Gaspar Hickes (d. 1677)

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Biography of Jasper or Gaspar Hickes (d. 1677):

Gaspar Hickes, a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, was born in Berkshire, in England; and educated in Trinity College, Oxford, where he entered in 1621, when sixteen years of age. He took his degrees in the arts, and then entered into holy orders. His first settlement was in a parish in the county of Cornwall; where he continued a diligent and faithful preacher, under the name of a Puritan. When the civil war commenced, he espoused the cause of the Parliament openly, and when the royalists came into that county, he found it expedient to retire to London. He was chosen a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and sometimes was called upon to preach before Parliament; and often in the city of London. But when the king’s interest declined, Mr. Hickes returned to his charge in Cornwall. In the year 1654, he was appointed assistant to the commissioners appointed to eject ignorant and scandalous ministers, in Cornwall. He continued at Laudrake, where his parish was situated, until 1662, when he shared the lot of hundreds of his brethren, and was ejected by the act of uniformity. He remained, however, in the place, and preached as he got opportunity. But in this he experienced much disturbance. One day, when preaching in his own house, to his family and others under sixteen, that he might be within the provisions of the Conventicle act, the young parson who had succeeded him was enraged when he heard of this meeting, and sent civil officers to seize upon him and others; but they could find only four persons above sixteen, therefore the magistrates refused to commit him, notwithstanding the officious zeal of Mr. Winnel, the young minister; for the law had not been violated. But his persecutor was resolved on his punishment, and went to some magistrates in Devonshire, who fined him in the sum of £40; and when he appealed to the sessions, he was denied the privilege of a jury, and the court, contrary to law, not only confirmed the former judgment of £40, but added costs to treble the amount; and at the same time loaded him with obloquy. Mr. Hickes died in the year 1677, about the seventy-third year of his age. Dr. Calamy says, that Mr. Hickes was “a good scholar, and a celebrated preacher.”