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Home > Family History > Leeds Area > Harewood > The Notices > Pages 111 to 120
"The Notices of the Stables Family"
by William Stables (1794-1862)
| Page 111 | at the gold diggings in
California, but where he is now, T know not. When John Wilson had been a widower for some Years, he married Spink. She was a widow with one daughter. She was of a suitable age, and in respectable circumstances. We were twice at Linnothwaite during the time she was with hits, but it was always said that they lived very uncomfortably together. That her great partiality to her own daughter made a constant unpleasantness with his children, and when at length she got married, then he accused her of sending so many of his goods away to her; that their quarrels became terrible, and in the end she left him entirely, and now (1856) resides in a house at Tockwith. And he is left without wife or child or relatives about him, a poor shandy looking old man, with his face looking much too red, and himself despised by every one. 3rd. -- William. He was indentured, with a large fee, to a land surveyor, and after serving his time, was settled, on a large farm at Gatenby, Hear Bedall. He married a Miss Britton, a very respectable young woman, who bore him a son which died soon after his father. William had the character of being a gay, dissipated young man, and it is feared died as he had lived, when he was 25 or 6 years of age. 4th. --Catharine. She was said to have very much her mother's mind, temperament and disposition, so much so that my wife never invited her to come to see us. While she was yet but a young woman, she professed to obtain saving religion. For several years, after her brother John became a widower, she was housekeeper for him, and on his second marriage she went to her mother and younger sister at York. It was said by some that she behaved very unkindly to her mother. After sometime, when she was rather growing old as a young woman, she married Revd. Joseph Cusworth, a Wesleyan minister, a am a good bit older than herself, he being a widower with his family all grown up. He continued to travel some years after their marriage, when he was appointed governor of Kingswood School. Under his management, very considerably„ the new Kingswood School has been built. I believe he is now a breaking down old man, but they are yet in the situation, and she has now full scope to develop all her splendid abilities in a sphere, which, no doubt, in many respects she is well qualified for (1856). The offspring of William and Mary Wilson wares 5th. -Jane, a delicate and .feeble, but very sensible daughter. She, as she grew up to woman's estate, became very deformed in the spine. After suffering very much, she departed this life, when she was some 21 or 2 years of age, during the time of her mother's residence at York. Matthias and Jane Skilbeck had issue: FOURTH, JOHN, born Augst. 20th, 1774. (Note W, page 134). After receiving a good mercantile education, he became a clerk in a large cloth manufactory, where they employed six clerks, a little below Huddersfield. With them he continued some years. While in that situation, he became acquainted with a young woman, the only child of a cloth manufacturer in Idusfield (?), This Huddersfield manufacturer had a field, near where the factory which John belonged to, stood. To this field the young woman used to come to milk their cow, and he becoming aware of this, used to contrive to get into her company. He also went to a dissenting chapel in order to meet her, and by getting together, they became attached to each other. Their interviews, however, were |
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| Page 112 | by stealth, for her
parents frowned on bin, thinking that their daughter ought to look for some one much above $ clerk. Becoming much enamoured with the girl, he grate to his father on the subject, informing him of the trouble he was in, and at his earnest request he came over to Huddersfield, and had some interviews with the old folks. And on his engaging to give his son 1000 pounds as a marriage portion, they consented to their union, and the upshot of the business was that they were married Septr. 1794. John was immediately admitted partner with his father-in-law, and became the traveller in the concerts. The old man had been used to keep a horse and cart,, and to travel about the country attending at many of the annual fairs and some markets, in the manner of the old Farhound (Farhourd?) Clothmakers. But this mode of doing business was much too low for John, he had got very gentlemanly ideas, and the horse and cart were soon laid aside, as belonging only to the hawker, and were soon exchanged for the travelers' gig, which only carried samples of the various kinds of cloth they made, and his father Matthias told me, that so fond was he of making an appearance. and being thought a gentleman. that he changed his gig three or four times before he could get one fine enough for him. And sometimes his wife would go with him on his rounds, she becoming jealous of him for being an unfaithful husband, did not like to trust him much out of her sight. For a while things seemed to go on tolerably prosperously. And the old man dying, he had then the whole business to himself. But in 1809, a kind of panic in trade taking place, he became involved in difficulties, got his father and brother Robert to be bound for him, to the extent of 1600 pounds. He afterwards became bankrupt, and his father paid the whole 1600 pounds, for which he and Robert had become bound. So that with the 1000 pounds he got when he was married, he got 2600 pounds from his father. After