John Checkley

1680 (age 74)

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Checkley traveled extensively through Europe, collecting paintings, books, and manuscripts. He remained in Europe some fifteen years but about 1710 was again in Boston where in 1717 he bought a house and opened a shop for books, medicines, and small merchandise. In 1719 he published an edition of the Reverend Charles Leslie’s treatise, The Religion of Jesus Christ the Only True Religion. Apparently one of his objects was to give currency to the testimony of Ignatius to prove the existence of bishops in Apostolic days. The same year he issued another volume, without his name, called Choice Dialogues between a Godly Minister and an Honest Countryman Concerning Election and Predestination, which assailed the foundations of the Congregational Church. In December a law was passed providing that two justices could tender the oaths of allegiance and abjuration to any one suspected of disaffection to the king or government. Almost immediately Checkley, alone of all Boston, was tendered the oaths, which, in a fit of annoyance, he refused to take. Later he refused again and was fined six pounds and costs. In 1722 he went to England for eight months and it is said took steps to receive Holy Orders, but did not succeed, possibly because of his having refused the oaths. A few months later he wrote his Modest Proof of the Order and Government Settled by Christ and His Apostles (1723 ) which had a wide circulation, was answered by Edward Wigglesworth, and started a war of pamphlets in which Checkley again joined. He next republished (1723) Leslie’s Short and Easy Method with the Deists, to which was added “A Discourse Concerning Episcopacy, ” for which he was proceeded against by the General Court, found guilty' of publishing a seditious libel, and fined fifty pounds. About this time he founded the Boston Episcopal Charitable Society. In 1727 he again went to England and again failed to receive Orders as a clergyman. The next year he wrote to the Bishop of London an account of the hardships suffered by Episcopalians in Massachusetts. In 1730 he published the argument he had made at his trial. In 1738 he went to London for the third time in search of Orders and this time was successful. He became deacon and priest, and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel made him a missionary. He was assigned as rector of King’s Church, Providence, Rhode Island, where he ministered for more than ten years. The last two years of his life he was incapacitated by infirmities.

Back to Profile

Photos
Works

book

John Checkley; Including Mr. Checkley's controversial writings; his letters and other papers ... Volume 23

(This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... tives, and hearing the Letter of their Excellencies the Lords Justices read in the Lower House, and observing how much it condemned the intended Convocation of Dissenting Teachers in this country; and knowing how much some people were bent upon the holding a Synod; he thought it wrould be highly proper that the people might know his Majestys pleasure, and by such knowledge act more dutifully for the future. The Lieutenant-Governor had lodged the Letter in the Secretary's office, an office of Record, where Mr. Wodell demanded a copy of it, which was delivered him by the Secretary's clerk, who received ios. of Mr. Wodell for the said copy. Mr. Wodell carried the copy to Mr. John Checkley, who transcribed it, and shewed it to several gentlemen of the Church of England, by which means the Independents here came to the knowledge of the contents of the Letter. "This is the whole offence of Mr. Wodell, respecting the procuring a copy of the Letter from their Excellencies; for which he is committed to custody, and a copy of his Mittimus absolutely denied him. He lays a Memorial before the House, denying the charge of clandestinely obtaining the copy, desiring to be heard by Counsel at the Bar of the said House; which is not granted (nor any notice takenof this Memorial in the Votes); and, at length, expelled the House of Representatives. "In the printed Votes79 of the said House, p. 102 there is something 79 The printed Journals of the pro-a copy in the Library of the State of ceedings of the House of Representa-Massachusetts, where the Votes retives for 1725 are very rare. There is ferred to may be found. 224 Letters of the Rev, jfokn Checkley. something very remarkable at the end of the preamble to Mr Wodells Mittimus; for there they say '...

The Ups and Downs of Life

(Life is full of good as well as bad days, It rains today ...)

The speech of Mr John Checkley, upon his tryal, at Boston in New-England, for publishing The short and easy method with the Deists: To which is added, ... judgment: and the sentence of court The 2 ed

(The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration a...)

