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Notes to the Manuscript
FOLIO 2 (1693)
Thomas Seeker (d. 1700): of his three marriages only the third is clearly
documented. He married Abigail Brough on 18 December. 1685, at
Shelton [Parish Registers of Shelton, edited by T.M. Blagg (Worksop,
1900), pp. 16 & 50]. There is little other information available about the
earlier Seeker generations.
Alcock: nothing more is known of this man.
William: William Seeker (d. 1681): his sermon was subtitled The Salve of
Divinity on the Sore of Humanity laid open at a Wedding at Edmonton, by
William Seeker, ''preacher of the Gospel," which was published in 1658
and again "for the benefit of the poor" in 1705. The Nonsuch Professor
. . . the singular actions of sanctified Christians laid open in seven sermons at
Allhallows Church in the Wall London (1660) almost became a spiritual
classic, being published again with some amendments in 1795 and in
1915 by the Religious Tract Society; it was very biblical, and after the
manner of the time almost too rich in antitheses and conceits. William
Seeker became vicar of Allhallows the Less, January 1663. These
sermons he dedicated to Sir Edward Barkham and his wife of Tottenham,
Middlesex, to whom he was tied "in so many silken cords of y r
constant favours, that I must live and die in those pleasant fetters."
Barkham had been M.R for Boston 1625-26 and sheriff of Norfolk
1635-36, and was represented in the dedication as holding, and
practising, that "fear God and honour the King" were two commands
which God had joined together, and that no man should put asunder.
Thomas Seeker (d. 1676), son of Thomas Seeker of Grantham, was
admitted sizar at Christ's college, Cambridge in 1664, taking his B.A. in
1667 and his M. A. in 1671. He had a younger brother George, also sizar
of Christ's, who was granted an M.B. in 1672 (Venn, Alumni Cantab.).
Earl of Shrewsbury: Charles Talbot (1660-1718), fifth earl and godson
of Charles II, who was of recusant origins but conformed to the Church
of England in 1679. He was a signatory to the invitation to William of
Orange and created duke in 1694. Although important in securing the
Hanoverian succession in 1714, he did flirt with Jacobitism after 1715
(G. E. C., Complete Peerage).