his failure, he continued to reside at Huddersfield, on some part of his wife's estate, for at his decease her father had bequeathed to her a considerable property, which was almost entirely in houses, and a little land, which, when all let, made about 170 pounds per annum. But he was sufficiently cautious to leave it to her and her three sons after her. Edgard, Matthew. and John. being only then born, and Thomas, born afterwards, was left entirely unprovided for by his maternal grandfather. Whether he was in any business for the five years between his failure and his death. I cannot say. His death was very sudden, and awfully tragic. Intending to visit his father at Healaugh, ho took with him his youngest son Thomas, then between eight and nine years of age. It was a very severe storm and there was then touch snow on the ground. They went by coach to Tadcaster, intending to walk from thence to Healaugh, being about three miles. It was between six and seven in the evening when they arrived in Tadcaster, where they stopped about an hour and a half, when they started off on their journey. Soon after they had started, he became very in with cholic, to which he was subject, and getting very slowly on, they because very much stared and being almost exhausted, he made to the farm house called Healough Manour, and the family being all gone to bed, he asked thews, begged to be admitted, telling them that his child was nearly starved to death. Insensible, however, to his entreaties, they refused to let them in. Thus repulsed, "he turned away from the house, |
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| Page 113 | resolved to make another effort
to get to Healaugh. He struggled on, until within a quarter of a mile of the desired place, when unable to proceed any further, he turned out of the road called Duce Lane, into a field, then occupied by his brother Robert, and lying down, it is supposed was starved to death. This took place Jany. 14th, 1$14, when he was about 39 years of age. Thomas, the little boy, however, survived, and stood over his dying father, and even let several wagons pass by them on the lane, while it is probable his father was yet alive, but had not the sense or resolution to can out to them. He, however, afterwards took some money out of his father's pocket, and set off back, as he said, to Huddersfield. He was found neat morning in a brickmaker's shade, near Tadcaster. John and his wife had issues 1st. --- Edgard. He was put apprentice to a groper near Huddersfield. His master, however, was only in a low way of business, and his family lived in a dirty, pauper-like hovel and manner. Among their children there was one daughter, and they did all they could to get them connected, frequently left them together to sit up, and when so left, set them gin and water to drink, and the consequences were such as might be expected. After a while she was found with child by him, and in the difficulty in which he was involved, he made her his wife. And a poor, lost, forlorn, helpless, looking creature of a soother she was, and served very well to excite the pity of the friends of the poor young man, who had been so entangled and overcome by her, and her friends. Sometime after his marriage he became a foreman in a wool-sorter's shop (1826). 2nd. -- Mathias. He was apprenticed to a cloth weaver, also near Huddersfield. He was a spirited, staunch tempered young man, so much so, that his mother durst not treat him in that scornful, tyrannical manner that she did her other children. He was the subject of much affliction, arising from some complaint in his back, and was better and worse for several years. He died of consumption when he was about twenty one or two. 3rd. -- John. He was apprenticed to be a cropper not far from Huddersfield. When loose from his apprenticeship, being among his father's relatives in this neighbourhood, he came from Compton to see:-us. This was not very long after our marriage. He afterwards began business for himself, and after a year or two, he began to deal in, as gall as dress, the cloth. He then began to travel in a rather extensive round, as a cloth merchant, gradually enlarging his business, and last summer (Decr. 1826), he managed to pick up a wife among theme, who is said to be a person of considerable property, and with her he now resides in Ireland. 4th, -- Jane, who died of water in the brain, when she was five or six years of age. 6th. -- Thomas. He was articled to a Mr. Hopkinson, a solicitor at dewsberry. But his master dying before the expiration of his texas, he was released from the engagement. Not being born when his maternal grandfather made his will, he was not included in the entail of his mother's property, and though she had a very good income, yet to a considerable extent, he had to look to his paternal grandfather Matthias Skilbeck. He put him to school, which cost him in various ways 30f 14/0. He deposited 140 pounds in the hands of my father-in-law for find him in clothes during his apprenticeship (Note Be page 136) and at his decease he |
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| Page 114 | bequeathed him 40 pounds, which
