General Notes

Born A.D. 1 and died July 27, 82 A.D. Joseph of Arimathea i
s recorded first as a rich man, who provided the sepulchr
e for the body of Jesus (Matt. 27:57-60). "according to th
e Talmud...Joseph was the youngest brother of the father o
f the Virgin Mary. He was her uncle, and therefore a grea
t uncle of Jesus." (George F. Jowett, THE DRAMA OF THE LOS
T DISCIPLES, Covenant Publishing Co.,1978).
Joseph's official title is given as 'Nobilis Decurio'. Thi
s would indicate that he held a prominent position in the R
oman administration as a minister of mines...(Jowett).
"Joseph of Arimathea made his money in the tin trade...wit
h Cornwall (Wales)...made voyages...in his own ships..." (R
ev. Lionel Smithett, ST.JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA OF GLASTONBURY
, James Clark & Co., London, England, 1955, p.167).
"Immediately after the crucifixion, the Jews sought to arre
st Joseph, Nicodemus and others...(he) escaped ... went t
o Philip to be taught, and with son, Josephus, was baptize
d by him." (Smithett).
Cardinal Baronius ...Curator fo the famous Vatican Library.
..quoting from his ECCLESIASTICAL ANNALS referring to the y
ear A.D. 36:
"In that year the party mentioned was exposed to the sea i
n a vessel without sails and without oars. The vessel drift
ed finally to Marseilles (France) and they were saved. Fro
m Marseilles, Joseph and his company passed into Britain...
" (Jowett p.32-33).
See also Jewish Encyclopedia under "arles". Baronius record
, naming the occupants of the castaway boat as Mary Magdale
ne, Martha...and others.
Others report Mary, the Mother of Jesus...and the Bethany s
isters...whom Christ loved...as occupants of the boat" (Jow
ett, pp.63,70,75)".
Cressy, The Benedictine, tells us that St. Joseph died in G
lastonbury, 27 Jul A.D. 82." (Smithett, p.111).
Joseph's descendants became ancestors of some illustrious K
ings and Princes, including "Old King Cole" and the famou
s King Arthur of the Round Table. (Albert F. Schmuhl, THE R
OYAL LINE).
The monk Hugh Paulinus de Cressy, writing during the sevent
eenth century speaks of the first century church in Britain
. It was he who gave us the date of St. Joseph's death, Jul
y 27 A.D. 82, and his coming in these words,
"Now the most eminent of the primitive disciples, and who c
ontributed most to this heavenly building was St.Joseph o
f Arimathea, and eleven of his companions with him, among w
hom is reckoned his son of his own name."
He tells us that Britain "received the beams of the Sun o
f Righteousness before many other countries nearer approach
ing to the place where He first rose".
Cressy spent many years studying and writing in France. I
t is possible that French church documents may have contain
ed some of the information which he passes on to us, the fo
undations of churches in both countries being closely linke
d together. He does claim to have copied original documents
. (OUR NEGLECTED HERITAGE, Gladys Taylor, Covenant Books, E
ngland)
Cressy quotes freely from the Jesuit, Michael Alford, who w
rote his ANNALES ECCLESIAE BRITANNICAE a little before. H
e claimed "The Christian Religion began in Britain within f
ifty years of Christ's Ascension."
1
Source: RootsWeb/gilead