John Duckett
Martyrd English priest
Feast: 7 September (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
John Duckett, probably grandson of the martyr James Duckett, was ordained in 1639 and studied in Paris. He had an extraordinary gift of prayer, spending whole nights in contemplation.
After a year's work in Durham he was taken on his way to baptise two children, and sent to Newgate with the Jesuit Ralph Corbie; when a reprieve was obtained for one of them, each refused it for himself. He was executed at Tyburn on 7 September 1644, writing: 'I fear not death, nor I contemn not life.'
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A priest of deep prayer who went joyfully to death.
Connected on this site
- James Duckett Blessed“John Duckett, probably grandson of the martyr James Duckett, was ordained in 1639 and studied in Paris.” — this site's research
- Ralph Corbie Blessed“After a year's work in Durham he was taken on his way to baptise two children, and sent to Newgate with the Jesuit Ralph Corbie; when a reprieve was obtained for one of them, each refused it for himself.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - John Duckett
- Wikidata Q6230237 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — John Duckett (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.