legacy he lived to receive and soon afterWards departed this life Novr. 1826, being a little over 21 years of age. John's wife, the mother of these five children, once came to visit us. I think she came from Harrogate, but I believe I was from home, for I have no recollection of her whatever (1856). The character I have heard of her is anything but amiable, and I understand they lived uncomfortably together, and that it was not without occasion that he complained of her, as having been a petted and spoiled child, and she was so petted and peevish in her disposition, as no husband would be able at all times to brook. She was a very unfeeling and tyrannical mother to her children, but this disposition more fully exhibited itself after her husband's death. And such was her demeanor towards them, that when loose from their apprenticeship, they sought for board and lodgings amongst neighbours or friends, not chusing, or being denied or refused a residence with their scolding mother. Matthias and Jane Skolbeck had issue: FIFTH, ROBERT, born June 27th 1776. He was taken from school to work in the farm when he was about eleven and a half years of age, and then went again in winter for a quarter or half a year, when he was about sixteen years of age. He and his brother Richard, then wrought hard in the farm, regularly going with the teams. But my father-in-law used to say that Robert never liked work, and after he became his own master, took very little of it. He was a rough, hardy looking youth, a little so in his temper as well as in his person. When he was about fifteen, he had a very dangerous fever. For some time he was not expected to recover, and such an effect did it produce on his system that all his hair fell off. On the 8th June 1802 he married Hannah Tomlinson of Eas-Dike, his own cousin, and they went to spend the wedding day with my father-in-law at Compton. His father then gave up the farm to him. He gave him 1000 pounds to begin business with, in which was included the farming-stock, Implements, and furniture, to the amount of 982 pounds. But many things were not valued (see large book belonging to grandfather), But his enjoyment of matrimonial happiness was exhort, for she closed her eyes in death Decr. 23rd, 1804, being only then in the 23rd year of her age. In her last illness she became an earnest seeker of salvation, and professed to obtain the knowledge of it by the remission of sins, and died in the full triumph of faith. James Pearl preached a funeral sermon on the occasion for Ecclesiastes 7,1. They had two sons, viz. Matthew, born May 3, 1803 and died Feby 19th 1805, being about 1 3/4 years of age, and Richard, born Octr. 18th, 1804 and died Jany 5th, 1805, being about 11 weeks old. Sometime before the death of Robert's children, his father had a very remarkable dream about them, which made such an impression on his mind., that he recorded it in a large book, which is now in my possession. It is as follows: "I thought I was in Duce Spring (a wood of six or seven acres at the bottom of Robert's farm) and there was somebody with me, but I do not know who it was. I was near the bottom of the far park field, and saw two children, each of them on a cloud, and their mother following them, on another cloud, directing their course towards Wighill, |
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| Page 115 | one after another, and I said
to them that were with me, "One would think that they were inhabitants of this world.' This was before little Matty died. Their mother was neatly dressed with a white handkerchief. This being only a dream, made a very great Impression on me." Matthew Skilbeck. Robert's great weakness is the being too fond of company, being by it led into the acquaintance of several gay and dissipated sportsmen, of which diversion he is himself passionately fond. Soon after our marriage, he came and shop a day over our farm. and had very good sport. In the company of such persons he is sometimes led, for fear of being thought singular, to take a glass or two too much. A bay called Jim Maude, who lived servant with him and afterwards came to live with my father-in-law, used to relate an anecdote of him, illustrative of one of his curious whims. He had been at a party, at the house of one of his acquaintances, and very late at night came home drank. When it came into his head to make his servants perform a dance in his presence. But they not being in equally merry mood, were rather slow in getting their eyes rubbed open, and seemed disposed for making their sleepiness an excuse for not performing such a farce at that time. When, at length, as though his patience was quite exhausted, he seised the lad by the hair (whose head by the by was perhaps a little rough) and dregging him into the middle of the kitchen floor, began to caper about at no small rate, compelling the reluctant boy to attempt something like a partner-ship in his fun. After his wife's decease, his household concerns were very much left to the care of housekeepers, For the last ten or twelve years he has had Nancy Bell, a native of Healaugh. She is a very lean, puny, ilk.-looking creature, whose haggard appearance bespeaks the deformed mind within. The servants dislike her very much, for she is by no means good to please, and can assume considerable authority, especially when the master is from home, and scarce any of his relatives will come at him I once went down to his house, when I was visiting Grandfather, but he was not in, and things looked so yonderly(?) that I never called any more (1826) She was in the whole somewhere between twenty and thirty years in his service, and died in it, not very, long before he had to part with his farm there, and whatever suspicions there might be of the kind of connection there was between her master and her, in its earlier part, I have understood that before she died, she became a preying woman, and joined the Methodist Society. About 1817, in conjunction with my father-in-law, he purchased a farm of 140 acres of good band at Gatenly, near Beedall. This they let until the spring of 1822, when they made a feeble attempt to sell it, but not succeeding in the way they desired, and he having discharged himself from his farm at Healaugh, and not meeting with another that suited him, he purchased his brother's share, and tent to reside on it himself. He immediately commenced to make considerable improvements in the concern, especially the homestead, remodelled and nearly rebuilt the house, walled in a very large garden, planted an orchard, drained and banked, and in several ways improved the estate. During the first summer of his being at Gatonby. on his returning once from Healaugh, he called to make a wait at Firs. _____, at Kirby Hill, the place they were accustomed to stop at when they vent to Gatenby. He .ad a glass of rum and water, when having paid for a barrel or two of ale that he had had from her, she pressed him to have another glass, but saying that he was not vary |
