Memoir of Rev. William Gurley, late of Milan, Ohio, a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church: including a sketch of the Irish insurrection and martyrs. of 1798

Front matter

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Preface

In presenting to the public a biography of my late venerable father, it may be gratifying to the reader to know the sources from whence the facts and materials for the work have been drawn.

At the request of many of his acquaintances, several of whom were ministers of our Church, my father spent the summer of 1834 in committing to paper the most important and interesting events of his life, from his childhood to the close of the Irish Rebellion, and his subsequent emigration . to this country, thus bringing the narrative down to a period within my own recollection.

This was done in a series of letters to myself. It was his design to have had the work published then ; but time to prepare it not being at command, it has been unavoidably delayed. From this manuscript, then, most of the facts concerning him have been derived; and a large proportion of the letters, in the form of extracts and quotations from his manuscript, are embodied in this memoir.

The sanguinary scenes of the insurrection of 1*798 are drawn partly from this source, and partly from "a History of the Irish Rebellion in the County of Wexford," by Rev. George Taylor, a Wesleyan preacher, who was imprisoned at the same time with Mr. Gurley, and whose history was pubhshed a few months after the close of the insurrection, having been written on the spot.

Besides these sources of information, I am indebted

4 PREFACE.

further, for the facts recorded, chiefly to tlie following works: "Allison's History of Europe," *'Plowden's History of Ireland," "Life of Thomas Addis Emmet," "Miller's History of England," "Encyclopaedia of Geography," " London Imperial Magazine."

If it is thought that too great latitude has been taken, in entering so fully into the political events of Ireland, I have only to reply, that the manuscript of my father led me into this field ; so that I could not avoid it, without injustice to the work. Moreover, as the lamentable convulsion of 1*798 was the occasion of his imprisonment, suffering, and losses, some account of it would naturally be expected, as inseparably connected with the history of his hfe. And it is believed it will render the memoir not less interesting to the inquiiing reader. Many of the facts contained in these pages may appear to reflect severely on the Church of Rome; but if this be so, it is not the fault of the writer; the active part which her clergy and adherents took in those deplorable events, has long been recorded by the historians of Europe. The readers of this work must judge for themselves how far and how justly the honor and reputation of that denomination are affected by these transactions.

In preparing this memok for the public eye, the author has aimed chiefly at arranging and combining, with accuracy and perspicuity, the facts derived from various sources, mingled with such digressions and reflections as might give variety and interest to the narrative. How far he has been successful is for others to determine.

It is hoped, that while the reader may derive edification from a contemplation of the piety, faith, fortitude, and zeal, of one who has passed through various and striking vicissitudes of fortune, who was an acquaintance of the venerable founder of Methodism, and whose life reached through

PREFACE.

almost a ceiiimy, that he may also find much to interest him, in the stirring scenes and tragic events of the farfamed "Irish Insm-rection."

The Author

Chapter I

Ireland the birthplace of Mr. Gurley — ^His ancestry and religious training — Wesleyan preachers visit his father's — ^Wesley's care for youth — Death of Mr. Gurlcy's father — Amusements of early years — Love of the sea — Irish wakes and funeral rites — His taste for reading — Fairies and apparitions — Religious impressions— Commences family prayer — Reflections on early piety Page 13

Chapter II

William becomes an apprentice — Declines in piety — Class formed in Wexford — Is reclaimed under a prayer by Mr. Wesley — Becomes a leader — Sabbath duties — His acquaintance with Mr. Wesley — Defends him from an assault — Wesley licenses him to preach — Reflections on local preachers — Their benefit to the Church — Irish conference invites him to travel — Reasons for declining — Moral and religious state of Ireland — Experience of a mountaineer — Anecdote of Wesleyan preacher and parson — Mr. Gurley visits England— Storm at sea — Joseph Benson — Death of Wesley — Rev. John Miller and a highway robber — Mr. Gurley's encounter with a ruffian at an inn — Commences business in Wexford — Catholic priest in a dilemma — Relieved by Mr. Gurley — ^His marriage 30

