Background
Son of Thomas Whitaker, schoolmaster, and Helen, his wife, he was educated first at his father"s school.
Son of Thomas Whitaker, schoolmaster, and Helen, his wife, he was educated first at his father"s school.
By the influence of the Towneley family he was then sent to Valladolid, where he studied for the priesthood.
A Catholic martyr, he was beatified in 1987. After ordination (1638) he returned to England, and for five years worked in Lancashire. On one occasion he was arrested, but escaped while being conducted to Lancaster Castle.
He was again seized at Blacke Hall in Goosnargh, and committed to Lancaster Castle, 7 August 1643, undergoing solitary confinement for six weeks.
Foreign three years he remained in prison. Before his trial he made a month"s retreat in preparation for death.
He was executed with Edward Bamber and John Woodcock, saying to the sheriff: "Use your pleasure with me, a reprieve or even a pardon upon your conditions I utterly refuse".