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| Page 116 | well., he refused, but said if
she would make tea, he would take a cup of tea with her. She Immediately set to, to prepare it, when he, being very unwell, rose from his seat, intending to go out, bat Immediately ran forward, like one drunk, and pitched his head against the opposite WaLL, cut it severely, and bled like a stick'd sheep. He bled an astonishing quantity, while laid on the floor, and being quite insensible, they put him to bed, where he still bled much. After a while, he recovered his sessation, and got up, having, as they supposed, had some kind of an apoplectic fit. At nine or ten at might, he would ride home, a distance of eleven or twelve miles, and although very weak through the lass of blood, he set off. When he came to the gate at the head of the lane, leading to Gatenby, out of Leeming Lane„ ho could not get the mare up to the gate, and himself saw somekind of blank super-natural things about the mares feet, which very such alarmed and affected him. He still feels much concerned when speaking on it, but does not like. (Father Skilbeck, 1825). After his removal to Gatenby, he soon got connected with a new set of gay sporting companions. The expenses, however, attending so marry gay acquaintances, so much time spent in shooting, and the consequent neglecting of his farm, his drinking propensities growing upon him, so that he could seldom go to market or anywhere from home, without coming home drunk; with these things he too got to lay in bed long in a morning, and added to all these, a great reduction in the price of agricultural produce, and a consequent fall in the value of land, and having a very heavy mortgage on his farm, and then a second one to his nephew, John Wilson of, I think, 400 pounds. He soon began to feel, himself in difficulties. Father-in-law had at first left a considerable sum in his hands, but his own necessities had been such, that he had drawn it all, by one amount after another. About 1842 he made another attempt to sell, but had no bidders, that would enable him to get out of his difficulties. At length the first mortgager, being unable longer to get his interest, seized the estate, and other creditors homing on him, swallowed up his stock and crops. So that about 1845, he was cast out from the farm, and was entirely destitute. After living for a while on his friends about Gatenby, and coming and staying some weeks with his nephew at Linnethwaite, until Mrs, W, would not submit to his ways any longer. He then went back among his friends about Gatenby. All his property being gone, and every resource failing him, he vas in a state of great wretchedness. When Mr. Cranswick, one of his old neighbours at Gatenby wrote to his nephew John "Wilson, and some other of us, describ- ing his destitution, and begging of us to help hips. A place Was found for him where they would board, lodge, wash, and rake him comfortable for ten shillings a week. John Wilson was the leading man in the affair, and he, his sister Mrs. Haswell, Brother Allan, and myself entered into an engagement to raise that sum, which was to be paid quarterly. but I believe we only paid two quarters, before the agreement was broken up, and the thing fell to the ground. It came about in this ways About that time a new customer put up for the farm, that offered a sume for it that *,could have paid off the first mortgage, and have left 200 pounds for John Wilson, the second mortgagor, and he said, that even that was not what the farm was worth, and that he would never sign it away at such a sum, let the consequence be what it would. With what he called his stupidity, John ,Wilson was so and offended, that he declared he would turn his '---ac k off him, and have no more to do with hiss, and as he was the leader in the subscription for |
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| Page 117 | his benefit, when he withdrew
the whole affair fell to the ground. The supplies being stopped, he could not stay where he had been boarded, and no other plan being open, he was by stern necessity and want compelled to enter the Union Workhouse. I believe it was the Bedul Union. 