The Minor Family of Somerset

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Reverend
his stepfather Michael Whitley bequeathed him 10 pounds in 1631
; and John Dickson of Bentley roid his great uncle left him 10
s in 1629. He was also a legatee for 3 pounds in the will of hi
s mother's sister, Grace Drake, in 1619. He was sent to Cambrid
ge, the destination of somany young men from Sowerby at that pe
riod; and in due time took holy orders.He became chaplain to F
erdinando, Lord Fairfax, by whom he was appointed tothe rector
y of Thornhill; a living the great value of which, shows the ol
dpuritan nobleman's opinion of his talents and character. Thi
s rectory he held until in 1662, he preferred his principles t
o his living; retiring to York, where he died Jun 1 1674. Calam
y says, of the rev. Joshua Witton that "hewas a man of an excel
lent temper, of great intergirty and unusual capacity;"and agai
n that he was a "witty man, and good scholar, of large acquainta
nceandinfluence, and blessed with a plentiful estate;" and thou
gh Calamy usually dips his brush deep in flattering tints for hi
s portaints of the non-conformist, the account given by Jonatha
n Priestley of his arguements with FrancisPrietley, his stepfa
ther, shows that the Rev. Joshua Witton better deservesto tak
e rank in the Halifax temple of fame than some whom Watson has e
ntered therein. He married Elizabeth daughter of Tempest Thornt
on of Tyersall esp. by whom Richard of Wakefield, counselr at la
w, and two daughter viz. Elizabeth married to John Ferrars of Ba
sHall, and Margaret married to Theophilus Shelton, clerk of th
e peace for the West Riding.
His will was made 28 May 1674; and his two daughters, to whome h
e bequeathed 1,500 pounds each, were appointed his executors. H
e bequeated to his son, all the lands etc in the parish of Mirfi
eld, purhcased of Sir Miles Stapleton, Kinght; also 1,200 pound
sdue to him from Lyonell Copley, Esqp. by 200 a year, on securi
ty of his lands in Bramwith; also a bond of 300 pounds from Mr H
enry May of York, grocer; and also:-
"all my bookes, one caontore, one iron chest and one seale ring
; to my right worthy ffreind Thomas Rookeby esq. twentie gynnys
, whome I nominate, constitute and appoint ffeoffee in trust, an
d guardian to my two daughters. Besides the three children name
d in his will, he had John and Tempest, whoboth died young.