Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hinckley, John
HINCKLEY, JOHN (1617?–1695), controversialist, born about 1617, was the son of Robert Hinckley of Coughton, Warwickshire, and was ‘puritanically educated.’ On 4 July 1634 he was admitted a member of St. Alban Hall, Oxford, and was ultimately cured of his puritanism by the preaching of Dr. Peter Wentworth in St. Mary's Church. He proceeded B.A. on 11 April 1638, M.A. on 22 March 1640, and B.D. and D.D. by accumulation, 9 July 1679 (Wood, Fasti Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 500, 515, ii. 370). In 1640 he took orders, and was received into the family of the Purefoys of Wadley, near Faringdon, Berkshire. According to Wood he was presented by George Purefoy to the rectory of Drayton Fenny, Leicestershire; but his name does not occur in the parish records. During the Commonwealth he contrived to maintain good relations with both parties, and was left unmolested. In 1657 he was holding the vicarage of Coleshill, Berkshire. After the Restoration he obtained the wealthy rectory of Northfield, Worcestershire, and on 15 Oct. 1673 was collated to the prebend of Gaia Minor in Lichfield Cathedral (Le Neve, Fasti, ed. Hardy, i. 610). He died on 13 April 1695, aged 78, and was buried on the 17th of that month in Northfield Church. On his monument it is stated that he ‘expended a great deal of money in defence of the rights of this church.’ He married first in 1647 Susannah (1621–1671), daughter of Henry Shelley of Sussex, by whom he had nine children; and secondly, in 1681, Frances (1625–1701), daughter of Robert, lord Tracy, but had no children by her. Two of his sons, Walter (1648–1699) and John (1654–1705), became successively rectors of Northfield (Nash, Worcestershire, ii. 191–2).
Hinckley's eloquent preaching drew together nonconformists as well as churchmen. He published: 1. ‘Two Sermons preached before the Judges of Assize. … With two other Sermons preached at St. Maries in Oxford. … To which are added Matrimoniall Instructions to persons of honour,’ 12mo, Oxford, 1657. 2. ‘Epistola veridica ad homines Φιλοπροτεύοντας [signed N.Y.]. Cui additur oratio pro statu ecclesiæ,’ 4to, London, 1659. 3. ‘Sermon at the funeral of George Purefoy the elder,’ 4to, London, 1661. 4. ‘Πιθαναλογία. Or, a Persuasive to Conformity. … By a Country Minister,’ 8vo, London, 1670. 5. ‘Fasciculus Literarum: or, Letters on several occasions,’ 8vo, London, 1680, which contains his controversy with Richard Baxter.
[Authorities quoted; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), iv. 432–4.]