'there he mined for several years, I think seven or eight, and there he died, I think about 1853. Matthias and Jan Skilbeck had issues SIXTH, THOMAS, born Jany. 12th, 1781 and died April 14th, 1782, being 14 years old. SEVENTH, JANE, born Feby. 2nd, 1786. Being the youngest, she possessed in a considerable degree what is generally the sorrowful inheritance of the youngest of a numerous family of children. That is, she vas very much petted and spoiled. Her father has been heard to say that he never struck her but once, and it is probable that she wan then only a little girl. Having let something fall on the floor, he bid her take it ups when she smartly replied that he might take it up himself, for that he was big enough, which so irritated him, as to bring down some correction on her. She was a smart, wild, giddy girl. In one of her wild frolics when she was thirteen or fourteen years of age, the servant girl and she took it into their heads to have a cold bath. After the family were all also gone to bed, they filled a large tub with grater. Bat she, fussing about in preparing the bath, was all on a perspiration, and in that state got into the water. She, however, paid dear for her imprudence, for she had very sore and tender eyes for about two yam, which it vas believed was brought on by the bathing. About the same time she began to have an acute pain in her foot. This at length settled into the great toe, and after almost suffering a martyrdom in it, a piece of bone was at length taken out# but she continued to have acute pain it it occasionally, as long as she lived, and after her marriage it was some-times so acute, when warm in bed, as to compel her to leave the side of her husband in order to stand on the warm hearth flag, and sometimes when he awoke and missed her, he would Jump up to seek her and often found her as above described, laughing most heartily. Another of her wild, not to say impious frolics took place when she was twenty two or three years of age. She was on a rather lengthy visit at her brother Richards at Compton, near Wetherby,, At that time they had :carry Johnson, a witty, droll.. wicked man for a maltster. and as she was of a Similar disposition, they had many sis together. It was on the morning of Wetherby "air day. She was going to the fair, and the conversation turned on her getting a sweetheart home with her from the Fair. That she might succeed, they both in their frolic kneeled dorm to pray that she might get a sweetheart. She went to the fair, the person who was afterwards her husband accompanied her home, and the next morning she and Harry again kneeled down to thank God for her success. |
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| Page 118 | In her person she was
tall and rather slender. and had rather a florid and pleasing countenance, and if her nose had not been quite so large, her face and person would well have deserved the appelation "beautiful". Her temper and manners were affable and agreeable, and her dress was very neat. She was an excellent horse-woman, and on account of her delicate health. she took so much of that exercise, that she could manage a horse gracefully. And her general appearance was such, that after her removal to Marston, the principal family in the neighbourhood used to distinguish her from the other Mrs. Acombs in village, as being the "Genteel Mrs. Acomb." She only enjoyed poor health for some years, but was at length, after a second attempt, obtained in marriage by Thomas Acomb, a farmer in affluent circumstances at Marston, near York, and not more than three or four miles from Healaugh, the residence of her parents. Their union took place April 23, 1810. They were very happy i» each other, but their happiness was of short duration. Her health soon began to fail.. It was supposed that she was in the family way, but in the end it turned out to be consumption, and she closed her eyes in death, after being a wife thirty six weeks. (Thos. Acomb died at York June 1st, 1835, aged 51, and was interred at Marston.) Her sister, Mary Wilson, has told me, that she had a work of grace on her mind, when she was but a child, about eight years of age. She was very serious for about a year, but then her light, giddy spirit got the better of Grace, she became trifling and host her religious feeling. But when affliction and death began to stare her in the face, she sought for mercy, and Mrs. Wilson believes she found it, and that there was hope in her death. She was interred in the church-yard at Marston, where an altar tombstone bears the following inscription, "Sacred to the memory of Jane, the wife of Thomas Acomb, of Marston, and daughter of Matthias and Jars Skilbeck, of Healaugh, who died Jany. 9th, 1811. Bat now is Christ risen, m W become the first fruits of these that slept, for since by man came death. by man also, came the resurrection from the dead. And she, now rising from the tomb. With lustre brighter far shall shine, Revive with ever during bloom, Free from diseases and decline." |
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| Page 119 | N-O-T-I C-E-S of RICHARD,
second child of Matthias and Jane Skilbeck. He was born at Healaugh Febry. 20th, 17'0. When old enough he was sent to the village school, the only one that he ever was favoured with attending. But that was only of a low order. But there he learned to read, write, arithmetic, etc., which occupied the principal part of his time, until he was between eleven and twelve years of age, when he was taken to work in the tarn, But before this time, he was not kept steadily at school, for generally during the spring, and occasionally at other times, he, as well as his brother, used to be taken to drive the plow. And as he had an unconquerable aversion to books, and the school. He used always to remain away as long as aver his parents would permit him. When about fifteen years of age, he began to think that a little more education was desirable, and would be useful, and being allowed to attend school again for three or four months in winter, and by assiduous application gained more real knowledge of arithmetic, and mensuration, than he had done in all his previous attendances pat together. He however got far the least school instruction of any of the faMily. After being taken from school, while but yet about twelve years of age, he was put to follow the plow, and though his work was a little like that of a boy that had