Edward Burghall facts for kids
Edward Burghall was an English minister who lived a long time ago, dying on December 8, 1665. He was a Puritan, which meant he had very strict religious beliefs. He supported the Parliament during the English Civil War. Burghall is famous for his diary, called "Providence improved." This diary tells us a lot about what was happening in Cheshire during the war. It also gives us many details about his own life.
Biography
Early Life and Work
Edward Burghall worked as a schoolmaster in a town called Bunbury, in Cheshire, England. He likely started this job around 1632. The school he taught at was founded in 1594. It had some money and land to support it. Before 1629, the local church leader in Bunbury was William Hinde, who was also a well-known Puritan.
During the Civil War
The English Civil War began in 1642. In 1643, during a battle called the siege of Nantwich, Burghall said that his belongings were taken. He was forced to leave his home by a soldier named Colonel Marrow. He then moved to Haslington, another town in Cheshire. He stayed there from May 1644 until 1646.
In 1646, he became the vicar (a type of church minister) of Acton. He took over from the previous vicar, who had been removed from his position. In 1648, Burghall was one of 58 ministers from Cheshire who signed an important document called the Solemn League and Covenant. This document showed their support for Parliament. In 1658, he gave a sermon (a religious speech) when a new free school was opened in Acton.
After the Restoration
After the war, the king returned to power in England in an event called the Restoration. In 1662, a new law was passed called the Act of Uniformity 1662. This law required ministers to follow certain rules. Because Burghall was a Puritan, he could not agree to these rules. He became one of the "ejected ministers," meaning he was forced to leave his church jobs.
Burghall gave his last sermons at his churches in Wrenbury and Acton. On October 3, 1662, he was officially removed from his position as vicar of Acton. A new vicar was appointed on October 28.
His diary ends in 1663. After being removed from his church, he became very poor. The last note in his diary complains that he was cheated out of money he was owed. People helped him by raising money to start a school for him to teach at. Edward Burghall died on December 8, 1665. He remained strong in his religious beliefs until the end.
His Diary
Edward Burghall's diary was kept as a handwritten book. It was later printed in 1778 in a book about the history of Cheshire. It can also be found in another book called Barlow’s Cheshire (1855). The diary is titled Providence improved and starts in the year 1628.
Before the Civil War, Burghall mostly wrote about events he believed showed God's special help in the area around Bunbury. In 1641, he started writing about political events. After that, he gave a very detailed account of the military actions in Cheshire during the war. This was partly because Lord Byron used Burghall's church in Acton as a base during the siege of Nantwich. His diary helps historians understand more about the war.