A defence of a book re-printed at Boston, entituled, A modest proof of the order and government settled by Christ and his apostles in the church. In a ... entituled, Sober remarks on the modest proof

(The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration a...)

Choice dialogues between a godly minister, and an honest country-man, concerning election & predestination. Detecting the false principles of a ... himself a Presbyter of the Church of England.

(The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration a...)

A modest proof of the order & government settled by Christ and his apostles in the church. By shewing I. What sacred offices were instituted by them. II. How those offices were distinguished.

(The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration a...)

The speech of Mr. John Checkley,: upon his trial at Boston in 1724

For Math Teachers: Grades Four Through Eight

The Speech of Mr. John Checkley, Upon His Trial at Boston: In 1724 (Classic Reprint)

(Excerpt from The Speech of Mr. John Checkley, Upon His Tr...)

John Checkley; or the Evolution of Religious Tolerance in Massachusetts Bay 1719-1774With Historical Illustrations and a Memoir by the Rev. Edmund F. Slater

John Checkley

Edit Profile

clergyman writer

Background

John Checkley was born in 1680 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, of English parents. He was an only son and his one sister died at the age of seventeen.

Education

John was educated at the Boston Latin School under Ezekiel Cheever. He later studied at Oxford although he did not matriculate. He learned Greek, Latin, and Hebrew well.

Career

Checkley traveled extensively through Europe, collecting paintings, books, and manuscripts. He remained in Europe some fifteen years but about 1710 was again in Boston where in 1717 he bought a house and opened a shop for books, medicines, and small merchandise.

In 1719 he published an edition of the Reverend Charles Leslie’s treatise, The Religion of Jesus Christ the Only True Religion. Apparently one of his objects was to give currency to the testimony of Ignatius to prove the existence of bishops in Apostolic days. The same year he issued another volume, without his name, called Choice Dialogues between a Godly Minister and an Honest Countryman Concerning Election and Predestination, which assailed the foundations of the Congregational Church.

In December a law was passed providing that two justices could tender the oaths of allegiance and abjuration to any one suspected of disaffection to the king or government. Almost immediately Checkley, alone of all Boston, was tendered the oaths, which, in a fit of annoyance, he refused to take. Later he refused again and was fined six pounds and costs.

In 1722 he went to England for eight months and it is said took steps to receive Holy Orders, but did not succeed, possibly because of his having refused the oaths. A few months later he wrote his Modest Proof of the Order and Government Settled by Christ and His Apostles (1723 ) which had a wide circulation, was answered by Edward Wigglesworth, and started a war of pamphlets in which Checkley again joined. He next republished (1723) Leslie’s Short and Easy Method with the Deists, to which was added “A Discourse Concerning Episcopacy, ” for which he was proceeded against by the General Court, found guilty' of publishing a seditious libel, and fined fifty pounds. About this time he founded the Boston Episcopal Charitable Society.

In 1727 he again went to England and again failed to receive Orders as a clergyman. The next year he wrote to the Bishop of London an account of the hardships suffered by Episcopalians in Massachusetts. In 1730 he published the argument he had made at his trial. In 1738 he went to London for the third time in search of Orders and this time was successful.

He became deacon and priest, and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel made him a missionary. He was assigned as rector of King’s Church, Providence, Rhode Island, where he ministered for more than ten years. The last two years of his life he was incapacitated by infirmities.

Achievements

John Checkley was noted for establishing the Boston Episcopal Charitable Society which had a long record of active work. As a writer, he was best known for his work "Modest Proof of the Order and Government Settled by Christ and His Apostles" (1723).

Works

$John Checkley; Including Mr. Checkley\'s controversial writings; his letters and other papers ... Volume 23 John Checkley; Including Mr. Checkley\'s controversial writings; his letters and other papers ... Volume 23$ The Ups and Downs of Life The Ups and Downs of Life