broke away from school, that is, it looked very juvenile, yet by frequent practice, he soon came to perform it in a workman-like manner. Indeed, from a boy he was often remarked of for his activity and industry, and his father would often mention, with a little display of parental pride and exultation, his hard working lad. After a few years his brother Robert and he, did the work of the farm, at which he used to labour far harder than any servants he ever had. It appears, however, that his exertions were greater than his strength would warrant, for in the spring of 1794, his father having got lames, his brother and he, had every thing to look after, and manage, and being very busy sowing then about, such was his exertion that he fainted beneath them. He became very weak and poorly, and in this state he continued most of the summer, not being able to do notch, and yet not so ill as to be confined to the house, and though during the summer he approached to a state of convalescance, yet for two or three springs succeeding, he had a periodical return of his weakness and languor, which lasted some time. This, he was fully convinced, was the effect of his overexertions. His labour was too hard for him, and he found (to use his own expression) that he was killing himself. From his infancy he had been accustomed to attend the preachings and meetings of the Wesleyan Methodists, and thereby had his mind gradually enlightened and informed in spiritual things, and for some years before becoming a decided professor of religion, he was the subject of very powerful strivings of the spirit. At this period of his life, he was on very intimate terms with the Wilson's family at Linnethwaite, William having married his sister Mary. He and his brother Robert used to go there annually an the 5th Novr, when they had a regular shooting party. Being there on the 5th Novr. 1793 (I think) he having been with the party nearly all day, towards evening, when drawing homewards, they came near to Wharton Lodge, where Francis Wilson lived. He stopped tea with them. |
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| Page 120 | That evening the Revd.
Jeremiah Brittle, Wesleyan minister, was there, and preached there. Father stayed to hear him, and felt much ashamed, and self-condemned for having spent the day so triflingly. It was on the very night, when a class was first formed at that place, which still remains (1820. Though his outward conduct was tolerably moral, het he was ill at ease, and to use his awn expression, he went on sinning and repenting. In the year 1794 there was a considerable revival of religion in the neighbourhood of Healaugh, and in those days of Grace, Father was more powerfully awakened, and induced to seek after the parton of his sins; which he soon after obtained to the joy of his soul. He then united himself to the Methodist Society, about June or July 1794, and in that connection remained to his dying day. It was his poor state of health which first induced his seriously to think of entering on married life. He thought that if he had some farm or business of his own, he could manage it without so much bodily labour. These, however, were only like thoughts at random, for many difficulties stood in the way of executing such a scheme. In the first place, he was remarkably modest and diffident in his natural disposition, and as he had been kept so close to work, had seen so little of the world, and associated in so few companies. To such a degree was he under the control of his native bashfulness acid diffidence, as scarce to dare to look at a young woman, at a distant view, much less to make any near approaches to them. And he once told me, that he never in his life said a word to any young woman on the subject of matrimony, except to her that became his wife. About that time his sister Mary (having got married herself) used often to joke and rally him on his bashfulness, and carried her banter so far as to bet him a gager of a guinea, that he never would be married. This was not all, for both the person and situation were yet to seek. Indeed, there was a young person in the neighbourhood, Miss Isabella Wilson, of Linnenthwaith, whose brother William had married his sister Mary, who was a very amiable person, of good sense, active disposition, very decided piety, suitable age, trained to move in a circle similar to his own, and in almost every respect a very desirable match for him; and was a great favourite with his father. He used sometimes to wish and urge him to try to engage her, promising that if he could persuade her, he would give up the farm to them. Yet, such was his native bashfulness, that though he sometimes came into company where she was (sometimes probably designedly to see her, yet he never ventured to express his wishes on the subject to her, and she died a spinster when she was about forty years of age. He had frequently heard the report of Kiss Sarah Midgley's amiable qualities, and she had been recommended to him by some of his friends on whose judgment he could place much confidence, more especially his brother-in-law, William Wilson, of Linnethwaite, who was so fully con- vinced that Miss Midgley would be a valuable wife for his brother, that he was very desirous and active in getting theme together. Father himself having seen the young woman, and perceiving that her person and appearance were agreeable, and understanding that some other person was about applying for her hand, ..'It length summoned up sufficient resolution to write to her, but those were not railway times, and before the letter reached Compton, Miss Midgley had gone to London. |
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