Joshua Childrey

son of Robert Childrey, was born within the City of Rochester, where being educated in Grammar learning, became a Student in Magd. Coll. in Lent term 1640 aged 17 years, and about that time was made one of the Clerks of the said house. But soon after leaving the University upon the eruption of the civil war, he returned to his native Country, and came not again till the Garrison of Oxon was surrendred for the use of the Parliament, at which time taking the degree of Bach. of Arts, was two years after that expelled by the Parliamentarian Visitors. Afterwards he taught School at Faversham in Kent, yet not without some disturbance by the godly party, where continuing till his Maj. restoration, was made Chaplain to Henry Lord Herbert, was actually created D. of D. and had the Rectory of Upway in Dorsetshire bestowed on him. In the year 1663 Jan 23, he was collated to the Archdeaconry of Salisbury, on the death of Dr. Anth. Hawles, and on the first of June 1664 he was collated to the Prebendship of Yatminster Prima in the Church of Salisbury by Dr. Earle Bishop of that place, he being then accounted a learned and religious Divine, a good Astrologer, and a great Virtuoso. His works are,

Indago Astrologica: or, a brief and modest inquiry into some principal points of Astrology, as it was delivered by the Fathers of it, and is now generally received by the Sons of it. Lond. 1652. in 2. sh. in qu.

Syzygiasticon instauratum: or, an Ephemeris of the places and aspects of the Planets, &c. calculated for the year 1653. Lond. 1653 oct. His chief design is to prove the aspects of the Planets related to the Sun, of greater efficacy in the change of the air, then when respecting the earth as center, &c.

Britannia Baconica: or, the natural rarities of England, Scotland and Wales. According as they are to be found in every Shire. Historically related, according to the precepts of the Lord Bacon, &c. with observations upon them, and deductions from them, &c. Lond. 1661. oct From which book Dr. Rob. Plot took a hint for the writing The natural History of Oxfordshire. As for the other works of his which are not extant, you may be pleased to know from his letter ((*))((*)) In a Journal-book of the Royal Society, MS. dated at Upway 12. Jul. 1669. written to Mr. Hen. Oldenburg Secretary of the Royal So [•] ciety concerning some observations of the weather, philosophical collections, Portland and Purbeck stones serving for fewel, shifting of tydes at Weymouth, &c. thus— “In my next (God willing) I shall send you part of my collections of Naturalls out of voyages and itineraries. In the mean time take this brief account of my studies so far as concerns Philosophy. Some two years before the happy return of the King, I bought me as many paper books of about 16 sheets apiece, as my Lord Verulam (Bacon) had Histories at the end of his Novum Organon: Into which books (being noted with the figure and title given them by my Lord) I entred all Philosophical matters, that I met with observable in my reading, and intend (God willing) to continue it. This I acquaint you with, to let you see, how earnest and serious I have been for several years in that which is the business of the Royal Society, tho indeed I first fell in love with the Lord Bacons philosophy in the year 1646, and tried several experiments (though such as I now reckon be not of any moment) in 1647. 48. 49. 50; and besides these, I have two larger paper books in folio, one of which I call Chronologia naturalis, and the other Geographia naturalis; the former containing the time of all droughts, comets, earthquakes, &c. and the other the natural rarities of Countries. These paper books cannot be expected to be yet full, and God knows whether I shall live to see them filled. But, God willing, such and so as they are, I intend to bequeath them to the Royal Society, whensoever I die. &c.” He concluded his last day at Upway before mention’d (having never been of the said Society) on the 26. of Aug. in sixteen hundred and seventy,1670. and was buried in the Chancel of the Church there. In the latter end of Sept. following, succeeded him in his Archdeaconry John Sherman Doct. of Div. of Camb. who dying in the parish of S. Sepulchre in London (after a short injoyment of that Dignity) viz. in the latter end of the year (in March) 1670, was succeeded in the beginning of May following by John Prideaux D. D. as I shall elsewhere tell you. Besides this John Sherman was another of both his names, but before him in time, educated in Gramar learning in the Charter-house School, in Academical in Trin. Coll. in Camb. where he arrived to great eminence in several sorts of literature. He wrot a book entit. White salt or a sober correction of a mad world in some well wishes to goodness. Lond. 1654. oct. and another called The infallibility of the holy Scripture asserted, &c. Lond. 1664. qu. &c. This learned, religious and conscientious Person, died in Aug. as it seems, an. 1663.