Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ormerod, Oliver

by Thompson Cooper ‎

ORMEROD, OLIVER (1580?–1626), controversialist, born about 1580, was descended paternally from a family which assumed the name of their estate at Ormerod in Lancashire in the reign of Henry III. He was the second son of Oliver Ormerod of Haslingden, Lancashire, by Sibylla Hargrave (Whitaker, Hist. of Whalley, 4th edit. ii. 220). He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was admitted a sizar on 6 June 1596 (Addit. MS. 5851, p. 36). He graduated B.A. in 1599, but took no other degree. His polemical works brought him to the notice of William Bourchier, third earl of Bath, on whose presentation he was instituted first to the rectory of Norton-Fitzwarren, Somerset, on 20 March 1609–10, and afterwards, on 31 March 1617, to the rectory of Huntspill in the same county, where he died in 1626. His will, dated 17 Jan. 1625–6, was proved at the Prerogative Office, London, on 28 June 1626.

By his wife Johanna, daughter of Richard Hinckson of Soham, Cambridgeshire (she died in 1638), he left issue one son, Richard, born in 1619, and three daughters.

His works are:

1. ‘The Pictvre of a Puritane; or a Relation of the Opinions, Qualities, and Practises of the Anabaptists in Germanie, and of the Puritanes in England. Wherein is firmely prooued that the Puritanes doe resemble the Anabaptists in aboue fourescore seuerall Thinges,’ London, 1605, 4to (without pagination); another edition, newly corrected and enlarged, London, 1605, 8vo, pp. 81 and 32.
2. ‘Puritano-papismus: or a Discouerie of Puritan-papisme: made by way of Dialogue or Conference betweene a Protestant and a Puritane,’ London (two editions), 1605, 4to and 8vo.
3. ‘The Pictvre of a Papist; or a Relation of the damnable Heresies, detestable Qualities, and diabolicall Practises of sundry Hereticks in former Ages, and of the Papists in this Age,’ London, 1606, 8vo, pp. 272; dedicated to Robert, earl of Salisbury. Ormerod takes occasion to deny that he was the author of a book entitled ‘The Double PP., or the Picture of a traiterous Jesuit,’ and of some other works which the papists had fathered upon him.
4. ‘Pagano-Papismus; or a Discouery of Popish Paganisme: wherein is plainlie shewed that the Papistes doo resemble the idolatrous Heathen in aboue sixscore Particulars,’ London, 1606, 8vo, pp. 62.

[Information from J. W. Clark, esq.; Addit. MS. 5877, f. 110; Chalmers's Biog. Dict. xxiii. 389; Cooper's Memorials of Cambridge, ii. 367; Ormerod's Parentalia, p. 5; Visitation of Somerset, 1623; Weaver's Somerset Incumbents, pp. 108, 409; Cat. Early Printed Books, ii. 1168–9.]

T. C.