John Still

Background

He was born 1543 at Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Education

After finishing his schooling at The King's School, Grantham he became a student at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a BA in 1562, MA in 1565, and DD degree in 1575. In 1561 he became a fellow of his college and took holy orders.

Career

He was appointed in 1570 Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, subsequently held livings in Suffolk (where he was Archdeacon of Sudbury from 1576 to 1593) and Yorkshire, and was master successively of St John's College (1574) and of Trinity College (1577). Still was vice-chancellor of his university in 1575/6 and again in 1592/3, and was raised to the bishopric of Bath and Wells in 1593. In 1604 he purchased the manor of Hutton, Somerset, east of Wells and to the west of the Mendip Hills, with its residence of Hutton Court. He died on 26 February 1608, leaving a large fortune from lead mines discovered in the Mendips.

Achievements

• There is a fine monument to Still in the north transept of Wells Cathedral, erected by his son Nathaniel.

Connections

John Still married twice. Firstly to Anne Alabaster (died 1592), (or Arblaster), daughter of Thomas Alabaster, a cloth merchant of Hadleigh, Suffolk. Secondly after 1592, Jane Horner.

Spouse:

Jane Horner

She was a daughter of Sir John Horner of Mells Manor, Somerset, High Sheriff of Somerset.

Spouse:

Anne Alabaster

A monumental brass in her memory exists in Hadleigh Church.

Son:

Thomas Still of Somerton, Somerset

Married Bridget, daughter of Gawen Champernoune Esq. of Dartington, Devon by Lady Gabrielle Roberta Montgomery, daughter of Gabriel, comte de Montgomery (died 1574), a leader of the French Huguenots.

Son:

Nathaniel

He married Jane Whitmore (d.1639, buried Bath Abbey), a daughter of William Whitmore (d.1593), a haberdasher of Balmes Manor, Hackney and of Apley Hall, Shropshire.

Son:

John Still, of Shaston St James

Married Margaret Grubham Howe, daughter of Sir George Howe, of Berwick St Leonard, Wilts., and sister of Sir George Grobham Howe, 1st Baronet (died 1676), MP for Hindon, Wilts., and of Berwick St Leonard, Wilts.

Son:

John

He died young 1577–81.