StablesHistory.co.uk
The Definitive History of the Surname
STABLES in Yorkshire
| ||||||
Home > Family History > Leeds Area > Harewood > The Notices > Pages 81 to 90
"The Notices of the Stables Family"
by William Stables (1794-1862)
| Page 81 | She was the daughter of
Pettinger and Elisabeth, his wife, of Belton, about a mile from Epworth, in Lincolnshire. Her father died when she was a child. But some of the Pettingers still remain at the village, for I find in the general report of the Wesleyan Missionary Society for 1832-3 among the subscribers is found Mr. Pettinger of Belton, Epworth, 1/6/Z, circuit. After a while his widow married again to Bowen, and be not living long, she was led afterwards a third time to the altar by. Barnett, or as in some writings it is spelled Barnard, but we were always accustomed to call her Barnett, which, if not the correct pronunciation, she would have corrected. By her first husband, I believe she had one only child, my grand-mother. After her marriage to my grandfather, Mrs. Barnett gave them the property left her by her first husband, I believe 200 pounds, on condition that grandfather would pay her an annuity of 3 pounds or 3/3 during her life, being what she considered she had a right to, as her third out of the property. And this annuity he continued to pay as long as she lived. To her second husband, , _Bowen, she had one son, and one or more daughters. Thomas Bowen, her son, was by trade a wheelwright. He was a poor drunken man, and lived in poverty and degradation. He paid no attention to his mother in her old age, but after my mother wrote to him to inform him of her decease, he very soon wrote back to say, that he should come soon to take possession of what property she had left behind. But my mother pretty smartly informed him that she had left no property but a few shillings in her purse, and her wearing apparel, which, if he intended to come to claim, he must come prepared also to answer a pretty large demand for board for several years, and all her funeral expenses. Here, however, he thought good to drop the business, and nothing more was heard from him. The only daughter of which I have any information, besides my grandmother, was married to Corkin, of Waddington. near Kirton, Lincolnshire. With her my mother used sometimes to correspond, though I think not much after Mrs. Barnett's death. I have seen an original letter written by my grandmother . to her half sister, Miss Bowen. Unfortuneately, however, like some other ancient documents. it is entirely without date. It is directed. Miss Bowen, Mifson, and is as follows: "Dear Sister:- You cannot imagine, now words cannot express, the joy it gave me to hear that God has of his wonderful goodness, given you a desire and resolution to seek God for yourself. The only true and steadfast happiness that is to be had on this side the grave. 0 my dear, don't slack your hand: seek and you shall find; God will bless you if you call upon him. Pray that he may keep you. Tau have set your hand to the Gospel plow, never look back to the place you have left behind your back. Only to bless God for his goodness in saving you out of it, Now I hope to have some comfort of my sister's company, when we can speak of the way -to Heaven, one to another, and I hope we shall meet there at last. I think of coming at Bawtry Fair if I can, "Till the, farewell. From your ever loving sister, Ann Pettinger. |
|
| Page 82 | To her last husband,
Barnett, I believe she had no child. Mr. B,, however, had a son by a previous marriage. To him he bequeathed some property after the decease of his widow. For his convenience she gave up the property to him (most probably for sale) some ten or twelve years previous to her death, as an equivalent for which accomodation, he gave her a bond, to secure to her an annuity of 8 pounds for her life, This bond I have lately seen. It is indorsed on the outside. "Bond. Peter Barnard to Mrs. Elizabeth Barnard, for 8 pounds per annum, June 21st 1792." This Peter Barnett, I believe, came to Linnington to visit his step mother, a year or two before her death. He was a man of respectable appearance, though, if I am not much mistaken. I have heard that her annuity was not very regularly paid. After my mother's marriage, she several times came to visit her. and some of them were prolonged to some considerable extent; and on one of her visits she took my sister Elizabeth home with her, where she remained a considerable time, and several years after, when Mrs. B. came finally to reside with my father's Elizabeth having been called after her, was always her bed-fellow, and peculiarly her girl. About the year 1795 or 6, Mrs. B. gave up house-keeping and came to make her home at my father's house. This was very agreeable to my mother, who found her a valuable assistant amongst her small family, and