[121] Cal. Contin. ii. 803.
[123a] Palm. Nonconf. Mem. iii. 17.
[123b] Ibid. iii. 19.
[124a] Christ Set Forth, p. 8.
[124b] It appears that the church had previously invited Mr. Asty, of Stratford, to take the spiritual oversight of them; for in the accompts kept at the period in question, are the following items:—“To Bro. Shildrake, for his journey to Stratford, to Mr. Asty, to give him a call, 10s.” and, “Pd. to Girling, for goeing to Mr. Brewster’s in ye night, to inqr. abought Mr. Asty, 4d.” This might be the Asty who was ejected from Stratford in 1662, or the individual (probably his son) who, in 1675, became teacher in the Independent church at Norwich. See Palm. Nonconf. Mem. iii. 288. Harmer’s Misc. Works, p. 195. Wils. Diss. ch. ii. 537.
[125] Mr. Harmer (and after him the Editor of the Nonconformists’ Memorial) was evidently led to consider Mr. Ottee as the pastor chosen in 1653, by mistaking the year in which he was said to be “made pastor,” which is certainly 1656. Mr. Harmer says, “July 29, 1653, Mr. Robert Ottee was chosen their pastor, and ordained Nov. 12th.” See also Palm. Nonconf. Mem. iii. 255. Mr. Ottee is stated, in the dedication prefixed to his posthumous Sermons, to have been minister of this congregation “for above thirty years,” which would be a more natural mode of expression, if he had been thirty-two, than if he had been thirty-five years pastor; and he died in 1689.
[127a] It will be recollected that prior to 1752, the year commenced on 25th March.
[127b] He baptized, on this occasion, two of his own children, (Mary and Samuel,) and three others. The baptism of his son Samuel is recorded under the same date, in the parish register: “Samuell, ye sonne of Robert Ottey, preacher of God’s woorde, & Margret his wife.” This appears to have been the only son of Mr. Ottee who attained manhood, and he died at the age of twenty.
[128a] Acts vi. 1–6. In the “Form of making of Deacons” prescribed for the church of England, the apostles are said to have been inspired to choose the martyr Stephen, and others, to this office; whereas it is plain that the election was the act of “the multitude of the disciples.”
[128b] Neal, i. 428.