# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Marshall, Charles (1637-1698)

​MARSHALL, CHARLES (1637–1698), quaker, was born at Bristol in June 1637. He was religiously brought up, but owing to spiritual doubts joined as a youth a company which met once a week for fasting and prayer. To one of these meetings in 1654 came John Audland and John Camm [q. v.], who had been convinced by Fox. Marshall ​was powerfully impressed, and became a quaker. On 6 May 1662 he married Hannah, daughter of Edward Prince, ironmonger, of Bristol. She also became a zealous quaker, and in 1664 they were both committed to prison for attending quaker meetings (Besse, i. 51).
Marshall is variously styled 'chymist,' 'apothocary,' and 'medical practitioner.' Croese calls him a 'noted physician.' About 1668 he settled at Tytherton, Wiltshire, and published about 1681 'A Plain and Candid of the Nature, Uses, and Doses of experienced. Medicines. Truly prepared by U. M. To which is added some General Rules to Preserve Health. Published for the good of mankind.' A curious letter, dated Bristol, 3 Oct. 1681, in recommendation of certain medicines prepared by him, beginning 'Dear Friends all unto whom these may come,' and subscribed by Richard Snead and others, with a few lines by William Penn [q.v.], and a further recommendation from Friends of London, was printed as a broadside in 1681.
In 1670 Marshall says (Journal) he 'faithfully gave up liberty, estate, and relations,' mail commenced preaching. In August that Tear, while at prayer in a meeting at Claverham, Somerset, he was violently dragged by the justices through the gallery-rail and much injured. He was also fined 2l. a month for non-attendance at church. He 'received a commission to travel through the nation,' and between September 1670 and October 1672 he held four hundred meetings. He returned home only on two occasions. On one he lay ill and his life was despaired of for two months, on the other a favourite child died.
After his return to Bristol, Marshall worked hard to counteract the divisions made by John Story [q. v.] and John Wilkinson, who had called the new discipline of the society forms and idols. He took part with Fox in a great meeting at Bristol in 1677 at the house of Rogers, another separatist. He lost much property by distraints for tithes, and in 1682 was prosecuted by Townshend, vicar of Tytherton, and committed to the Fleet, where he remained two years. He wrote while there 'A Tender Visitation in the Love of God to towns and villages,' London, 1684. When released, Marshall settled in Winchester Street, London, and continued his labours. His last journey was to Bristol at the being of 1698. On his return he fell ill, and was moved to the house of John Padley, 'near the river-side' (Southwark), where, after four months, he died of consumption, 15 Nov. 1698. He was buried in Bunhill Fields.
Besides the children who died young, he left two sons. To Beulah, the elder, he bequeathed the proceeds of his medicines in Bristol and his estates in Pennsylvania; to Charles, his shares of mines in Cumberland; his property at Tytherton and Bromhill to his wife. Two of his daughters were married before his death.
Marshall is described as a man of meekness and charity, a promoter of peace and healer of discords, whose practice agreed with his preaching. He gave medical treatment to the poor for nothing.
Marshall chiefly wrote epistles. Twenty-six are included in his 'Works,' published under the title of 'Sion's Travellers comforted,' London, 1704, with preface by Penn, and testimonies by his wife and other friends. It contains, besides his Journal, 'The Way of Life revealed, and the Way of Death discovered,' Bristol, 1674, reprinted three times, and translated into Welsh by J. Lewis, Carmarthen, 1773; 'A Message to the People inhabiting Upper and Nether Germany,' translated by Benjamin Furly [q. v.] into Dutch, Rotterdam, 1674, another translation, 1675; and 'The Trumpet of the Lord,' 1675. Marshall's Journal was republished in the 'Friends' Library' (vol. iv.), Philadelphia, 1837. &c. It was also edited by Thomas Chalk, London, 1844. A sermon reached by Marshall at Gracechurch Street, 11 March 1693, and taken down in shorthand, is printed in 'The Concurrence and Unanimity of the People called Quakers,' London, 1694.
[Sewel's Hist. of the Rise, &c, 1834, i. 108; Gough's Hist. of Quakers. Dublin, 1789. iii, 423; Smith's Cat.; Works, 1704 passim; registers at Devonshire House; will at Somerset House.]
C. F. S.