Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rogers, Ezekiel
ROGERS, EZEKIEL (1584?–1661), colonist, born about 1584, was son of Richard Rogers (1550?–1618) [q. v.], incumbent of Wethersfield in Essex, and younger brother of Daniel Rogers (1573–1652) [q. v.]. He graduated M. A. from Christ's College, Cambridge, 1604, and became chaplain in the family of Sir Francis Barrington in Essex. He was preferred by his patron to the living of Rowley in Yorkshire. There he became conspicuous as a preacher, attached himself to the puritan party, and was suspended. In 1638 became with a party of twenty families to New England. On 23 May 1639 he was admitted a freeman of Massachusetts. In the same year he and his companions established themselves as a township, to which they gave the name of their old home, Rowley. Theophilus Eaton [q. v.] and John Davenport [q. v.], then engaged in establishing their colony at New Haven, tried to enlist Rogers, but without success. In 1639 Rogers was appointed pastor of the new township. In 1643 he preached the election sermon, and in 1647 a sermon before the general synod at Cambridge. He died on 23 Jan. 1661, leaving no issue. He was three times married: first, to Sarah, widow of John Everard; secondly, to a daughter of the well-known New England divine, John Wilson; thirdly, to Mary, widow of Thomas Barker.
Rogers published in 1642 a short treatise, entitled 'The Chief Grounds of the Christian Religion set down by way of catechising, gathered long since for the use of an honourable Family,' London, 1642. Several of his letters to John Winthrop, the governor of Massachusetts, are published in the 'Massachusetts Historical Collection' (4th ser. vii.)
[Cotton Mather's Magnalia; Winthrop's Hist. of New England (Savage's edit.); Savage's Genealogical Register of New England; Chester's John Rogers, p. 249.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.238
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 119 | i | 17-18 | Rogers, Ezekiel: for M.A. from Christ's College, Cambridge, 1604, read B.A. in 1604-5 from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, whence he migrated to Christ's College, Cambridge, |