William Tong 1662-1727

William TONG 1662-1727

Biographical Note

Son of William Tong, chapman, of Eccles, Lancashire. After initially studying law, he entered Richard Frankland's dissenting academy in 1681, and became a presbyterian minister; he was ordained in 1687, but began preaching in Shropshire in 1685, before being invited to move to Chester by a congregation there in 1687. In 1702 he was elected minister of the presbyterian congregation at Salters' Hall, London, and was thereafter a key member of the nonconformist clergy in the capital, involved in various negotiations and policy matters. He was a member of the Presbyterian Fund board from 1703 and a trustee of Dr Williams' charity. He published numerous doctrinal works and accounts of nonconformist history.

Books

Tong's ODNB entry comments on his antiquarian interests and correspondence with contemporary figures in that field, like Ralph Thoresby; in 1700 he took over the papers of the nonconformist historian Henry Sampson, but did not find the time to work on them. His library was auctioned in London, beginning 20 February 1728; no catalogue survives, but the sale was advertised in the Daily Journal and Daily Post.

Sources

• Alston, R. C., Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• Wykes, David L. "Tong, William (1662–1727), Presbyterian minister and nonconformist tutor." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.