A Quaker, born at Aberdeen, and was well educated. He came, in 1682, to East Jersey, where he was surveyor-general. In 1689, he taught a school in Philadelphia. After various exertions, writing and travelling for the propagation of the sentiments of his sect, he at first seceded, and at length entirely deserted the society. In England, he became an Episcopalian, and was consecrated as an Episcopal missionary, and in that capacity officiated for a short time in New York and Boston. Returning to England in 1706, he was a rector at Edburton, in Sussex, where he died. His publications were numerous, but almost exclusively controversial.