Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Puller, Timothy
PULLER, TIMOTHY (1638?–1693), divine, born about 1638, was son of Isaac Puller, who was mayor of Hertford in 1647, author of ‘A Letter to the Hon. Committee at Derby House concerning the capture of the Earl of Holland,’ 1648, 4to, and M.P. for Hertford in 1654, 1656, and 1658–9. Timothy graduated B.A. from Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1656–7, M.A. 1660, was incorporated in that degree at Oxford on 9 July 1661, and proceeded B.D. in 1667 and D.D. in 1673. In 1657 he was elected fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and on 12 Feb. 1658 was admitted student of Gray's Inn. He soon abandoned law for the church, and on 11 July 1671 was presented to the living of Sacomb, Hertfordshire. On 23 Sept. 1679 he received in addition the rectory of St. Mary-le-Bow, London, where he died and was buried in the autumn of 1693, his successor being appointed on 21 Nov. On 23 Dec. 1676 he was licensed to marry Alice Codrington, spinster, of Kingston, Surrey. His son William graduated B.C.L. from Hart Hall, Oxford, on 29 Nov. 1704, aged 18, and was presented in 1724 to the rectory of Yattendon, Berkshire, which he held till his death in 1735; fine crayon drawings of him and his sister are at Yattendon rectory.
Puller was author of ‘The Moderation of the Church of England,’ London, 1679, 8vo. It advocates the claims of the Anglican church as a via media between popery and puritanism; it is ‘a calm and argumentative statement of the views of the church as conclusively set forth in her liturgy, articles, and homilies’ (Church of England Quarterly Rev. January 1844, pp. 222–7). This book was reprinted, with introduction, notes, &c., by the Rev. Robert Eden, vicar of Wymondham, Norfolk, 1843, 8vo (another edit. 1870). An abridged edition was published in 1818 by the Rev. Daniel Campbell, vicar of Buckland, as ‘The Church her own Apologist,’ and chapter xi. (section 4 to the end) was printed in ‘Tracts of the Anglican Fathers,’ 1841–2, iii. 301–10.
[Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714, and Gray's Inn Reg. p. 285; Wood's Fasti, ii. 250; Newcourt's Repert. i. 440; Chester's Westminster Abbey Reg.; Chauncy's Hertfordshire, p. 336; Clutterbuck's Hertfordshire, ii. 147, 149, 428; Official Returns of Members of Parliament; Allibone's Dict. of English Lit.]