was accomplished with the entire approbation of my father. And many years after the decease of my great grandmother Mrs. B., I have heard my mother relate, with tears in her eyes, how much she was pleased with my father's behaviour to her grandmother, - he always treated her with such kindness and respect. In 1798 or 9 my father entered on the occupancy of the farm at Linnington, and Mrs. B. went there to manage the household affairs, taking one or two of the eldest children with her, and continued Mrs. *here, until April 1802, when my mother removed to the same place, with the remainder of the family, and resumed her proper position as the head of the household. It was not very long after my mother rejoined her at Linnington that her grandmother was called to her final account. It would be in 1802 or 3. On a Sunday morning, about nine o'clock, in the commencement of winter, she having got breakfast, and my father being gone off to his appointments as local preacher, she was about to go into the garden, she got to the front door and took hold of the handle, and was there seized by death, in the form of a fit of apoplexy. She was conveyed to bed, but I think never afterwards took any notice of the things of earth, and the next night resigned her breath, being about 79 years of age. Her remains were interred in the church yard at Linnington, not far from the southeast corner of the church, but no stone marks the place, and I believe no one now knows the exact place, but it was about where her descendants were in after years placed, as they respectively followed her to their final account. (Died Octr. 4th, 1802, Elizabeth Barnett. Interred Octr. 6th, aged 79 years. - Linnington Parish Register.) When she was a young woman, the Methodists in Lincolnshire were called Cannanites, and the most strange stories were circulated about them. There lived at the same place a gentleman who was in |
|
| Page 83 | the Commission of the peace,
and on one occasion the village was set in an uproar by there being a wagon load of these Canamites brought before his worship. Like others, her curiosity was excited, and she went to have a look at these strange monsters, and was quite surprised to find that they were men and women, much like other folks (related by Mrs. Barnett to James Craven, then a servant with my father, after-wards of Beckwith-Shaw). Whether she was ever a member of the Methodist Society, I cannot determine, but she was not after she came to my Father's, that I know of. The idea that I have of her is, that she was a quiet, good, kind of woman, and Methodistically inclined. This idea is confirmed by the circumstance of both her daughters being in early life, quite decided Methodists. To return to the notices of my grandfather.-- After his marriage he brought his wife to his home at Swinefleet. But her mother Mrs. Barnett ever thought it an unfortunate circumstance, that he was surrounded by so many relations, who have been said not to have treated her very kindly. Of course, everyone had to form his own opinion of the young wife, and they were not very sparing in their remarks on, and censures of, her, and it is said that these deeply wounded her spirit, and many years after, when my grandfather brought his second wife to visit my parents at Sandygate, and Mrs. Barnett being there, she thus addressed my grandmother, "Mrs. Dunn, I hear you are about to remove to Swinefleet. I advise you not to go. When a strange dog goes into a village, every cur will have a bite at it. If my daughter had not gone there, into the midst of her husband's relations, she might have been alive yet. (related to me by my grandmother Dunn, 1828) On the 2nd of November, 1766, his wife brought him a daughter, which was christened Ann, after her mother, but the mother seems never to have recovered from the confinement and departed this life Jany. 29th, 1767. I have always understood that she was a person of very decided piety, and quite a conspicuous Methodist. About the time that Grand-father was paying attention to her, she received a poetical effusion, by post, a kind of Valentine. The original I have seen, and copy from, but it is without date, and one corner is torn off, probably where the signature was affixed. Whether it was from Grandfather or not, I cannot say, but it is not unlike his hand. Thinking it a curious document, I copy it. It is addressed, "Miss Ann Pettinger, Methodist girl, Belton, near Epworth. "Almighty God of Love and Truth Of Thee we're mindful in the bloom of youth, What made us so? 'Twas thy free sovereign Grace, This brought us both into the path of peace, That we on earth as burning lights may shine. O let our hearts be filled with love Divine' Still may our faith increase, with power to pray, And guide us sweetly in the narrow way, To do thy blind will, may we delight. And in thy service put forth all our might. While free from low desire, and sinful love We still aspire to lasting joys above. |
