Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wolrich, Humphrey
WOLRICH, WOOLRICH, or WOOLDRIDGE, HUMPHREY (1633?–1707), quaker, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, was probably born there about 1633. A baptist in early life, he joined the quakers soon after their rise, was imprisoned in London for preaching in 1658, and next year wrote ‘A Declaration to the Baptists’ … London, 1659, 4to. This is an account of a ‘dispute’ held at Withcock, Leicestershire, on 27 Feb. 1658–9, at which Isabel, wife of Colonel Francis Hacker [q. v.], was present. About the same time Wolrich, although a quaker, actually baptised a convert. In this it appears he was upheld by some in the society, while severely judged by others. In his defence Wolrich wrote ‘The Unlimited God …’ London, 1659, 4to (Meeting for Sufferings Library). Wolrich was in prison in 1660, and wrote, with John Pennyman [q. v.] and Thomas Coveney, ‘Some Grounds and Reasons to manifest the Unlawfulness of Magistrates and others who commit Men to Prison, or fine them for not putting off the hat,’ London, 1660, 4to; also a broadside dated Newgate, 14 Jan. 1660–1, ‘Oh! London, with thy Magistrates,’ with other broadsides against ‘Papist Livery,’ ‘Advice to the Army of the Commonwealth and to Presbyterian Ministers.’ Sir Richard Brown, lord mayor of London in 1661, who was particularly severe against the quakers, committed Wolrich to prison for keeping his hat on before him. During his confinement he wrote ‘From the Shepherd of Israel to the Bishops in England,’ London [1661–2], 4to, and at the same time ‘To the King and both Houses of Parliament … a timely warning that they do not make laws against the righteous and innocent people … called quakers,’ n.d. In 1661 he was taken out of a meeting in Staffordshire, and, for refusing the oath of allegiance, carried to prison, where he probably wrote the ‘Address to Magistrates, Priests, and People of Staffordshire,’ n.d. 4to. On 2 Dec. 1662 he arrived in Chester at the end of the assize. On the following Sunday he entered the cathedral during the anthem, and when the singing ceased attempted to speak, but was hastily removed and confined in the castle. In February 1682 he was fined 20l. and sent to prison for offering prayer at the burial of a quaker woman in her husband's garden at Keel, Staffordshire, the priest having threatened to arrest the corpse if Wolrich did not pay the fees.
Wolrich died, after a painful illness of two years from cancer in the mouth, at the Friends' Almshouses in Clerkenwell on 31 Aug. 1707, and was buried on 2 Sept.
Other works by him are: 1. ‘One Warning more to the Baptists, in answer to Matthew Caffin's “Faith in God's Promises the Saints best Weapon,”’ London, 1661, 4to. 2. ‘A Visitation to the Captive Seed,’ London, 1661, 4to. 3. ‘The Rock of Ages Known and Foundation of many Generations Discovered,’ London, 1661, 4to. 4. ‘A Visitation and Warning,’ London, 1662, 4to. 5. ‘A General Epistle to Friends in England and Holland,’ 1665–6; several small epistles and testimonies. 6. ‘A Brief Testimony against Friends wearing of Perriwigs’ (posthumous), 1708.
[Barclay's Inner Life of the Commonwealth, p. 372; Piety Promoted, 1789, ii. 91; Besse's Sufferings, i. 332, 365, 651, 654; Smith's Catalogue, ii. 949; Swarthmore MSS. and Registers at Devonshire House, E.C.]