The life and correspondence of William and Alice Ellis, of Airton

Preface

The names of William and Alice Ellis, had long been familiar to the editor of this volume, in connexion with a fund for putting out apprentices, provided by these individuals; and he had heard traditional anecdotes of their benevolence and piety, but was far from justly appreciating their character, until he met with a manuscript, the property of Settle Monthly Meeting, containing their correspondence. The perusal of this manuscript threw a light upon their character, and ou the history of the Society of Friends, at the period in which this worthy pair lived, which deeply interested him ; and he became impressed with the belief that benefit would arise from making tins correspondence public. The Friends of Settle Monthly Meeting concurred in this belief, and readily allowed the letters to be copied for this object. These letters had originally been transcribed, probably under the eye of William Ellis, with such great care, that they required little correction for the press, even of a verbal character. With the exception of a few passages and a very few of the letters, which did not contain interesting matter, they are here presented to the reader.

a2

IV PREFACE.

Short biographical sketches of the correspondents of William and Alice Ellis, and of persons mentioned in the letters, have been copiously introduced by the editor, under the impression that some knowledge of such parties adds much to the interest of this kind of correspondence.

The other materials interwoven with the letters, and relating to the life of William and Alice Ellis, have been gleaned from various sources ; they are but scanty, yet they help to depict examples of Christian faith and practice well worthy of imitation.

The names of places and persons are variously spelled in most ancient records ; the spelling of them adopted in this volume is that of modern maps and printed documents.

In describing the travels of Eriends on religious service, their journeys are frequently mentioned by the editor as " apostolic;" his object in adopting this term was to mark such journeys as being undertaken in the true spirit and liberty of the Gospel, according to the apostolic practice, before the restrictions imposed by man, in the early days of the corruption of Christianity, had limited the religious labours of individuals to "their own parishes and districts/'' and thus introduced a system greatly interfering with that compliance with the requirements of the Holy Spirit, which the true Christian minister often finds laid upon Mm.

PREFACE. V

A notice of the first gathering of the Society of Friends, in the district comprised within Settle Monthly Meeting, is introduced as an appendix, under the apprehension that it will be read with interest in connexion with the other portion of this volume.

The editor ventures to hope that few will peruse this record of the dedication and zeal of many in time past, without having their own devotedness to the Lord deepened, and their zeal quickened for the promotion of his cause.

York, 10th of 5th Mo. 1849.

CHAPTER I. Page

Locality of Airton. Earentage of William Ellis. Meeting held by R. Haydock. Convincement, Character, and Settlement of William Ellis. Commencement of his ministry. Marriage. Character of Alice Ellis. Notices of John Richardson and Mary Erost. Letters from John Real, Thomas Gwin, and James Tatham. Birth and death of Jonathan Ellis 1

Chapter II

Certificate to Ireland. Letters to Alice Ellis — to Friends of Settle Monthly Meeting, — from Samuel Randal and Joseph Pike, and to Alice Ellis. Notices of Thomas Trafford and James Dickinson 9

Chapter III

Letters from Wm. Edmundson — to Wm. Edmundson — to John Wynn, — from Wm. Edmundson — to Wm. Edmundson — from William Ellis to his Servants — to J. Tomlinson — to some Friends in Ireland, with a notice of the building of the Meeting-house at Airton. Testimony respecting Roger Haydock , 19

Chapter IV

Certificates to America. Aaron Atkinson. Letters from John Tomkins to William Ellis, — from William Ellis to Thomas Aldam, — to John Hall, — and to Alice Ellis. Memoranda made at sea. Letters from Francis Plumstead, — John Tomkins to Alice Ellis, — William Ellis to Alice Ellis, — to Thomas Aldam 37

Chapter V

Letters from America to Settle Monthly Meeting. — Alice Ellis to her husband, — William Ellis to his wife. Aaron Atkinson and William Ellis separate. Letter from Aaron Atkinson. Anecdote from Thomas Story's Journal. William Ellis to Thomas Johnson 55

Vlll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI. Page

Letters from Alice Ellis to her husband, — Adam Squire to William Ellis, — "William Ellis to Simeon "Wilkinson, — to Alice Ellis, — Theodore Eccleston to William Ellis, — William Ellis to Adam Squire 71

Chapter VII

Notes of a Meeting of Ministering Friends, at Burlington, West Jersey. Letter to Alice Ellis. Epistle to Settle Monthly Meeting. Letters from Theodore Eccleston to Alice Ellis, — to Friends appointed as Overseers, — Alice Ellis to her husband 84

Chapter VIII

Notice of John Field. Letters from John Field to Alice Ellis, — and from Aaron Atkinson to William Ellis. On the Payment of Ministers. Letter from William Ellis to his wife. Notice of Daniel Gould and letter from him to William Ellis. Notice of John Bowstead and letter from him to Alice Ellis. Letter from William Ellis to John Wynn 101

