Samuel Fisher (quaker)

Samuel Fisher (1605–1665) was an English Quaker controversialist.

Fisher was the son of John Fisher, a hatter in Northampton, where Fisher was born. After attending a local school he matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford, in 1623 and graduated B.A. in 1627. Of Puritan views, he moved to New Inn Hall, where he proceeded M.A. in 1630. Gerard Croese states that he was chaplain to a nobleman for a short time, and became a confirmed Puritan.

In 1632 he was presented to the lectureship of Lydd, Kent. He was known as a powerful preacher, and became a leader among the Puritans of the district. In his 'Baby-Baptism', Fisher states that was later given a presbyterian ordination. While at Lydd Fisher associated with some Anabaptists, attending their meetings and offering them the use of his pulpit, in which he was stopped by the churchwardens.

About 1643 he returned his licence to the bishop and joined the Baptists, supporting himself by farming. He was rebaptised, and after taking an active part in the Baptist community became minister to a congregation at Ashford, Kent, by 1649, in which year he engaged in controversy on infant baptism with several ministers in the presence of over two thousand people. He also disputed with Francis Cheynell at Petworth, Sussex, in 1651, and was engaged in at least eight other disputes within three years. He wrote Tracts in defence of his principles, and Baby-Baptism meer Babism.

In 1654 William Coton and John Stubbs, while on a visit to Lydd, stayed at Fisher's house, and convinced him of the truth of quakerism. Shortly afterwards he joined the Society of Friends, among whom he became a minister, probably before his meeting with George Fox at Romney in 1655. On 17 September 1656 Fisher attended the meeting of Parliament, and when Oliver Cromwell stated that to his knowledge no man in England had suffered imprisonment unjustly attempted a reply. He was prevented from completing his speech, which he afterwards published. He subsequently attempted to address the Members of Parliament at a fast-day service in St. Margaret's Church, Westminster. He was active in Kent, where according to Joseph Besse he was roughly handled in 1658, and in 1659 he was pulled out of a meeting at Westminster by his hair and beaten.

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