John Stoughton (priest)

John Stoughton (1593?–1639) was an English clergyman, of influential millennial views.

John Stoughton, baptized at Naughton, Suffolk in 1593, was one of the three sons of the clergyman Thomas Stoughton (c.1557–c.1622), and his wife, Katherine. Thomas Stoughton, the father, was born in Sandwich, Kent and studied at the University of Cambridge, matriculating in 1573 and graduating B.A. in 1576/7 and M.A. 1580 from Queen's College. Following his ordination in the chapel of the Bishop of Lincoln in his palace at Buckden, Huntingdonshire in 1582, he became Rector of Naughton from 1586 to 1594. During this time his first children, including John and Thomas, were born. Involved with the Conference of reformed ministers at Dedham, Essex, he served as assistant minister at Great Burstead, Essex before being presented by Baron Rich to the Vicarage of Coggeshall, Essex in 1600. By 1603, when his wife Katherine died, she had borne him twelve children, of whom a further son Israel and four daughters reached adulthood. As one not conforming to the Anglican formulae he was deprived by High Commission of his living in 1606: Ralph Cudworth, of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, was instituted Perpetual Vicar in his place at the presentation of Baron Rich, and held it for two years. After some time at Great Totham Stoughton returned to Kent and died there in 1622.

John Stoughton reached university age while his father was still in East Anglia, and entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1607, where he was tutored by William Sancroft. Graduating B.A. in 1611 and M.A. in 1614, he was elected a Fellow of the college in 1616. His ordination as priest is probably that recorded in December 1617, performed by Samuel Harsnett: he attained B.D. in 1621. In 1624 the College living of Aller, in Somerset, became vacant by the death of Dr. Ralph Cudworth, who had resigned his own fellowship to marry and settle in the Rectory there in 1610. John Stoughton succeeded him as Rector in 1624 and married his widow Mary (née Machell), as stepfather taking in hand the education of her young sons and daughters.

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