He was a great-grandson of Richard Chorley of Walton-le-Dale, near Preston, Lancashire, and second of six sons of Richard Chorley of Preston. His father's house was, as he noted, "the receptacle of persecuted ministers." After a preparatory education in several good grammar schools, he enteredTrinity College, Cambridge in 1669, but his residence there was not long, because of "the terms of conformity being strait." He then turned his thoughts to Scotland. His gave his account of his sojourn at the University of Glasgow in a little note-book, which he called "Chorleyana, or a Register commemorating some of the most remarkable passages of Clod's providence towards me from my nativity, by Josiah Chorley." The first part of this "Register" was written at Glasgow in 1671-2. He later received the degree of M.A. Chorley succeeded John Collinges as one of the ministers of the Presbyterian congregation at Norwich. The baptismal register of the congregation begins in September 1691 with an entry by Chorley. Chorley's ministry in Norwich was marked by his zeal in catechetical instruction, which gave rise to his very curious compendium of the Biblein verse. In January 1719 he was succeeded by John Brook from Yarmouth. Chorley baptised a child of Brook's on 3 September 1719, and is believed to have died soon after. He is said to have bequeathed a large sum of money, to be divided between the Presbyterian minister and the poor at Preston, but nothing is now known of this endowment.
Works
Chorley published ,. This aid to the memorising of the contents of chapters is dedicated Deo Trin-Uni O.M. Ecclesiæq; vere Catholicæ. At the end is A Poetical Meditation. A second edition in 1714 was improved by suggestions from Samuel Say, then independent minister at Lowestoft. A reprint of the 2nd edition, with woodcuts designed by John Thurston, and notes by the printer, John Johnson, appeared in 1818. It incorrectly gave Chorley's name as Joseph.
Family
Chorley has been confused with his son Richard, who was educated in the academies of Frankland at Rathmell Academy and John Chorlton at Manchester, and ministered at Filby near Yarmouth and Framlingham. He afterwards lost his sight, and ceased to identify himself with dissent. His daughter, who lived in Norwich, was for a time insane.
