HENCHMAN, HUMPHREY, third son of Thomas Henchman, citizen and skinner, London, and Anne, dau. of Robert Griffiths, Caernarvonshire; bapt. Barton Seagrove, Northants 22 Dec 1592; adm. ; KS 16 Jan 1608/9 (Chapter Lease Book 1605-10, f. 219 b); Christ’s Coll. Cambridge, matr. 18 Dec 1609; BA 1612/3; MA 1616; BD 1623; DD 1628; Fellow, Clare Hall 1616 – 1622/3 (on Freeman foundation, as founder’s kin); ordained; Precentor and Canon Residentiary of Salisbury 20 Jan 1622/3 – Oct 1660; Prebendary of Salisbury 26 Feb 1622/3 – Oct 1660; Rector of Rushton, Northants 4 May 1624-38/9; Rector of Westbury, Wilts. , 1631; Rector of Wyke Regis, Dorset 11 Jan 1638/9, and of Isle of Portland, Dorset, from 28 Oct 1639; deprived of preferments 1643, “having gone to the Army against the Parliament”; largely instrumental in arranging escape of Charles II after battle of Worcester; consecrated Bishop of Salisbury 28 Oct 1660; Lord High Almoner from 5 May 1662; Bishop of London from 15 Sep 1663; set an example to his clergy by remaining in London during the Great Plague of 1665; a close friend of George Herbert (qv); Izaak Walton recorded that “no one mentioned him without some veneration for his life and excellent learning”; m. 1630 Ellen, sister of Robert Townson (qv); d. 7 Oct 1675. DNB.