Chapter III

Insurrection of 1798 — ^History of Ireland — Cause of its discontent and degradation — Commencement of English sway — Reformation did not reach Ireland — Bad policy of England — Massacre of Protestants in 1641 — xivenged by Cromwell — Catholics deprived of political privileges — Confiscation of estates — Tithes — Distinguished men born in Ireland — Irish clubs — White boys — Oak boys — Defenders — Tragic death of Major Valloton — Epitaphs.. .59

Chapter IV

Origin of the Society of United Irishmen — Its true character — Alliance with France Treaty with French Directory — Memorial by Theobald Wolf Tone— Oalh of Unitt-1 rrishmeii—French

8 CONTENTS.

expedition a failure — Prospects of a successful revolution and in dependence Page 69

Chapter V

Indications of rebellion in the county of "Wexford — Plot of Papists against Protestants — Catholic bigotry the cause of Ireland's ruin — Proof of Catholic plot — Black test, or secret oaths — Catholic priests take the lead — Alarming signs of rebellion — A mark on the children of Catholics — Shrubberies gleaned for pike handles 75

Chapter VI

Dublin headquarters of Conspirators — Arrest of Leaders by Government — Capture of Lord Edward Fitzgerald — His death — Plan of attack on Dublin — Its defeat — Cause — Prospects of revolution at the capital blasted — County of Wexford the centre and vortex of Insurrection — Hypocritical conduct of Priests to blind Government — Catholics take oath of allegiance — Their Memorial — The Rebellion not a struggle for liberty — Arrest of B. B. Harvy — Rising of Papists under priest John Murphy — Signal fires seen by Mr. Gurley — Murphy's men defeat cavalry — Death of officers — Bookey's house attacked and burned 80

Chapter VII

Sabbath morn — Murder of Rev. Robert Burrows and parishioners— Death of Rev. Francis Turner and nine others — Wexford in consternation — Mr. Gurley attended preaching at five o'clock in the morning — Saw smoke of burning houses on his return — Soldiers cut off— Battle of Enniscorthy — Troops fly to Wexford — Situation of Protestants — Mr. Gurley's house open to refugees — His advice to them — Attack on Wexford expected — ^High spirits of Murphy and the insurgents 91

Chapter VIII

Camp on Vinegar Hill — Wexford surrendered to twenty thousand Insurgents — Mr. Gurley and family on ship — Rebels enter town — Murders — N'ational Council established — Harvy appointed President and Commander-in-Chief — Citizens imprisoned — Mr. Gurley seized and taken from ship — Set at liberty — His account of a visit to priest Corrin — Rebels attempt to shoot him 100

Chapter IX

Mr. Gurley put in prison — ^His description of it — Jail crowded — Imprisonment of Rev. George Taylor, a Wesleyan minister — Mr.

CONTENTS. 9

Gurley's brother and brother-in-law brought to the prison — ^Ue establishes prayer meetings in his cell — Extracts from his journal— Mrs. Gurley returns from ship — Her sufferings — Comes to see him in prison — Fare of prisoners — Prisoners compelled to execute Catholic traitors — Dreadful alarm of prisoners — Remarkable prayer meeting — ^His own account of his feelings — ^Hymns sung in prison Page 111

Chapter X

Progress of the insurgents — Division of the army — Battle of Newtown-barry — Insurgents defeated — Battle of Gorey — King's troops cut off, and Gorey taken — Harvy's camp — Sculaboge House — Troops march to attack Ross — Proceedings in Wexford — Cruel treatment of Protestants — Rev. Mr. Owen — his sufferings — Jonas Gurley required to shoot a prisoner — Baptizing heretics — Mr. Gurley's iQpther — Martyrdom of Protestants on Vinegar Hill — Narrative of a prisoner — Murders in cold blood sanctioned by priests 123

Chapter XI

Battle of Ross — 7,000 insurgents slain — Oath found in the pocket of a Catliolic 140

Chapter XII

Sculaboge house and barn — Thirty-seven prisoners shot, one hundred and eighty-four burned — Their skeletons, an awful sight — Remorse of B. B. Harvy at the sight — He predicts their defeat — Catholics burned — Miss Ryan — A bagpipe player — Harvy disgusted with the priests — Attempts to prevent murder — Is deposed, and a priest elected in his place — Speech of priest Murphy— Priest Roach Commander-in-chief — His character and hy- 'pocrisy — Priest Roach's gospels or protections — Letter 147

Chapter XIII

Battle of Arklow — Sergeant Shepherd — Death of priest Murphy— Insurgents routed — End and Character of Murphy — Desecration of a church — xVbuse of Bibles — Persecution of Protestants — Murder of the Hornicks — Conscious guilt of Papists — Singular circumstance— Rowsom shot by priest Kearns — Reflections 157

CHAPTER XIY.

