Heywood, Oliver (1629-03-15 - 1702-05-04)

Also known as Heawood. Son of Richard Heywood, yeoman, of Little Lever, Lancashire and Alice Critchlaw. Baptised at Bolton, 15 March 1629/30. Graduated BA from Trinity College, Cambridge 1650. Ordained at Bury in 1652. Minister of Coley Chapel, Halifax, from 1650 until his ejection in 1662. Following this he held conventicles for local presbyterian gentry and farmers. After the Five Mile Act of 1665 he became an itinerant preacher throughout northern England during which time he was briefly imprisoned and had his goods seized. Licensed Presbyterian in 1672, but license revoked three years later leading to another period of roving ministry and printing of his sermons and other religious works. He operated from his house in Northowram, Yorkshire which eventually led to a year-long imprisonment in 1685 for riotous assembly. James II's 1687 Declaration of Indulgence allowed him to establish a meeting house in Northowram, where he preached until his death on 4 May 1702, despite having to be carried in on a chair during his final year. Married Elizabeth Angier, 24 April 1655 with whom he had three sons, one dying in infancy. She died 26 May 1661. Married again to Abigail Crompton, 27 June 1667.