|
| Page 84 | Like saints of old, by God
himself approved, Our Maker loving, and by him beloved; As the first happy pair in Eden joined Let us be faithful, pitiful, and kind, And in each heart let that true love aboutd, Which Jacob to his dearest Rachel found; The love that caused him patiently to stay, Made light his servitude, through the delay, and seven long years t'appear but as one day. Thus blessed with natural love, and Heavenly Grace, May we be found in God's appointed ways, Like those recorded in the sacred word Who bore the great forerunner of our Lord. Who, then, can think that God will not provide For such as love Him and in Him confide? When they collect the instances of old. Which stand within the Hook of Life enroll'd, How for his own Jehovah did provide. How all their wants his lib'ral hand supplied. 0 Thou who didst unite our souls in love Help us to do thy will like those above. That having lied on earth to God alone, We both may hear the welcome word, "Well done." Then entering into everlasting rest Our happy spirits mingling with the blest And find't forever in our Master joy, A whole Eternity we shall employ. So prays yours, through the nearest ties of love and affection" Previous to his marriage he had taken a farm at Swinefleet, and a new house was built for him, but he held it only two or three years, and was turned off soon after the decease of his wife, because he was a Methodist. With his infant daughter he then returned to his father. With him he continued to reside for about six years. During this period he was constantly on the lookout for some situation. While so circumstanced Revd. John Wesley visited Swinefleet and was very much pleased with grandfather, and seeing, too, that he lost his farm for being a Methodist, Mr. Wesley resolved to try to find a berth for him. He enquired what he would like to be and do. Grandfather said he should like best to go into commercial life, as a partnership in some large town. Mr. Wesley took much pains, exerted himself a great deal, and at length met a jeweler, a Methodist, in London, who wanted a partner. He thought the situation would suit grandfather, and he wrote to him on the subject. Grandfather immediate went up to London. The offer seemed likely, the terms were agreed upon, and he was to be admitted partner on the payment of a stipulated sum into the concern. Accordingly, he wrote to his father for eight hundred pounds. His father said, "It is rather a large order." He found it inconvenient to raise so large a sum immediately, but by and by he would send him half the amount. While grandfather, however, was waiting in London for the remittance, his intended partner became a bankrupt, and thus by the Providence of God, my Grandfather saved his money, and was again thrown out of a situation. |
|
| Page 85 | While a widower at home
with his father, between them they took the Barlby Hall Farm, on a lease of twenty one years. But his brother Jonathan being the elder. and married, he persuaded his father to let him have the farm. But it was not long after his return from London that his brother Jonathan died on the road (see the account of him on page 79), He then entered on the Barlby Hall Farm, and remained on it, I believe, until the expiration of the lease. It was about 1773 that he went to reside at Barlby Hall, and soon after he was appointed class leader at Selby, being, it is said, the first class leader there. There they used to go to attend the meetings. though they were more than a mile distant and had to cross the river in the ferry boat. After the death of his wife he had made arrangements with her mother, Mrs. Bowen, or Barnett, for her to take the charge of his infant daughter.. Accordingly, she went to her to Belton, and continued to reside with her until she was some 12 or 13 years of age. There she obtained the first rudiments of her education, and continued to attend school there until my grandfather considered that she ought to have some instruction superior to any that that neighbourhood afforded. He accordingly brought her home, and about 1779 went with his daughter to York, wishing to get her to some good school there to finish her education. He had some weighty objections to placing her at an ordinary boarding school,-not, indeed, on account of the expense, but because of their learning the vain notions, and foolish customs of the world, and the pride with which they are generally filled at those places. His intention was to board her with a respectable Methodist family, of the name of Simpson, so that she might attend some superior school as a day scholar. When, however, he went with his daughter, they found that Mrs. Simpson had departed this life, and then was a corpse in the