State of Wexford — Imprisonment of Rev. George Taylor, traveling preacher — Extract from his narrative — Furnished with food by Mr. Gurley — His narrow escape from death at Gorey — His dress,

10 CONTENTS.

sufferings, and persecutions — He is prevented from praying in prison — Prayer meeting in Mr. Gurley's cell well attended — Happy result therefrom — Conversion of a prisoner — His triumphant death— Found afterward by Mr. Gurley on his knees in the ■V5rater — Arrival of King's troops — Insurgents concentrate on Vinegar Hill — Troops under General Lake surround the hill — State of things in Wexford — The death of all the prisoners announced, to take place next day Page 165

Chapter XV

Morning of the 20th of June— Murdering band assembled by Dixon — Black flag — Massacre on the bridge — Inhumanity of Popish bishop — Murder of Mr. Gurley's brother and brother-in-law — Mr. Gurley led out to be piked — He comes to murdering band — His feelings — How rescued from death — He returns to prison — Narrowly escapes again — Rebukes a rebel officer — Affecting scene in cell — Close of murders on bridge 173

Chapter XVI

Battle of Vinegar Hill— Defeat of the insurgents— Danger of prisoners at Wexford — Rebel authorities offer to capitulate — Correspondence of leaders — Insurgents evacuate the city — Mr. Gurley and others during the night preceding the battle — Prayer meeting all night — Prison shaken by artillery in the morning — King's troops enter the town — Prison doors opened — Transports of prisoners and friends — Meeting at Mr. Gurley's house — Mr. G. seeks the dead bodies of his friends — Temporal circumstances— He goes to Dublin for goods .... 186

Chapter XVII

Proclamation of General Lake — ^Waning prospects of insurgents— Leaders taken and executed — French troops land at Killala — Proclamations of French officers — Failure of French expedition— Their surrender — Amusing address of th(| Mackamores— " The Emmets "—Close of Rebellion— Reflections 197

Chapter XVIII

Alarm at Wexford on landing of French troops — Mrs. Gurley goes to Dublin — Mr. Gurley concludes to remove to England — Reception at Liverpool — Meets Dr. Coke — Resolves on emigration to United States — Little son left in Ireland — Family reach New York — Settle in Norwich, Connecticut — Methodism — Presbyterians— Anecdote 213

CONTENTS. 11

Chapter XIX

Mr. Gurley removes to Oliio — Journey — First log cabin — Great comet of 1812 — Arrival at fire-lands — First sermon — Class formed— Prairie on fire — First school — Bee-tree — 'New dwelling — Scenery — ^War — Indian murders Page 219

Chapter XX

Surrender of General Hull — Alarm of settlers — Scene at dinner-table — Inhabitants meet at Fort — Burying goods — Journey — Night in woods — Death of a child — Family reach Zanesville — Bishop Asbury — Mr. Gurley ordained — Rev. David Young — Mr. Gurley's views of American preachers — Letter from Ireland — Arrival of his son James — Meeting of mother and son 234

Chapter XXI

Mr. Gurley returns to Huron county — Improvement of country — Circuit preaching — James Gurley becomes a preacher — Mr. Gurley settles in Milan — His extensive labors — His second son converted — Joins Ohio conference — Traveling and local preachers — Pattee and M'Intire — Mr. Gurley ordained elder — ^His age and death — His character 249

MEMOIR

EEV. WILLIAM GUflLEY

Chapter I

Ireland the birthplace of Mr. Gurley — His ancestry and re ligious training — Wesleyan preachers visit his father's — Wesley's care for youth — Death of Mr. Gurley's father — Amusements of early years — Love of tlie sea — Irish wakes and funeral rites — His taste for reading — Fairies and apparitions — Religious impressions— Commences family prayer — Reflections on early piety.

