John Carter MA (abt. 1554 - 1635)

Born about 1554 in Wickham, near Canterbury, Kent, England

Died 4 Feb 1635 at about age 81 in Belstead Parva, Suffolk, England

Biography

• John Carter, Pastor of Bramford and Clerke of Belstead Parva, Suffolk.

• The tomb-stone, and A rare sight by John Carter, d. 1655. THE LIFE OF Mr. JOHN CARTER, Pastor of Bramford in Suffolk. Master John Carter, my dear Father of blessed memory, and now a glorious Saint in Heaven, was born at Wickham in Kent near Canterbury, about 1554. He was descended but of meane Parents, (yet religious, and of good repute) not able to maintain him, at the University, wholly at their own charge. One Mr. Rose, a rich man in Canterbury, taking notice of his piety, took him into his care, and disbursed monies from time to time for his maintenance in Cambridge. He was of Clare Hall: Pupil to Doctor Byng the famous Civilian, Master of that House: (whose son Doctor Robert Byng, a learned and worthy Gentleman, was my Tutor afterwards in the same College) when he was first admitted into the College. Doctor Chaderton, Doctor Andrews (afterwards a Prelate) Master Culverwell, Master Knewstubs.

1583. The Vicarage of Bramford in Suffolk near Ipswich fell void, Mr. Rose of Canterbury procured the presentation of it for my Father, from the Dean, and Chapter of Canterbury. He accepted of it. He preached a Lecture every Thursday; to which multitudes from Ipswich and other adjacent places did resort. Yet God so blessed him, that whilst he was in Bramford, he quickly paid Mr. Rose of Canterbury, all the money he laid out towards his education in Cambridge. He brought up both my elder and only Brother, and myself, at the University in a good fashion. He was always a Nonconformist, One of the good old Puritans of England. About 1615 or before, there arose up a Generation of malignant men, haters of a faithful, and painful Ministry, and of the power of Godliness. These were of the Gentry, and chief of the Parish: these rose up against my Reverend Father, pressed him to conformity, complained of him to the Bishop, and threatened that they would make him conformable, or else out him. At this very juncture of time, the Rectory of little Belstead fell to be void: a very small Village, some three miles from Ipswich, a solitary place: the means better then Bramford. The Patron Mr. Blosse became a Suiter to my Father to accept of it. At Bramford he saw he must be outed: Mr. Blosse would take no denial: he found favour in the eyes of the Bishop; and was instituted without subscription, or any ceremonies: and then at last, God taking him by the hand, and pulling him whether he would or no, he removed from Bramford (after some 34 years service in the work of the Ministry) to Belstead Parsonage, where he continued eighteen years, before God caused him to rest from his Labours. In all that time he discharged his holy Function just as he did at Bramford; and though his Congregation there were but small, yet he had many Fish that came to his Nett, from Ipswich, and other adjacent Townes, destitute of faithful Shepherds: So that his latter Crop in Gods harvest-field was very considerable.

My elder, and only dear Brother (a blessed Instrument in the church of Christ) being dead: my Father took care of his eldest son; he sent him to Cambridge. Old Mr. Benton of Wramplingham in Norfolk, a holy man of God, being upon occasion in Suffolk, in those parts, could not but give a visit to his old friend Mr. Carter of Belstead. When my sister began to speak to him, and lift him, she found that his breath was departed, and yet no change in his Countenance at all: his eyes, and his mouth continuing in the same posture they used to be in his sweetest sleeps. Not many days before he died, he called my sister: Daughter, saith he, remember my Love to my son John, I shall see him no more in this life; and remember me to the rest of my Children, and Family, and deliver this message to them all from me. When he had yielded up his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father, my sister Eunice dispatched a Messenger to me to Norwich. For so he had given order before he died, that his body should not be put in the Coffin till his son John came.

In the afternoon, February 4. 1634 at his interring, there was a great confluence of people from all parts thereabouts. Old Mr. Samuel Ward, that famous Divine, and the glory of Ipswich, came to the Funeral, brought a mourning Gowne with him, and offered very respectively to Preach his funeral Sermon, now that such a Congregation were gathered together, and upon such an occasion. But my sister and I durst not give way to it: For so our Father had often charged us in his life time, and upon his blessing, that no Sermon should be at his burial. For, said he, it will give occasion to speak some good of me that I deserve not, and so false things will be uttered in the Pulpit. Mr. Ward rested satisfied, and did forbear: But the next Friday at Ipswich, he turned his whole Lecture into a Funeral Sermon for my Father, in which he did lament, and honour him, to the great satisfaction of the whole Auditory.

• 1583: Appointed to Vicarage of Bramford, Suffolk.
• 1618-07-06: Vicar of Chattisham.
• Clerk/Rector, of Belstead Parva, Suffolk.
• His funeral preached by Samuel Ward of Ipswich (Famous Divine).
• br:1634/5-02-04: (Belstead Parva, Suffolk ?). ^[1]
• Bezaldell Carter, clerk, of Canham (Cavenham), Suffolk.
• CCEd (John Carter). [1] ^[2]

• 'The Tombstone; or, a notice and imperfect monument of that worthy man, Mr. John Carter, Pastor of Bramford and Belstead, in Suffolk' (1653). Written by his son John Carter.[2]^[3]

• The Peerage of England by Arthur Collins (Pg. 100).[3]^[4]
• See Robert Byng (By 1535-1595).[4]^[5]
• See Abigail Rose daughter of Thomas Rose of Exmouth, Devon.
• See Daniell Collins, Merchant of Broad Street, London.
• There must be close connection from Mr. Rose, a rich man in Canterbury to Daniell Collins' mother Abigail Rose daughter of Thomas Rose of Exmouth, Devon. Current time line suggests they could be near as siblings (?).
• Research by Bart Simon^TW

Sources

1. ↑ 'The Tomb-Stone; or, a notice and imperfect monument of that worthy man, Mr. John Carter, Pastor of Bramford and Belstead, in Suffolk' (1653). Written by Mr. Carter's son and describes his father's funeral. (Pg. 26-27).
2. ↑ CCEd (John Carter).
3. ↑ 'The Tombstone; or, a notice and imperfect monument of that worthy man, Mr. John Carter, Pastor of Bramford and Belstead, in Suffolk' (1653). Written by his son John Carter.
4. ↑ The Peerage of England by Arthur Collins (Pg. 100).
5. ↑ History of Parliament Online: Robert Byng (By 1535-1595).