GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-002754
NameJohn Squire (Squier)
Title
Gendermale
Denomination
Livedb. ca. 1587-01-01 - d. 1653-10-28 (old)
Linked Manuscripts
Linked SermonsThe preface and conclusion of a funerall sermon for Anne Ley by Mr John Squire Parstour of the Church of St Leonar Shoreditch -- preacher (autograph: no)
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesRichmond -- Place of BusinessJesus College -- Place of StudySt Leonard Shoreditch -- PostGresham College -- PrisonKing's Bench -- PrisonNewgate Prison -- Prison
Source of DataCatherine Evans
Biographical Sources ConsultedODNB (Article: 105467)
Other NoteThe only son of Adam Squire, master of Balliol College, Oxford and archdeacon of Middlesex. His maternal grandfather was John Aylmer, bishop of London from 1577 to 1590. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating in 1605 and proceeding MA in 1608. He was appointed vicar of St Leonard Shoreditch in 1612. In the dedication to a sermon published in 1624 he thanked his uncle Theophilus Aylmer, archdeacon of London and prebend of St Paul's, for both his education and this living. He published eight sermons, some of which had multiple editions. He also published a dramatic work, "The Tryumphs of Peace" (1620), a lord mayor's show performed in London that paid tribute to James I. Several of his sermons were dedicated to lord mayors, showing he had links to the livery companies and city government. His sermons and drama proclaim an investment in Christian unity and harmony, with the figure of the king presiding over a cohesive social structure. As vicar in Shoreditch he build a new vicarage and extended the church. He also erected a stained-glass window depicting Christ with his apostles celebrating Passover. In August 1641, this was cited as an incident of popery by his parishioners, who petitioned parliament to remove him. He was accused of saying that the "Papists were the Kings best subjects" and criticised for his unwavering support of Charles I. He responded to the seventeen articles against him in print, with the support of 250 of his parishioners, but was arrested in October 1642 and sequestered on 23 March 1643. Imprisoned in Gresham College, London House, Newgate prison and King's Bench prison, he was released in 1646, by which time his health had deteriorated and his estates had become impoverished. Roger Ley, his curate at St Leonard's, recounted that when he was released his parishioners lit "above 20 Bonefires to express their Joy". He then ran a private school in Richmond, Surrey from 1648 to his death. Squire married twice, first to Margaret with whom he had two sons and three daughters, with his eldest son, John (1621-1662) becoming a lay preacher. He married again in 1648 to Elizabeth, with whom he had another daughter named Elizabeth, who was left £120 in his will. Throughout his life, he was harassed by a series of petitions by Elizabeth Pynfould (Pinfold) who claimed that she had married him in 1612. In 1622 she was sent to Bridewell to be whipped and put to labour for defamation. She would additionally petition him in 1632, 1639 and 1640. Squire died in Richmond on 28 October 1653. He was buried in his old church of St Leonard's next to his first wife, leaving his second wife Elizabeth a poor estate which he lamented.
GEMMS record createdNovember 06, 2019
GEMMS record last editedMarch 27, 2020