Ireland, or the "Emerald Isle," as the Irishman loves to call it, was the birtliplace of the Rev. William Gurley. Love of country is a sentiment natural to man, and common to the inhabitants of every portion of the globe. But with tlie Irishman the feeling has all the power of a strongpassion.

The appellation of Irishman, it must be confessed, is not always a passport of honor ; yet, who ever saw a son of Old Erin ashamed of his country?

Robbed of its ancient freedom, oppressed, degraded, and despoiled, as has been this unfortunate land — enslaved by British domination, and ruined by the wretched policy of its masters — yet, from every country under heaven where may be found the Irishman, he turns his thoughts to the home of his childhood with an affection which distance can scarce diminish or time impair. And well may he cherish such a predilection, for Ireland is a land of surpassing loveliness. Her skies may not be deemed as bright as those of Italy, England may surpass her in the grandeur of her 2 18 mountains, and America in the gorgeousness of her unshorn forests and the magnitude of her lakes, yet the scenery of Ireland is exquisitely beautiful. Her mountains are green, her lakes pellucid ; and if her rivers are not as large as in some other countries of more ample dimensions, yet they are proportioned to her territory, and wind with enchanting loveliness through romantic parks and flowery meads. Her high places are crowned with venerable ruins, ancient castles, and ivy-covered towers — the work of remote ages. And if a country derives honor from the illustrious men to whom she has given birth, then, indeed, few portions of the civilized world could bear the palm from Ireland.

William Gurlet was bom in the city of Wexford, on the 12th of March, IVSY. Wexford is a populous town in the south of Ireland, and a maritime port of considerable importance. It is watered by the Slaney, a beautiful river, which, after winding in silent loveliness through a rich and variegated landscape, terminates in a spacious and beautiful harbor at the city. The ruins of ancient churches and abbeys indicate its former magnificence.

In the days of his boyhood a high stone wall, erected at a remote period, surrounded the city. The place contained nine thousand inhabitants, a large majority of whom were of the Roman Catholic faith. The Protestants were chiefly of the established Church of England. There were some Dissenters.

Of the family of Mr. Gurley, the following account is given from his own pen :

"As to my ancestors I can give but little information. My father died when I was a child; consequently, I was deprived from obtaining intelligence from that quarter. At one time, when I was in Dublin, I called at the heraldry office, to find, if possible, the family coat of arms, and the orisrinal name, from those ancient records. 1

MEMOIR OF REV. WILLIAM GURLEY. IS

ascertained that one James Guiley came over from Scotland in the year 1100. Om- coat of arms was a lion rampant; the crest a hon's head and neck ; field, pearl or argent, but no motto.

"My immediate ancestors were honest and industrious, and of good repute. My father held a respectable post in the naval department. He and all his relatives adhered to the Church of England. My mother's maiden name was Chamberlain; her parents were of the Society of Friends. Two of my brothers and two of my sisters were older than myself. I had but one younger brother.

"My mother's relatives, most of them, were wealthy. Several of them emigrated to America when I was a boy, and resided in the city of Philadelphia. Some of them wrote to my parents, requesting them to send some of their sons over, and they would establish them in business.

"But a voyage to America, in the days of my youth, was like going to the ' end of the world,' and my mother's affection was too strong to yield to such a request. One of my father's relatives died very rich. He had a large circle of heirs, and all received something. I have frequently read a copy of his will ; it covered half a quire of paper.

" The manner in which he obtained his wealth was often the subject of amusing conversation in the family. On his estate, which was small, there was discovered a very rich mine, or rather deposit, of native silver. It was found in lumps of various sizes, and frequently pure, as if melted and purified in a furnace. All such places belonged to the government. The law, however, allowed the owner of the estate on which a mine was found, to have the privilege of manufacturing from the precious metals any plate or utensils for his 0"\\Ti house or use, but no further; it must then be shut up, or worked only by order and for the benefit of

" The lucky owner of the estate made the best of this law, by putting on its terms the most liberal construction. He worked the mine for several years. There was scarce an article of furniture about the mansion but was made of silver — not only table plate, but even tables, chairs, pails, tubs, fire furniture, grates, pokers, and every thing you could name — even bedsteads, and banisters of stairs, and carpet-rods, were constructed of the precious metal. The mine was then closed.

