Harrison, Thomas (2), D.D.

Harrison, Thomas (2), D.D.

an English Independent minister, was born at Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire. In his youth he removed with his parents to New England, who gave him the best education that country then afforded. He began to preach, and became chaplain to the governor of Virginia, a great enemy of Puritans. Two missionaries from England settled in Virginia, but the governor sent them out of the country. After this the Indians rose in rebellion, and murdered five hundred English persons. Those who escaped the massacre Mr. Harrison gathered into a church, but the governor became more hardened, and dismissed his chaplain, who had become too serious for him. He returned to London, where he became a popular preacher, and in 1650 succeeded Dr. Goodwin at St Dunstan's in the East. He then removed to Broombrough Hall, where he preached continually. In 1657 he went to Ireland with Henry Cromwell, son of the protector, and preached for some years at Christ Church, Dublin. When the government changed he returned to England, resided at Chester, and preached in the cathedral until silenced in 1662. He returned to Dublin in 1663, where he had a large, respectable, and flourishing congregation. He was an agreeable and instructive preacher, and when he died, in Dublin, there was a general mourning for him in the city. He left a valuable library, including a large folio System of Divinity in manuscript, and published Topica Sacra, or Spiritual Pleadings, and a Funeral Sermon for Lady Susanna Revnolds (1654). See Wilson, Dissenting Churches, 1:221.