EARLS COLNE HERITAGE MUSEUM
The Diary of the Reverend Ralph Josselin
The Revd. Ralph Josselin became the Vicar of Earls Colne in 1640 and, from then until his death in 1683, he kept a daily record of events in the village and beyond.
A full edition of the Diary was published in 1970 and has become a valuable source of information for students of social history all over the world.
A full edition of the Diary was published in 1970 and has become a valuable source of information for students of social history all over the world.
In June 1648, during the Civil War, a troop of Royalist soldiers heading for
Colchester took a detour through Earls Colne. Ralph Josselin reports:
On Monday morning , the enemy came to Colne, were resisted by our
town men. No part of Essex gave them so much opposition as we did.
They plundered us - and me in particular - of all that was portable, except
brass, pewter and bedding.
Colchester took a detour through Earls Colne. Ralph Josselin reports:
On Monday morning , the enemy came to Colne, were resisted by our
town men. No part of Essex gave them so much opposition as we did.
They plundered us -
The Quaker Meeting House, built in 1674,
still stands in Burrows Road
still stands in Burrows Road
Photograph by J.Watt © Earls Colne Heritage Museum
Spare a sympathetic thought for Ralph Josselin’s congregation.
In November 1645 he explains:
It was wet in the morning, so we went not to church until eleven and I
continued preaching until sun was set.
Small wonder, then, that more and more villagers deserted him for the new Quaker meetings.
In November 1645 he explains:
It was wet in the morning, so we went not to church until eleven and I
continued preaching until sun was set.
Small wonder, then, that more and more villagers deserted him for the new Quaker meetings.