house. Finding the house thus in confusion, and seeing that the Mrs. was dead, he at once saw that it was no longer a suitable place for his daughter. Meeting with Tommy Pears, a York Methodist, he told him the dilemma in which he was placed. Mr. Pears, however, encouraged him to hope that some suitable place could be found for her, and on some account or other, Miss Ann Cordukes being at the house where they were, it struck Mr. Pears that she would be a suitable person to take charge of his daughter. Miss Cordukes was then a zealous Methodist. had been savingly converted when she was about 16i years of age, and for some years had been a consistent Christian and an active Methodist. She was of an open, affable, cheerful disposition, and altogether of a very prepossessing appearance. She then resided with her brother, Mr. Thomas Cordukes, a linen and woolen draper, in Petergate, and he also was a Methodist. Mr. Pears warmly recommending her, he resolved to ask her if she would take charge of his daughter while she resided in York, in order to attend some day school. To his proposal she agreed, provided her brother was agreeable. In order to bring the business to some tangible issue, he resolved to accompany her home. He walked along with her, but she shamed very much with him, he was so countrified in his dress, crossed the street in order to leave him, but he was after her very sharply. Mr. Cordukes agreed to his proposals, |
|
| Page 86 | and Miss Dunn was left at York,
where she remained and attended school for 12 to 20 months. Up to the time of his second marriage, Grand-father frequently went to York to visit his daughter. However, it soon came to pass that he had another object in view, for it was not long before he began to form an opinion that Miss Cordukes was not only a suitable person to train up his daughter, but also to make him a loving wife. With this idea in his head he went to visit his daughter two or three times, and informed her of his intentions, but could never muster sufficient courage to break it off to Miss Cordukes. At length he resolved to do it by letter, and accordingly wrote a very long one, which he committed to the post. When it arrived it fell into his daughter's hands, who immediately knew the handwriting, and guessing at its contents, she ran upstairs with it to Miss Cordukes, laughing most heartily. Miss Cordukes, however, was very differently affected, trembling and agitated, she read its contents, finding herself in a serious dilemma. She, however, very prudently consulted with her brother, who took a very lively interest in her welfare, and even went to see what kind of a home Grandfather had to take his sister to. Grandfather, however, persevered, and with Miss Cordukes, "goodness being of more valor than beauty, she consented to be Dunn", and on Novr. 15th, 1780 they were united in holy matrimony, he being about 41 and she 23 years of age. By this second marriage Grandfather had issues FIRST. HANNAH CORDUKES DUNN, born Septr 7th, 1781. She was a steady, pious Methodist from early life, of a very retired, sedate, and thoughtful disposition. When a young woman, she learned dressmaking, but never did much at it except for her relatives. When she was about 22, Grand father built two respectable kind of cottages, by the river side, about the middle of the village. In one of these she opened a grocer's shop, but I do not think it answered very well. She was in it when I was a schoolboy at Swinefleet, and I once went with her on a packet to Hull on one of her trips to procure goods for her shop. When Grandfather bought the Kelfield Lodge farm, he sold off his property at Swinefleet, and his daughter Hannah removed with her family to that place. When she was about 27 or 28 years of age, she was married to Spence of Stillingfleet. To him she bore three children, who I believe all died in their infancy, and were followed by their mother about twenty weeks after her last confinement in 1817 or 18, being then about 36 years of age. SECOND. JOHN, born June 8th, 1784. When he was about 22 years of age, he took a considerable farm at Kelfield, which is now occupied by Mr. Bell (1855). On this he resided about ten years, but produce getting very low, and having a great loss by a person failing, he being always disposed to look a little too high for his circumstances, he became involved, and gave up his farm. He being left his father's executor, too, had to sell his father's farm, which he did to Preston, of Moreby, in order to pay his brothers and sisters their portions, but I have always understood that some of his sisters lost part of their portions by him. In the spring of |
|
| Page 87 | 1817 he went to the United
