Symonds, William (1582-1614)

Comments

Symonds as this is name as appears in DNB
Foster: of Oxon. MAGDALEN COLLEGE matric. entry under date 1571 and also 10 Jan. 1574/5; demy 1573-8; BA 1 Feb. 1577/8; fellow 1578-82; MA 5 Apr. 1581; B & DD 8 July 1613; Master of Magdalen College School 1583-6; R of Langton by Partney, Lincs. 1583-6; R of Bourton on the Hill, Glos 1597- 1560 [error for Bourton on the Water]; R of Stock, Essex 1587; R of Theddlethorpe, Lincs. 1594-1605; of Well, Lincs., 1597-1600; of Halton Holgate 1599 and of Wyberton 1612-1616; preacher St Saviour, Southwark and sometime in Virginia.

There is some dispute as to whether he ever resided in Virginia, but the DNB states that he was a strong Puritan, close friend of John Smith of Jamestown who had work published for Smith; his main claim to fame was his sermon on Virginia to encourage emigration there given at Whitechapel 25 Apr. 1609.
Some doubt that he was rector of Stow, Glos. as the record relating to his institution there comes right in the middle of the incumbency of Griffith Roberts 1575-94;

Evidence