Background
Hooke was the second son of William Hook of Hook, Hampshire.
chaplain clergyman minister teacher
Hooke was the second son of William Hook of Hook, Hampshire.
He became commoner of Trinity College, Oxford, in 1618, and graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1620.
He only matriculated in the university just before taking his degree. He proceeded Master of Arts in 1623. Taking holy orders, Hooke became vicar of Upper Clatford, Hampshire in 1627.
In America he preached as an Independent.
Hooke"s Church is now represented by the West Taunton Church. In 1656 Hooke returned to England and became one of the Protector"s chaplains at Whitehall.
He was made Master of the Savoy in 1658, which that year hosted the conference that produced the Savoy Declaration. On 7 August 1659 Hooke preached at Whitehall.
And he with the other chaplains had a special place at the Protector"s funeral in September.
In the same year the London independents wrote to George Monck, then in the north, inquiring as to the toleration likely to be extended them in the future. Monck addressed a reply to Hooke and other well-known preachers. After the Restoration Hooke kept in touch with the independents of New England.
Samuel Wilson Taylor, when arrested on his way to New England, on 3 April 1664, confessed that news-books and letters found upon him had been given to him by Hooke for delivery in New England.
By then Hooke was living underground in London, hosting a covert diplomatic meeting of John Winthrop the Younger. In 1672 he became a licensed minister at Spitalfields.
Hooke died on 21 March 1677, and was buried in Bunhill Fields, London. She returned to England in 1654, with eight children.
John Hooke (1634–1710), son of William Hooke, was also an Independent preacher, and accompanied his father to New England, but returned to England before him.
The Protector showed him some favour. In 1663 he was made chaplain of the Savoy by Henry Killigrew, and was in post in 1702 when the hospital was dissolved by the lord-keeper Wright. He was at the time a minister at Basingstoke, where he died in 1710.