He was born in Burton Latimer (or possibly nearby Barton Seagrave), Northamptonshire, the son of Thomas Henchman, a skinner, and educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he achieved BA in 1613 and MA in 1616. He became a fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, in 1617.
In 1630, he married Ellen Lowe, niece of John Davenant, who was Bishop of Salisbury from 1621 to 1641; along with these connections, his wife brought considerable property from her first marriage, which meant he lived in some comfort. They had three sons and two daughters who survived to adulthood; his grandson, another Humphrey, was a prominent lawyer who defended Henry Sacheverell in 1710 and helped draft the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.[1]
Career
Appointed canon of Salisbury Cathedral in 1623. Henchman was Rector of All Saints Church, Wyke Regis, Weymouth, Dorset from 1640 to 1643. His life was radically changed when the First English Civil War began in 1642 and he joined the Royalist forces. In 1643, Henry Way was appointed his successor as Rector of All Saints Church, Wyke Regis and he was ejected from his position at Wyke Regis and Salisbury and his estates were confiscated.[1] He helped the future Charles II to escape the country after the Battle of Worcester of 1651, and participated in Penruddock's Rising in 1655.[2] On the Restoration of 1660, he was made Bishop of Salisbury[3] – he was elected to the See on 4 October 1660, confirmed 23 October, and consecrated a bishop on 28 October[4] – and in 1663 translated to be Bishop of London, where he saw both the Great Plague and the Great Fire.
