Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mucklow, William
MUCKLOW, WILLIAM (1631–1713), quaker controversialist, born in 1631, appears to have lived at Mortlake in Surrey, and to have early attached himself to the quakers. Before 1673 he retired from the community along with a small faction who resisted the custom of removing the hat in prayer, which Mucklow considered a 'formal ceremony' [see under Perrot, John], He published his views in 'The Spirit of the Hat, or the Government of the Quakers among themselves, as it hath been exercised of late years by George Fox, and other Leading-Men in their Monday, or Second-dayes Meeting at Devonshire-House brought to Light,' London, 1673 (edited by G. J.) This was twice reprinted, under the title of 'A Bemoaning Letter of an Ingenious Quaker, To a Friend of his,' &c., London, 1700. Mucklow's pamphlet was answered by William Penn [q. v.] in 'The Spirit of Alexander the Copper-Smith (lately revived; now) justly rebuked,' 1673. Mucklow and some others thereupon published ' Tyranny and Hypocrisy detected, or a further Discovery of the Tyrannical Government, Popish-Principles, and vile Practices of the now leading Quakers,' London, 1673. Penn answered this in ' Judas and the Jews, combined against Christ and his Followers,' 1673.
Mucklow next wrote 'Liberty of Conscience asserted against Imposition: Proposed in Several Sober Queries to those of the People called Quakers,' &c., London, 1673-4, to which George Whitehead [q. v.] replied with 'The Apostate Incendiary rebuked, and the People called Quakers vindicated, from Romish Hierarchy and Imposition,' 1673. Mucklow resumed his connection with the quakers some years later, and George Whitehead in a manuscript note, dated 21 July 1704, upon the title-page of a copy of the 'Apostate Incendiary,' desired that it should never be reprinted, since Mucklow had then been 'in charity with Friends for many years past.'
Mucklow died at Mortlake 18 June 1713. His wife, Priscilla, died 6 Oct. 1679. Their daughter married a son of the pamphleteer Thomas Zachary of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.
[Smith's Cat. ii. 190-1, 288, 893, and Suppl. 1893, 253-4; registers at Devonshire House; Library of the Meeting for Sufferings.]