Floor Slab – Rev. Josiah Rodwell

Blue slate with white-filled upper case inscription in good condition, apart from trimming off of entire length of L hand side of stone to fit space. It commemorates Rev. Josiah Rodwell (1774-1801), lecturer of Holy Trinity, master of the Grammar School and vicar of North Ferriby.

The eldest son of Josiah and Elizabeth Rodwell of Livermere, Suffolk, Josiah Rodwell graduated from Cambridge and was ordained deacon in Norwich, priest in 1797; He came to Hull as Head Master of the Grammar School, and also became lecturer at St Mary's, Hull, 1798 and Vicar of North Ferriby 1800-01. He had a reputation as a preacher, but was not keen to be pushed into Evangelicalism, despite his parish being under the patronage of Wilberforce. He had married Ann, daughter of Rev. Kingsman Baskett of Pocklington, in 1798. Their son John Josiah was born in 1799, and a daughter, Ann, just a month before her father’s sudden death. He seems to have suffered a stroke or aneurysm, after complaining of a headache.