Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 10.djvu/179

 1790. From this book Mr. John Edward Cussans has taken every note of value for his ‘History of Hertfordshire,’ 3 vols. London, 1870, fol. There is an exact reprint of the original work in two octavo volumes issued at Bishops Stortford by J. M. Mullinger in 1827. There are three interleaved folios in the British Museum (Add. MSS. 9062–4) entitled ‘Chauncy and Salmon's History and Antiquities of Hertfordshire, illustrated with a great variety of Prints and Drawings, and some MS. Notes and Papers by the late Thomas Baskerfield, Esq.,’ presented by Mrs. Baskerfield in 1832. Chauncy died at Yardley Bury (now called Ardeley) on 21 May 1719, and is buried in the church there. Chauncy mentions in his preface that he was prevented from carrying out his original design by having to spend money in resisting the ruinous machinations of a degenerate member of his family and his malicious accomplices. The reference is to his eldest surviving son, Henry, who died in 1703, after going to law with his father. The litigant's son Henry succeeded on his grandfather's death in 1719 to a life interest in the family estates, and died childless in 1722. Several books upon witchcraft which appeared in 1712 were occasioned by the apprehension, under Chauncy's warrant, of an old woman, Jane Wenham of Walkern, for bewitching sheep and servant girls. She was found guilty at Hertford assizes and sentenced to death, but the queen granted her a free pardon.

[Chauncy's Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire, 1700; Salmon's History of Hertfordshire, 1728; Clutterbuck's History and Antiquities of the County of Hertford, 1815–27; Cussans's Hertfordshire, i. pt. ii. 137, pt. iii. 87, 89; Savage's Librarian, i. 49–63; Upcott's English Topography, i. 333–8; Gough's British Topography, i. 419; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ii. 132, iii. 179; Nichols's Illust. iv. 79; Discovery of Sorcery and Witchcraft, 1712.] 

CHAUNCY, ISAAC (1632–1712), dissenting minister, eldest son of Charles Chauncy [q. v.], was born on 23 Aug. and baptised at Ware, Hertfordshire, on 30 Aug. 1632. He went as a child to New England with his father, and was entered at Harvard in 1651, where he studied both theology and medicine, but, coming to England, completed his education at Oxford, where he proceeded M.A. Before 1660 he was given the rectory of Woodborough, Wiltshire, where he resided until ejected by the Act of Uniformity in 1662. Thereupon he removed to Andover, Hampshire, where he took charge of a congregational church. On 5 July 1669 he was admitted an extra-licentiate of the College of Physicians. ‘Having,’ says Calamy, ‘quitted Andover some time after the recalling of Charles's Indulgence, he came to London with a design to act chiefly as a physician’ (Nonconf. Memorial, ed. Palmer, iii. 380–1). On 30 Sept. 1687 he was induced to accept the pastorate of an independent meeting-house in Bury Street, St. Mary Axe, over which he presided for fourteen years. Chauncy, although a learned man, was not a popular preacher, and being somewhat bigoted, he so tormented his hearers with incessant declamations on church government ‘that they left him’ (, Biog. Dict. ix. 218 n.). He therefore resigned his charge on 15 April 1701, and was succeeded by Isaac Watts, who had been his assistant for two years previously. During the whole period of his ministry he had also practised medicine. He afterwards became divinity tutor to the newly founded Dissenting Academy in London, an office which he held until his death. Chauncy died at his house in Little Moorfields on 28 Feb. 1712. By his wife, Jane, he had three sons and a daughter. Chauncy was a voluminous author. Besides a prefatory epistle to Clarkson's ‘Primitive Episcopacy,’ 1688, and an edition of Owen's ‘Gospel Grounds,’ 1709, he published: 1. ‘The Catholic Hierarchy,’ 1681. 2. ‘A Theological Dialogue, containing a Defence and Justification of Dr. John Owen from the forty-two errors charged upon him by Mr. Richard Baxter,’ 1684. 3. ‘The Second Part of the Theological Dialogue, being a rejoinder to Mr. Richard Baxter,’ 1684. 4. ‘The Unreasonableness of compelling Men to go to the Holy Supper,’ 1684. 5. ‘Ecclesia Enucleata: the Temple opened, or a clear demonstration of the True Gospel Church,’ 1684. 6. ‘The Interest of Churches, or a Scripture Plea for Steadfastness in Gospel Order,’ 1690. 7. ‘Ecclesiasticon, or a plain and familiar Christian Conference concerning Gospel Church and Order,’ 1690. 8. ‘Examen Confectionis Pacificæ, or a Friendly Examination of the Pacific Paper.’ [By I. C.], 1692. 9. ‘Neonomianism unmasked; or the Ancient Gospel pleaded against the other, called a New Law, or Gospel, &c.,’ three parts, 1692–3. 10. ‘A Rejoynder to Mr. D. Williams, his reply to the first part of Neonomianism unmaskt, &c.,’ 1693. 11. ‘A Discourse concerning Unction and Washing of Feet, &c.,’ 1697. 12. ‘The Divine Institution of Congregational Churches, Ministry, and Ordinances, &c.,’ 1697. 13. ‘An Essay to the Interpretation of the Angel Gabriel's Prophesy deliver'd by the Prophet Daniel, chap. ix. 24,’ 1699. 14. ‘Christ's Ascension to fill all things … a sermon [on Eph. iv. 10],’ 