States of America. There he remained about eight years, with the exception of about three months, which was spent in England on business. The largest and latest portion of this period he resided at New Orleans, in the published directory of which his name appeared as a store- keeper. At length, however, he had the misfortune to have his premises and goods consumed by fire, by which he lost most of the property which he had thus, for eight years, been endeavouring to scrape together. Soon after this, he returned to his friends in England, and generally resided with his brother Jonathan at Kelfield Lodge, occasionally going down to Swinefleet, where he had some little property bequeathed to him by his father, also about 100 acres of moor land, Forty acres of this has lately been covered with warp (1828) under an act of Parliament, obtained by a neighbouring gentleman, which makes it very valuable land. It cost, however, 21 pounds per acre warping. Out of this property he has to pay an annuity of forty five pounds to his mother, and he first mortgaged it, and then sold it absolutely, to his cousin, Jonathan the son of WilliAm Cordukes of North Ingo, Sheriff-Hutton, to whom it now belongs, but is occupied by George Dunn, John's younger brother. After he had been about two years hanging about, and principally living on his friends, for he was never a man to work much with his own hands, he married about Martimas 1827, Mary Cawood, of Croke, near Easingwold. She had lived with his brother Jonathan a year or two before, as a servant, by which he became acquainted with her, on account of which they parted with her, though she was serving her second year with them. He was about 43 and she 28 or 29 years of age at the time of their marriage. He then took a house at Swinefleet in order that he might occupy his own property there, but it did not last long, as the mortgagor could not obtain his interest and was obliged to sieze the land, which was then let to his brother George, and by him occupied ever since. About the year 1811 or 12 there was an extraordinary revival of religion in the Selby Circuit, and John became a hearty Methodist. This was when he was a farmer there, but he did not continue above three or four years, before he again became entangled in the things of this world, so much so, as to give up his profession. After losing the Swinefleet land, he went with his family to reds, where he opened a green grocer's shop, and has more than once been helped by his friends, to open a potato warehouse, but it never lasted long. He appears to lack energy, industry, perseverance, to make him more successful in this world. I have heard that they had four or five children, and I believe he is yet living at Leeds, in some low way, Naturally he was an open, affable, social disposition, and when I was there he was my favourite uncle. THIRD. JONATHAN, born Septr. 3rd, 1786. He is a remarkably tall, and when a young man slender, man, but as he became aged, he got more stout, and for several years before his death, he was a very large heavy man. When he was 34 or 5 years of age he was savingly converted, and has ever since (1828) been a very steady professor. It was not long after his conversion, that he was appointed class leader at Riccall, a village not very far from Kelfield-Lodge. This affair, I believe, he held there for several years. He resided with his father until his decease. where he was the principal practical farmer. When his brother John sold the farm to |
|
| Page 88 | Preston, Esqr., of Moreby,
Jonathan became the tenant, and has been a very successful farmer (1856). There he has resided ever since, and has been the principal stay of the family. His mother remained with him during her widowhood, and with him finished her course after a lingering illness of ten weeks, March 30th, 1828 (See letter from Jonathan of that date, and also Septr. 7th, 1827). Sometime after his mother's death, he being considerably more than forty years of age he married Hannah Cook. (Note inserted in the text by the copyist, T. B. Dunn, of Halifax, Virginia, U.S.A., their great-grandson.---Hannah Cook, of Lilling, near Sheriff-Hutton was married in Sheriff-Hutton Church by Rev. Mr. Lumbley, Novr. 30, 1832. Later in this copy I plan to give an account of her ancestry.) By her he had four children, Jonathan, Elizabeth, George and Rebekah. After being long troubled with a disease of the heart, - he had some considerable last affliction - he departed this life March 23, 1854, aged 67, our son Matthew being left one of the trustees of the family. I have in the course of between thirty and forty years visited him or them, I believe, five times, but he never came so far as us. FOURTH, MARY, born Septr, 4th, 1788. When she was grown up to woman's estate she became a member of the Methodist Society. When her brother John went to the farm, I believe she went with him as house-keeper, and I believe remained with him the whole time he was a farmer, and now