Falsehoods, & perhaps
injurious Falsehoods, from being spred concerning me hereafter. I by no
means desire any thing, which I shall write, to be unnecessarily told for
my Honour: but only, if it be needful to preserve me from Misrepresentation.
My good Deeds have been much fewer & less than they ought:
my Faults & Failings many & great, though I have not conceived my self
bound to specifie them. God incline & assist me to spend the small
Remainder of my Life better, than I have spent the Bulk of it.
FOLIO 2 I was born Sept. 21. 1693 O.S. at Sibthorp, a small
1693 Village in the Vale of Belvoir, Nottinghamshire. My
Father, Thomas Seeker, was the Son of Leonard Seeker (or
as the name was then sometimes written, 2)[Sickar, Sicker, or] Sickers)
of Marston, in Lincolnshire, Butcher. Leonard had two Daughters,
whose Names, after Marriage, were Elsom & Alcock: & whose Posterity
are still living; the former, at least, in low Circumstances. He had also a
Son, William: who published a Sermon, intitled, The Wedding Ring fit
for the Finger, & afterwards the Substance of eight more, intitled, the
Non-such Professor in his meridian Splendor. He was a married Man,
but died without Children, in 1681, Rector of Lee in Essex, to which he
was instituted, 30 Aug. 1667. a ) Thomas Seeker, ^[Chaplain to the Earl
of Shrewsbury,] Rector of Marston with Hougham, to which by
Dispensation he joined, in 1676, the Rectory of Broxholm Co. Linc b )
was probably a Relation of my Father. And so was certainly the
Grandfather of Mr John Seeker, Clerk Comptroller of the Kings
Kitchen: but what the Relation was I know not.