People: Williamson, Thomas

Sex

Male

Marital Status

Married

Spouse Name

Jane

Occupation Status

Clerk; fellow of Manchester College; vicar of Eccles

Literacy

Yes - graduate

Remarks

CCEd person ID 29173

Career: As a boy, Thomas Williamson probably attended Sedbergh School and entered St. John’s College, Cambridge in 1567. As Master of Arts Williamson was appointed vicar of Eccles by Queen Elizabeth in 1576 and, together with Oliver Carter, was one of the first Fellows of Manchester College when it was re-founded by her in 1578, holding the position until his death in 1606. He also held the vicarage of Childwall for a few months in 1588/9.

Further notes:

He represented Manchester College at a metropolitan visitation in 1590, when it was found that none of the fellows wore a surplice, a practice associated with Puritanism, which was not accepted by the church authorities. He had already been ordered to wear a surplice during a previous metropolitan visitation of his parish of Eccles in 1578.

In 1584 he was appointed as one of the Bury moderators of the monthly preaching and educational Exercises held for clergy throughout the diocese. These were intended to win over those inclined to conservatism and to improve standards but are associated with Puritanism.

Sources: 

F. R. Raines, The fellows of the collegiate church of Manchester, ed. F. Renaud, vol. 1, Chetham Society, new series, 21 (1891).

F. R. Raines (ed.), ‘A Visitation of the diocese of Chester, by John, Archbishop of York, held in the Chapter House of the Collegiate and Parish Church of Manchester, 1590, with the Archbishop’s correspondence with the clergy.’ Chetham Miscellanies, vol. v, Chetham Society, old series, 96 (1875).

R. C. Richardson, Puritanism in north-west England (Manchester, 1972).

B. Wilson (ed.), The Sedbergh School Register 1546 to 1895 (Leeds, 1895).

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol4/pp352-362#anchorn60

Causes

EDC 5/1580/10 – commissioned to examine witnesses in Manchester