Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Clagett, Nicholas (1610?-1663)

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1360271Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 10 — Clagett, Nicholas (1610?-1663)1887Thompson Cooper

CLAGETT, NICHOLAS, the elder (1610?–1663), puritan divine, was born at Canterbury about 1610 (Biog. Brit. ed. Kippis, iii. 592, note A) and in 1628 was entered as a student of Merton College, Oxford, where he proceeded B.A. in October 1681 (Wood, Fasti Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 460). Afterwards he migrated to Magdalen Hall, and commenced M.A. in June 1634, being then generally esteemed a very able moderator in philosophy (ib. i. 474). About 1636 he became vicar of Melbourne, Derbyshire, and about 1644 he was chosen lecturer or preacher at St. Mary's Church, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where he was popular with 'the precise party.' After the Restoration he was ejected from the preachership for nonconformity. He died on 12 Sept. 1663, and was buried in the chancel of St. Mary's Church, Bury St. Edmunds (Addit. MS. 19165, f. 237).

He wrote: 'The Abuse of God's Grace; discovered in the Kinds, Causes, Punishments, Symptoms, Cures, Differences, Cautions, and other Practical Improvements thereof. Proposed as a seasonable check to the wanton Libertinisme of the present Age,' Oxford, 1659, 4to. Dedicated to his honoured cousin William Clagot, and his dear consort the Lady Southcote.

By his wife Jane, who died at Bury St. Edmunds on 23 Aug. 1673, he had two sons who became eminent divines, viz., Dr. William Clagett [q. v.] and Dr. Nicholas Clagett the younger [q. v.]

[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, iii. 340; Tymms's Account of St. Mary's Church, Bury St. Eilmunds, pp. 129, 197; Wilkinson's preface to The Abuse of God's Grace; Calamy's Ejected Ministers, p. 646, Continuation, p. 787.]

T. C.