Wagstaffe, Thomas

Wagstaffe, Thomas a learned Nonjuring divine, was born in Warwickshire, England, Feb. 15, 1645. He was educated at the Charterhouse School under Mr. Wood; took the degree of bachelor of arts in 1664, and that of master in 1667; was ordained deacon June 6, 1669, and priest Nov. 19, same year; rector of Martinsthorpe, in the county of Ruttland, from 1669 to 1676; curate of Stow, in the county of Bucks, from 1676 to 1684; chancellor of the cathedral church, Lichfield, in 1684; and rector of St. Margaret Pattens, London, in the same year. Deprived of his preferments at the Revolution for not taking the new oaths, he practiced physic for several years in London with good success. In 1693 he was consecrated bishop, and afterwards became suffragan of Ipswich. He died Oct. 17, 1712. Besides his Sermons, he published several tracts in defense of Charles I.