Oxford in 1645. In 1673 he convoyed twenty-five sail from Virginia to England during the Dutch war. He returned to Virginia in 1676 in command of the Concord, a ship of 32 guns, and took an important part in pacifying the colony during the insurrection of Nathaniel Bacon (1642?–1676) [q. v.] On a third voyage to Virginia he was attacked (25 Oct. 1678) by a corsair of very superior force commanded by a Spanish renegade, and beat her off after a gallant action. Charles II acknowledged his services, and in 1682 recommended him to the East India Company. They accordingly granted him a commission for a ship named the Charles II. The king, with the Duke of York, was present at the launch on 8 Feb. 1683, when the king knighted him. He sailed in the summer, with directions to enforce the company's claims for half the revenues of Gombroon against the shah of Persia, and to replace the English at Bantam, from which they had been expelled by the king's son, acting in concert with the Dutch. Grantham reached Bantam in June 1684, but, an agreement having been made meanwhile in Europe, his visit was peaceful. He next proceeded to Gombroon, where he found the Dutch already in possession and could do nothing. Sailing to Surat, he received orders from Mr. (soon afterwards Sir) John Child [q. v.], president of the council, to suppress a mutiny at Bombay. Captain Keigwin had seized the government and taken possession of the company's ship Return, with a treasure on board. Grantham with much firmness and judgment succeeded in persuading the mutineers to submit, granting Keigwin a free pardon. He ran considerable risk of being murdered, as Keigwin's followers were less reasonable than himself, and ticklish negotiations were needful. After revisiting Surat he reached England in July 1685.
Grantham was afterwards ‘gentleman ordinary’ of the privy chamber to William and Mary, and held the same position under Queen Anne. In 1690 he bought the manor of Kempton, Sunbury, where in 1697 he built a ‘fair house’ (Lysons, Parishes not in ‘Environs,’ pp. 274, 277). In 1711 he was described as of Batavia House, Sunbury, Middlesex. The time of his death is uncertain. He obtained a coat of arms on petition in 1711. The grant, dated 27 July 1711, is in Addit. MS. 26516, ff. 72 et seq. This is the sole authority for his earlier services; and as the statement no doubt came from himself and is very inaccurate in regard to some later events, it is not a very satisfactory record.
[Diary of William Hedges, edited by Colonel (Sir Henry) Yule for the Hakluyt Society, vol. iii. (illustrations), pp. clx–clxxxiv.]
GRANTHAM, THOMAS (1634–1692), general baptist divine, was born at Halton-Holegate, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire, in 1634. He belonged, he says, to the ‘poor kindred’ of the ‘ancient family of the Granthams, in the county of Lincoln’ (‘Epist. Dedic.’ to Christ. Prim.) Tradition makes him a tailor by trade, and afterwards a farmer. He early took an interest in religious movements. In 1644 a nonconformist congregation had been formed in the South Marsh district, between Spilsby and Boston. One of its tenets was the rejection of sponsors in baptism. Four persons seceded from this congregation in 1651, having become baptists. Grantham joined them, was baptised at Boston in 1653, and in 1656 was chosen their pastor. He gathered a congregation which met in private houses at Halton and elsewhere, but after considerable opposition he obtained a grant of Northolme Chapel, at Thorpe Northolme, near Wainfleet. Grantham's most important convert was John Watts, a man of some property, who had received a university education, and became pastor of a baptist congregation meeting in his own house. By the efforts of Grantham and his evangelists a number of small congregations were formed in the south of Lincolnshire, holding Arminian sentiments, and distinct from the particular or Calvinistic baptists.
It is not clear that Grantham had any direct hand in preparing the ‘brief confession’ of the general baptists drawn up in London (March 1660). His name is not appended to the original edition (1660). But he seems to have drawn up shortly after the ‘narrative and complaint,’ which was signed by thirty-five general baptists in Lincolnshire (Kennett mistakes them for quakers). Grantham and Joseph Wright of Westby were admitted (26 July 1660) to present this ‘narrative’ to Charles II, with a copy of the ‘brief confession’ and a petition for toleration, which were ‘courteously received’ (Christ. Prim. bk. ii. pt. 2, p. 61). The insurrection of fifth-monarchy men under Venner in January 1661 excited apprehensions of ‘anabaptist’ outbreaks. Two addresses to the throne were drawn up by Lincolnshire baptists. The second of these was presented (23 Feb.) by Grantham to Charles, who expressed himself as well disposed towards Lincolnshire baptists (Kennett). But Grantham's zeal soon brought him into conflict with the authorities. Twice in 1662 he was arrested. The first time he was bound over to appear at the next assize at Lincoln; he was again arrested at Boston, his Arminian preaching having led to the rumour of his being a papist and a jesuit. He was thrown into Lin-
