Roberts, Francis

Roberts, Francis, a Puritan divine, the son of Henry Roberts, of Aslake, Yorkshire, was born in that county in 1609. He entered a student of Trinity College, Oxford, in 1625, completing his studies and being ordained in 1632. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he went to London, took the covenant, and was appointed minister of St. Augustine's, Watling Street, in room of Ephraim Udal, ejected for his loyalty. In 1649 he was presented to the rectory of Wrington, Somersetshire, by lord Capel. At the Restoration he conformed, and in 1672 went to Ireland as chaplain to lord Capel, and while there received the degree of D.D. He died at Wrington in 1675. His principal work is Clavis Bibliorum (Lond. and Edinb. 1649, 2 vols. 8vo; 4th ed. 1675, fol.): — also, Synopsis of Theology (1644, fol.):--Believer's Evidence for Eternal Life (1649, 1655, 8vo): Communicant Instructed (1651, 8vo). See Chalmers, Biog. Dict.; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.