Francis Woodcock, (1614-1649)

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Biography of Francis Woodcock, A.B. (1614-1649):

Francis Woodcock, A.B. (1614-1649) was a devout divine born in the city of Chester, in 1614, and received his education in Brazen-nose college, Oxford, where he earned one degree in arts. He entered into the ministry while at the university, and was ordained. After he completed his studies, he was given charge of a church to be the cure of souls for that congregation. Mr. Wood says, “he was always puritanically affected.”

When the differences between the king and parliament arose, he adopted the cause of Parliament, and was afterwards chosen one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster. There he diligently attended the assembly during the whole session.

Being brought up to London, he was chosen lecturer of St. Lawrence Jewry, and frequently preached at St. Olave’s in Southwark, to which he was afterwards appointed minister by an ordinance of parliament, dated July 10, 1646. He embraced the Solemn League and Covenant with the rest of his brethren, and was then chosen as the proctor to the University of Cambridge.

The courtiers of Henry fourth, King of France, one day complimenting him on the strength of his constitution, and telling him that he might live to be eighty years of age; he replied, “The number of our days is reckoned. I have often prayed to God for grace, but never for a long life. A man who has lived well, has always lived long enough, however early he may die.”

He died in 1649, in the midst of his days and of his usefulness, aged thirty-five years. Mr. Wood says, that he died in 1651, or thereabout; but Mr. Brooks says that he died in the year 1649. In either case, he died at a young age.

His remains were buried at St. Olave’s church. He was esteemed a great scholar and an excellent preacher.

For further study see Mr. Wood’s Athene Oxon. vol. ii; Brook’s, Lives of the Puritans, vol. 3; and Reid’s Memoirs of the lives and writings of those eminent divines.