John Burrell (1543 – 1609) acted as curate at Cocking briefly in 1606, after William Ruffe had become rector of Bepton.
In a deposition for a case brought in February 1603 by William Booker against John and Elizabeth Booker in respect of the will of his father, also William, William Ruffe (described as “vicar”) and John Burrell (described as “clerk”) were both listed as witnesses. In the deposition, John describes himself as aged 60, born in Barlavington, and states that he had lived in Cocking 21 years, prior to which he lived at Bosham for 3 years and Cocking for 6 years; thus, he first lived in Cocking in about 1573.
John Burrell was the last curate during Henry Blaxton’s tenure as vicar of Cocking and was replaced by Andrew Smyth following the appointment of Roger Andrews as vicar in September 1606.
The Cocking parish register records the burial of Margaret, wife of John Burrell, on 29 March 1605 and John Burrell being buried on 5 October 1609.