"I^ot long after all these things were broken up and turned to cash, and thus he was made rich for life, and enabled to leave all his relatives something. My father received a portion, but it was not large.*

"We were all required to repeat our prayers morning and evening. These consisted only of the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. At each Lent we were required to repeat the Catechism of the Church."

But, although William was thus early trained by his father to observe and reverence the forms and rites of the Established Church, yet he seems never to have imbibed for them much veneration or respect. This was probably owing, in a good degree, to his mother, who, as we have seen, was of Quaker descent. She constantly inculcated on his tender mind the doctrine, that the external forms and ceremonies of rclimon are of little account in the siMit

*I find, on investigation, that mines of both silver and gold have been found and worked in Ireland. N'ative gold is found ir the Ballin Valley streams. It was found in 1801, in grains and massed. One lump found "weighed l-^enty-two ounces.

Robert Carr, also, in his " Stranger in Ireland," observes, in relation to a gold mine in Wicklow: " The discovery for a time elated the breast of every Irishman. His country promised to become another Peru. Gold — yellow, glittering, precious gold — flashed before the eye. The shepherd left his flock, the husbandman his field, the manufacturer his looms, and thousands deserted their homes and occupations."

of God — tliat lie regarded die heart, and that we must be "led by the Spirit," and follow the "inward light," in accordance with the written word.

How almost omnipotent is the influence of a mother, in shaping the character and destiny of her child ! To this, perhaps, under God, we may ascribe that independence of thought and decision of character, which enabled Mr. Giu-ley, in after life, amid persecution and the "scorn of lying tongues," to espouse the cause and sentiments of the devoted Wesley, to which he adhered sometimes at the peril of his life, with invariable firmness, through all the \icissitudes of his long and eventful career.

Although the father of William was a member of the Church of England, yet his house was a home for the Wesleyan preachers, in their early efforts to plant Methodism in Ireland. He looked with concern and sorrow on those clergymen and members of the Established Church, who seemed to think they were doing God ser\ice by traducing the characters and mobbing the persons of the associates of the intellio^ent, zealous, self-sacrificino- founder of the Methodist societies, whose salutary influence on community was already apparent.

The first religious impressions of a permanent character, of which William was the subject, were received at the knees and beneath the winning smiles of the Wesleyan preachers who visited his father's mansion.

In his manuscript he thus observes : " Of my early childhood I recollect but little, as so many years have since passed away ; but this I remember well, that Mr. Wesley's preachers used frequently to be at my father's house, and at one of my uncles. They were very fond of me, and would have me on their knees, and give me nuts and raisins to sing hymns for them."

The impressions of early years are lasting; the weight 2*

18 MEMOIR OF REV. WILLIAM GURLE?.

of a cliild's finger might affect the form of an oak that shall stand for centuries.

These men of God won the heart of little Wilham. He hailed their frequent return with demonstrations of joy. Their gentle but solemn words sunk deep into his heart, and laid broad and deep the foundation of a virtuous and useful life.

The penetrating eye of the founder of Methodism was fixed on the rising generation ; and a special regard for the instruction of youth was a prominent feature of his character. The associates of Mr Wesley in ministerial toil, were moving in the midst of ten thousand tender plants. By gently giving them the right direction, they were to grow up trees of righteousness ; and, transplanted in different parts of the world, they were to bring forth fruit to the glory of God.

It is not for the eye of mortal to penetrate the future, and perceive the ultimate or even proximate results of our efforts to do good.

It is probable that the good men who held William on their knees, tuning his infant voice to the songs of Zion, had but httle expectation that that voice would wake its melody in the deep forests of America, or that he should be among the first to plant the cross in the Avilds of a western state — that he should live to communicate to thousands in the new world the same blessed truths they were communicating to him.

It seems to have been many years after the first society was foi-med in Wexford, before a Methodist chapel was erected. Private houses, and the street or fields, were the places usually occupied by the early Wesleyan preachers. If a well-wisher to the cause opened his house for preaching, the influence of neighbors, or magistrates, or clergy men, was often exerted to close the door upon them.

