Bartholomew Westley

Bartholomew Westley (1596 - February 13, 1680). His father was Sir Herbert Westley of Westleigh, Devon. His mother was Elizabeth Wellesley of Dangan [http://www.harvestfields.ca/01/086.htm] .

He studied medicine and theology at Oxford.

In 1620 he married Ann, daughter of Sir Henry Colley of Carbery Castle, Kildare. They had one son, John Westley.

Bartholomew Westley was about seven years old when James I came to the throne. He lived for some time at Bridport and is known to have preached in the town's western suburb of Allington. (The pulpit which he used there is still preserved in the Wesleyan school-room at Bridport.) In 1640 he was appointed rector of Charmouth. He also preached at Catherston. When the Puritan rectors were ejected by Charles II after the English Restoration of 1660, he lost his parish but continued to preach as a Nonconformist. He lived in Charmouth for some time where he practiced medicine and continued preaching in the West Dorset area. He was eventually forced to leave Charmouth by the Five Mile Act. He was dubbed a fanatic and a "puny parson," because of his small stature.

The last years of his life were spent in seclusion at Lyme Regis where at about the age of eighty-five he died and was buried there on February 15 of 1680.