I think has acted for five or six years as housekeeper for her brother George at Kelfield (1828). After George's removal, and her mother's death, I believe she was housekeeper to her Brother Jonathan until his marriage. After some time she obtained a situation as matron at a large public school at York, and I believe she held the situation until she was overtaken by affliction, and retired to her brother Jonathan's to die, which took place Feby. 27th, 1846, aged 57. I saw her a short time before her decease, and found her in a very comfortable state of mind. She was a woman much above the usual size, and stout built and well proportioned, so that if in the order of Providence she had been married, and had a family, she was very likely to have been a person of very unusual size and weight. But as if all men thought that beauty and loveliness were always small, so I never heard that she had any offers of marriage (1856). FIFTH. ANN ELIZABETH, born Novr. 6th, 1790. Sometime when she was about twenty years of age, she became a member of the Methodist Society, and continued in the same religious community to the end of her days. When she was twenty two or three years of age, she was married to her cousin Jonathan Cordukes, the son of Richard Cordukes. He resided on a farm that had formerly been occupied by their uncle Jonathan Cordukes. who died a batchelor, at North Ings, more than a mile from Sheriff-Hutton. With him she lived four or five years, in great domestic comfort, when he was torn from her by the unrelenting hand of death. I think she bore him three children, two of which died in their infancy, and one is settled at Kelfield, near his Uncle Jonathan Dunn's family, for with him (after her second marriage) he was brought up, he being sole trustee and guardian. After remaining at the farm at North Ings, in a state of widowhood for five or six years, she again married her own cousin, Jonathan Cordukes, the only son of Wm. His farm lay near, if it did not adjoin on hers, so that after seeing much of one another for a length of time, they in the end agreed to be man and wife, With him she lived for five |
|
| Page 89 | or six years, and bore him
three children, but died in childbirth. (Copy inscription on a head stone in Sheriff-Hutton churchyard - "Sacred to the memory of Ann Elizabeth, the wife of Jonathan Cordukes, who departed this life Septr. 28th, 1826, aged 35 years, in sure and certain hope of her part in the first resurrection: also Ann Elizabeth, daughter of the above, who died in her infancy." --Copied June 20th, 1860, by William Stables.), but the infant soon followed its mother to the grave. Two sons remain, Samuel, who after occupying farms, first at Linnington Hall, and then the old family residence at North Ings, eventually emigrated to South Africa, Port Natal. Joseph, the younger, occupies the old family residence at North Ings, has married our daughter Ann. She was of a very cheerful and affable disposition, fond of reading, and was very well informed on many subjects. She was a thoroughly sensible woman, and deeply experienced in the things of God. She was amiable in every relation of life, and quite the pride of her family. Perhaps her greatest infirmity was a wish to appear in the world in a style and fashion that her circumstances did not warrant. She was some-thing above the middle size, rather tall, but not very stout boned, and had one of those open, benevolent countenances that recommends itself to everyone that beholds it. SIXTH. GEORGE, born Jany. 18th, 1794. When 24 or 5 years of age he became a member of the Methodist Society, and I believe continues so to the present time (1828). Four or five years he resided with his sister, Ann Elizabeth, during her state of widowhood. The last five or six years he has occupied a small farm at Kelfield (1828). About the time the above was written, he removed to near Swinefleet, to occupy the land once belonging to his brother John, but now belonging to his cousin Jonathan Cordukes. There he got married, and has some daughters, and there he still lives. (1856). SEVENTH CATHARINE, born Aug. 30th, 1799. died Feby. 16th, 1800. EIGHTH SAMUEL, born Deer. 22nd, 1803, died March 11th, 1804. After my Grandfather's second marriage, he continued to reside at Barlby Hall for about twelve years, during which time he was several times honoured with the visits of Revd. John Wesley, - indeed, as often as he came to Selby. About 1792, probably at the expiration of his lease, he left Barlby Hall, and went to reside on his own property at Swinefleet. This was but small, and when his own sons came to approach to manhood, he began to feel the want of some larger concern, in order to bring and employ them fore fully in active life. He, accordingly, about 1807, sold part of his property at Swinefleet, his nephew Samual laverack purchasing