Tliere was a sacred contagion about Methodism ; and pride, and bigotry, and power dreaded its influence. Tlic fire of persecution was kindled around it ; but, like the emblematic bush of Mount Horeb, though wrapped in flames, it was unconsumed. God was in the midst of the bush.

Mr. Gurley gives the following incident in regard to the early establishment of Methodism in his native place: **When I was but a little child, I frequently accompanied my aunt, who was a Methodist, to her meeting. It was held in a room on a back street. The house was owned or leased by one Jonathan Morgan, who was a member of society. It was a commodious place, and was fitted up with pulpit and benches. Poor Jonathan had a rich brother, who despised and hated the Methodists, who at that time were deemed, by the rich and proud, as the dregs of mankind. To induce Jonathan to close the room against the preachers, and quit tlie society, he off'ered to settle on him an annuit}^ of one hundred pounds, and pay it quarterly. Jonathan was a poor man, with a family to support, and so poor a mechanic that he could earn but little. The off"er was too tempting to be rejected; so he agreed to the proposal; and then down came the pulpit, out went the benches, and of course no j)reacher ever went to Jonathan's afterward. The annuit}^ was only during his life; but Jonathan died before the first quarter's rent became due. What an awful thing was this, to sell the service of God and means of grace for money ! and, after all, go into eternity before he had received one dollar of his pay! His wife Hannah proved faithful. Providence supplied her wants in an unexpected manner. She was a member of my class in her old age, thirty years after. Where the preaching was taken, immediately after this, I cannot recollect, but remember that the preachers were entertained at my uncle's house, and at my father's."

William was eight years old when the death of his father occurred. The event made a deep impression on his mind, and is thus described by his own pen:

"I recollect well the death of my affectionate father. About an hour before he breathed his last, he called me to his bedside. My mother and the other children were already there, weeping. He put out his cold, almost dead hand, and laid it on my head. 'Billy,' said he, 'I am going to leave you.' I wept. 'Death calls me from you all. Kneel down till I give you my parting blessing.' I did so. His hand still resting heavily on my head, he opened his eyes, looked up, and said, 'May my blessing, and the blessing of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, rest on and be with you, as long as you live ! Be a good boy, and obey your mother.' After taking leave, in a similar way, of each of the family, he remained a short time silent. I stood by his bed all the time, and watched his motions. Soon, hke the patriarch of old, he gathered up his knees in the bed, raised his hands, let them fall, and, without a sigh or groan, breathed his last."

The early boyhood of Wilham was passed with httle worthy of special record. His leisure hours were spent among the rural hills that skirt his native city, or, as was frequently the case, on the bosom of the sea, whose restless billows washed the walls of his mother's dwelling.

He loved the water, and often accompanied the fishermen, in their excursions, until he became expert in the management of a sail-boat, and often ventured out alone miles from the shore. One of his most interesting pastimes was, to conceal himself behind green bushes, placed in the bow of his boat; then drift out with the tide among the wild fowl which, at certain seasons, frequented by thousands the harbor, and, when sufficiently near, let fiy with shot among

MEMOIR OF REV. WILLIAM GLULEY. 2.

tliem; then, steering among the dead and wounded, bear them in triumph to his home.

This famiharity with the sea, and the naval skill he acquired, were of some service to him at times in after life ; especially on one occasion, on a passage to Liverpool, when, by the unskillfulness or timidity of the captain, the ship and crew came near being lost. The event belongs to a future period in his histoiy.

Sometimes he was permitted to go to a wake among thQ peasantry in the suburbs. In one of his letters he thus refers to these nocturnal assemblies :

" In the days of my boyhood the low Irish had a vast number of vain and superstitious customs, which, though latterly not so frequent, were then very common, and highly esteemed,

" Among these were their funeral rites. When a man or woman dies, as soon as the corpse is laid out, the house is filled with friends and neighbors, especially if the deceased was much respected or beloved. The company consists of both old and young, who continue, with intervals, day and night, till the interment takes place.

"The guests are supplied with plenty of snuff, tobacco, and pipes. The long night is spent in singing songs, telling stories, playing laughable tricks, together with music, and sometimes dancing.

" At twelve o'clock large dishes of bread and cheese are handed round for refreshment. Then good malt beer and whisky succeed, of which the whole company partake — then to singing and playing again, till the sun sends all home to breakfast.