William Taswell facts for kids

William Taswell (born May 1, 1652 – died June 1731) was an English priest. When he was a schoolboy at Westminster School, he saw two huge events in London's history. He witnessed the terrible Great Plague of London and the massive Great Fire of London in 1666.

Taswell later wrote a book about his life. In this book, he shared his memories of the Great Fire and other important things he saw. This book was published after he died, in 1852. He also wrote two short books that disagreed with the beliefs of a religious group called the Quakers.

Who Was William Taswell?

William Taswell was born in a town called Cowes. His father was a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods.

Taswell's Education

In 1670, William Taswell went to Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university. He studied hard and earned several degrees there. He got his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in 1674. He continued his studies and later earned his Master of Arts (M.A.), Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.), and Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) degrees.

While at Oxford, William Taswell became good friends with the Dean, John Fell. Dean Fell helped Taswell financially because Taswell didn't get much money from his own father. In return, Taswell helped Dean Fell with his work on old handwritten documents. For example, he translated a book called "Chronological Canons" by Thomas Lydiat from English into Latin. In 1681, he became a teacher of Greek at the college.

Taswell's Life as a Priest

William Taswell became a priest and served in several churches. He was the rector (the main priest) in places like Swanton Novers and Wood Norton, Norfolk from 1692 to 1698. Later, he served at St. Mary Bermondsey from 1724 to 1727.

In 1695, he got married to Frances. Her father was Edward Lake. William Taswell passed away in June 1731 and was buried in a place called Newington.

William Taswell's Famous Witness Accounts

William Taswell is best known for being an eyewitness to two of the most significant events in London's history. He was just a schoolboy when these events happened, and his writings give us a rare look into what it was like to live through them.

The Great Plague of London

Before the fire, London was hit by the Great Plague of London in 1665. This was a terrible sickness that spread quickly and caused many people to die. Taswell saw how the city changed during this time, with many people getting sick and fear spreading everywhere.

The Great Fire of London

In 1666, the Great Fire of London swept through the city. It started in a bakery and burned for several days, destroying a huge part of London. Taswell watched this massive fire as it happened. His personal story helps us understand the chaos and destruction people faced during this disaster.

Taswell's Writings

William Taswell's autobiography is a very important historical document. It's like a personal diary that tells us about life in 17th-century London.

His Autobiography

His book, published long after he died, gives us details about the Great Fire and other events. It's a valuable source for historians who want to learn about what life was like back then.

His Views on Quakerism

Taswell also wrote about his strong opinions on Quakerism. The Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. Taswell's pamphlets showed that he disagreed with some of their ideas.