Thomas Rosewell

Reverend Thomas Rosewell (3 May 1630 – 14 February 1692) was a Nonconformist minister of Rotherhithe, Surrey who was found guilty of treason but subsequently pardoned by King Charles II.

Thomas was raised by his uncle, James Rosewell, of Combe Hay, Somerset and attended King Edward's School, Bath.

He suffered a slight mental disturbance in 1671 and moved as tutor to the family of Thomas Grove of Ferne near Berwick St John, Wiltshire.

In a sermon preached on 14 September that year Rosewell allegedly declared that 'we have had two wicked kings now together who have suffered popery to be introduced under their noses...'.

Despite clear counter-evidence presented by numerous witnesses, the jury, directed by Jeffreys, found him guilty of treason for which the penalty would have been death by beheading.

On 28 January 1685 Charles II granted him a pardon, having been told by Sir John Talbot: "If your majesty suffers this man to die, we are none of us safe in our houses".

Some time later, a new headstone was erected at the rear of the original and it was inscribed with an English translation of the Latin text as follows: Here is buried THOMAS ROSEWELL a most distinguished divine.

A man no less esteemed for his piety and modesty than for his learning; a preacher outstanding in skill, eloquence and zeal; an assiduous and most expert interpreter of Holy Scripture.

Who after many labours and most grievous troubles arising from the injustice of the times, which he had borne for Christ's sake with the greatest fortitude, died peacefully at the aforesaid Rotherhithe on February 14th.