Nathaniel Vincent

Nathaniel Vincent (c.1639?–1697) was an English nonconformist minister, ejected in 1662 and several times imprisoned.

He was probably born in Cornwall about 1639, son of John Vincent (1591–1646), who was nominated by the committee of the Westminster Assembly to the rectory of Sedgefield, Durham. Nathaniel, the third son, entered Oxford University as a chorister on 18 October 1648, aged 10. He matriculated from Corpus Christi College on 28 March 1655, graduated B.A. from Christ Church, Oxford on 13 March 1656, M.A. on 11 June 1657, and was chosen chaplain of Corpus Christi College. He was appointed by Oliver Cromwell one of the first fellows of his Durham University, but never resided there.

At twenty he was preaching at Pulborough, Sussex, and at twenty-one was ordained and presented to the rectory of Langley Marish, Buckinghamshire. He was ejected in 1662, after which he lived three years as chaplain to Sir Henry and Lady Blount at Tyttenhanger House, Hertfordshire. About 1666 Vincent went to London. There his preaching at once attracted attention, and a meeting-house was built for him in Farthing Alley, Southwark, where he gathered a congregation. In spite of fines and rough handling by soldiers sent to drag him from his pulpit, he continued preaching. In July 1670, soon after his marriage, he was confined in the Marshalsea prison. He was removed to the Gatehouse, Westminster, on 22 August. He remained six months in prison. In 1682 he was again arrested, brought before magistrates at Dorking, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, after which he was to be banished the country. A flaw in the indictment meant after the section expenditure of £200. Vincent was released, but weakened by illness. He was again arrested in February 1686, this time on a charge of being concerned in Monmouth's rebellion. Some of his books were written in prison.

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