the homestead and a few acres of land adjoining it, the place where my grandfather resided. About the same time, or probably before it, he purchased a farm near Kelfield, which is now denominated Kelfield Lodge, a memorandum of which agreement in his own handwriting, I have seen, and copied as a curiosity. (1828) "Particulars of an agreement between Mr. B. Clarkson and John Dunn this 16th day of Jany, 1808. The said John Dunn has bought of the said Mr. Clarkson a farm called Bentley Farm, consisting of about 72 acres of high land at fifty pounds per acre - 3600 pounds, and 108 acres of moor land at thirty pounds per acre - 3240 pounds (Land to be measured). The buildings, crop of wheat on fallow, and the after crop on turnip land to be given in, also 500 yards of double ports and rails, also 20 pounds to be given towards the value of the wood, the said John Dunn to have which wood he chases, at a fair valuation, also a piece of oak for a roller. The said John Dunn to enter to the high land at Candlemas next, and the moor land at Lady Day next. The last year sown seeds on the moors. to be eaten no |
|
| Page 90 | It was not long, however,
that he was permitted to possess this estate. In the latter end of July or beginning of Augt. 1811 he was in a very poor state of health. As he could be very welcome at his brother-in-law's, Mr. Thomas Cordukes' at York, his medical attendant advised his removal to that place, for if there he could more frequently see him and if needful could get further advice. In carrying out this plan a gig was procured, in which he was taken on Friday. Angst, 16th, at a very moderate speed to York. He, however, complained of being much fatigued, and on their arrival at Mr. Cordukes', he accosted him by saying, "Brother, I am come to lay down my weary tones with you." On the evening of the same day, grandmother having got him into bed, and undressing herself to follow him, he suddenly cried out, "What is this?" For just at that time he was seized with some twisting in his bowels, which caused such acute pain, that he cried out for a short time. But raising up his mind to God, he meekly said, "Thy will be done," and though he afterwards was often in an agony of pain, he never cried out, any more. During the night he was afflicted with the most acute suffering. His complaint became inflammation of the bowels. A physician was called in, but there seemed little from the first seizure, and on the Saturday, the little hope there was vanished away. On the Sunday his family were sent for, once more to behold their dying parent in the land of the living, and on Monday evening, Augst 19th, 1811, he quietly resigned his spirit into the hands of his Maker. His remains were taken for interment to the parish church at Stillingfleet, Kelfield being in that parish. On visiting the churchyard in Feby, 1828, I found a plain altar tombstone, supported on brick walls, near the southeast corner of the church, bearing the following inscription" "In memory of John Dunn, late of Kelfield Lodge. He died Augst 19th, 1811, in the 72nd year of his age. The Chamber where the good man meets his fate Was privileged, beyond the common walk of virtuous life. Quite in the breeze of heaven; Sweet peace, and Heavenly Hope, and humble joy Divinely beamed on his exalted soul." My grandfather was for upwards of fifty years a member of the Methodist society, in connection with which denomination he rendered up his breath, and for a very great portion of these years he was a class leader, in which office I understood he was greatly respected. For in his religious career he was remarkably steady and persevering. He was naturally of a retired and contemplative turn of mind. He was well read, and being remarkable for the evenness and placidity of his temper. He was a very intelligent associate to those who were favoured with his company. In his person he was about the middle size, was very straight, and at 70 walked quite erect. As he got aged he became rather a stout, broad-set man, but had never the appearance of being either fat or lumberly. My grandmother was a person rather unusually tall, and was well proportioned, and walked remarkably straight. She had a quick sharp eye, an open and benevolent countenance, so that to old age, she was a noble example of her sex. Her understanding was bright and quick, and her spirit rather unusually light and cheerful, so that she was usually pretty quick in her decisions, and could generally give an answer at once. So it is not to be wondered at that she was often taken to be the leading spirit. But questions that involved doubt, and the balancing of reasons, generally came to Grandfather, and his decisions always carried some weight with |
Send mail to Michael Chance & Andy Stables at
enquiries@stablesfamily.co.uk with questions
or comments about this web site.
|