Samuel Rosewell

The Reverend Samuel Rosewell M. A.
engraved by Van den Bergh
Born	1679 Rotherhithe, Surrey
Died	(1722-04-07)April 7, 1722 Hackney
Resting place	Bunhill Fields
Occupation	Minister of religion

Reverend Samuel Rosewell (1679 – 7 April 1722) was a Presbyterian minister born at Rotherhithe, Surrey.

Samuel was the eldest son of Reverend Thomas Rosewell (1630–1692) and his second wife, Anne Godsalve (nėe Wanley). He was only 12 years old when his father died. He was a scholar at St Paul's School, London and is said to have graduated M.A. from a Scottish University.

He married (1) Rebekah Russell (d. in or before 1713) at St Katharine's by the Tower in 1709. They had one son, Richard, who died before 1721. He married (2) Lettice Barrett (c. 1687–1762) and had a son and two daughters: Thomas, Sussannah and Lettice who were all in their minorities in 1721. Sussannah married Henry Girle in 1747 and had one son, Reverend Samuel Girle (1757–1813), a Presbyterian/Unitarian minister.

Samuel Rosewell was chosen about 1701 as assistant to William Harris (c. 1675–1740) at Poor Jewry Presbyterian church and continued there until invited in 1705 to assist John Howe (1630–1705) at the Silver Street meeting, Cheapside. He continued after Howe's death as assistant to Howe's successor, John Spademan. He was ordained by Spademan on 2 August 1705 before a large congregation. At this time he lectured at the Old Jewry on Sunday evenings alternatively with Benjamin Grosvenor. He was the sole lecturer when the lecture was moved to Founder's Hall, Lothbury, in 1713. He resigned his preferment from ill health in October 1719 and moved to Mare Street, Hackney.

Samuel was very popular especially with the younger congregations. He was described as follows:

'Mr. Rosewell was a minister of considerable abilities, a serious preacher, and for some years very much followed. His performances were accurate, judicious, and lively; fitted to inform and instruct the mind, as well as to engage the affections; and to promote a serious attention to the concerns of religion. And the fruit of his ministry was very considerable both in his own congregation, and at a lecture which he preached for a considerable number of years to young persons. In the several relations of private life, as a son, a husband, a father, and a friend, he was an ornament to his character, and discovered the prevailing influence of religious principles.'