William Harewell Explained

William Harewell
Death Place:Worcester, England
Spouse:Elizabeth Harewell
Children:7

William Harewell (– 1667) was rector of St Mary's, Oldswinford in Worcestershire until removed from office during the Puritan revolution. After the ejection of Puritan ministers, he was vicar of St Peter the Great, Worcester, and a minor canon of Worcester Cathedral.

Life

William Har(e)well was a son of Henry Harwell of Coventry being born c. 1616. He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, matriculating 31 October 1634 at the age of 18. He was awarded his BA on 11 February 1636.

Harewell was installed as rector of Oldswinford, Worcestershire on 2 September 1641.[1] He petitioned a Parliamentary Committee to instruct the county committee to end proceedings against him (July 1646) but was still sequestered after the First English Civil War. The date of the end of his period as rector is not recorded but his successor was in post by 1648.

At the Restoration, Harwell had an association with the church of St Michael's, Worcester[2] He is recorded as conducting a service of thanksgiving for the restoration of King Charles II on 24 May 1660 and a funeral for Dorothea Townshend on 5 June 1660, being the first prayers said for the dead in Worcester since 24 July 1646.[3] Harewell was appointed vicar of St Peter the Great, Worcester by 1663, (still being in post by 1666[4]) and was described as a minor canon of Worcester Cathedral in 1664.[5] [6] He died in 1667.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540-1835 . 25 September 2020 . CCEd Person ID: 80928.
  2. Web site: The medieval church of St Michael, Worcester . 26 September 2020.
  3. Book: Henry, Townshend . Willis Bund . J.W. . Diary of Henry Townshend of Elmley Lovett, 1640-1663 . 1928 . Worcestershire Historical Society . Worcester . 42, 44 .
  4. Receipt signed by William Harewich [Harewell(s)], for "royal and aid" money. St Peter's Vicarage . D538 . Worcester Cathedral Muniments D Class Miscellaneous Documents . https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/download/GB%200317%20D . The Hive . Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service . Worcester .
  5. Book: Bloom . J. Harvey . Original charters relating to the city of Worcester. In possession of the Dean and Chapter, and by them preserved in the Cathedral library . 1909 . Worcestershire Historical Society . Worcester . 137 .
  6. Web site: Harewell . William . 1667 . Will of William Harewell of Clerk, Precincts of the Cathedral Church of Worcester, dated 20 December 1664 and proved 24 June 1667, PROB 11/324/291 . 26 September 2020. National Archives.