Chapter IX

Letters from William Ellis to John Chanler and Samuel Bound. Notice of Phineas Pemberton. Letters from Phineas Pemberton and William Gabbitus to William Ellis, — from John Tomkins to Alice Ellis. Notice of Gilbert Thompson. Letters from Gilbert Thompson to Alice Eliis, — from William Southebe and Rowland Ellis to William Ellis. Notice of William Fishbourn. Letters from William Fishbourn and Griffith Owen to William Ellis. Notice of Anthony Morris. Letter from Anthony Morris to William Ellis. Notice of Samuel Carpenter. Letters from Samuel Carpenter and Richard Johns to William Ellis. John Cowgill to the Offspring of Believing Parents 112

Chapter X

Letters from William Ellis to Theodore Eccleston, William Edmundson, and Richard Johns. Notice of John Haydock. Letter to Samuel Galloway and others ; — to William Ellis from Gilbert Thompson. Notice of Richard Hill. Letters from John Tomkins and William Edmundson 131

CONTENTS. IX

CHAPTER XI. Page

Yellow Fever. Notices of Thomas Duckett and Thomas Musgrave. Letteis from Nicholas Wain and William Fishbourn. Notice of Roger Gill and his death. Letter from Samuel Carpenter. Notice of Edward Shippen. Letter from Edward Shippen. John Slack to Alice Ellis. Letters from John Tomkins and Theodore Eccleston. Notice of John Wynn. Testimony of William Ellis respecting John Wynn 147

Chapter XII

Letter to William Ellis and Aaron Atkinson from several Friends in New England. Letters from Samuel Galloway, John Tomkins, Samuel Carpenter, William Edmundson. Notice of Joseph Scarth. Letters from Joseph Scarth and Aaron Atkinson to William Ellis. William Ellis to Richard Johns and Samuel Galloway 162

Chapter XIII

Visit of Samuel Bownas to William Ellis. Notices of Samuel Bownas, James Wilson, Gilbert Heathcot, and Jennet Stow. Letter from Gilbert Heathcot. Notices of John Butcher, Robert Huberstie, and James Waithman. Remarkable Fungus. Letters from John Tomkins, with an extract of a letter from John Richardson. Notices of John Taylor and Jeremiah Grimshaw. Letter from Theodore Eccleston. Notice of John Bowron, and letter from him. Notices of Isaac Alexander, Thomas Pearce, George Rook, John Ecroyd, and Lawrence King. Letter from Isaac Alexander. Letter to Nathan Newby, containing advice respecting the Scriptures. Notice of Thomas Rodman. Letter to Thomas Rodman .... 176

Chapter XIV

Notice of William Biles. Letters from William Biles and Nathan Newby. Notice of John Estaugh. Letter from Francis Tomes. Notice of Thomas Thompson and letter from him. Notice of Josiah Langdale. Letter from John Tomkins. Notices of Henry Gouldney and Ann Wilson. Letter from Henry Gouldney. Notices of John Fothergill and William Armistead. Letter to Richard Johns. Letters from William Armistead, John Rodman, and Thomas Aldam. Notice of Sir John Rhodes, and letter from him 196

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XV. Page

Letter from Francis Plumstead. Notice of Thomas Wilde. Letter from John Tomkins and others. Notices of John Blaikling and James Baines. Letter from William Edmundson. Notice of Samuel Bownas. Letter from Anthony Morris. Letter to Abraham Green. Letters from William Armistead and John Fothergill 215

Chapter XVI

Remarks on Wrong Spirits. Notice of Susanna Freeborn. Letters from Leah Newbery and Richard Johns. Notices of Thomas Wilson and Joseph Glaister. Letter from Samuel Jennings. Notice of John Gratton and letter from him. Letter to Francis Tomes. Letter from George Rook. Notice of George Knipe and letter from him. Letters from William Edmundson and Thomas Rodman 229

CHAPTER XVTI.

Notice of a Yearly Meeting at Lancaster by John Kelsall. Decease of William Ellis. Notice of Abigail Stott. Remarks respecting the recording of Ministers. Ministers in Settle Monthly Meeting cotemporary with William Ellis. Abigail Stott's Testimony respecting William Ellis 245

Chapter XVIII

The Testimony of Alice Ellis concerning her Husband. Thomas Thompson's Testimony concerning William Ellis. A Brief Account of the Life and Death of William Ellis from Settle Monthly Meeting. The Testimony of York Quarterly Meeting concerning William Ellis i 252

Chapter XIX

Meeting-house at Airton. William Ellis's House. Provision for the Free Entertainment of Ministering Friends. William and Alice Ellis's Gift for Putting out Apprentices. Alice Ellis's Legacies and Arrangements for the Entertainment of Friends. Decease of Alice Ellis, and Testimony Concerning Her. Present state of Airton Meeting, and Settle Monthly Meeting 266

Afpekdix 27&

Errata, Page 43. — For paragraph respecting Thomas Aldam, read,

Thomas Aldam, to whom the following letter was addressed, was the second of that name who was a minister in the Society of Friends, at Warmsworth, near Doncaster : he w T as born about the year 1648, and became a minister in the twentyfourth year of his age ; he was a very serviceable man in the society, and was twice imprisoned for his faithfulness to the Lord. In his last illness he expressed a confidence, that " through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, he should have a place of rest in the world to come/'' He died in 1722, aged 74 years. See Piety Promoted, Part VIII.

The date of the convincement of Thomas Aldam the elder, &ould be 1651 instead of 1641.

LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE

Chapter I

Locality of Airton. Parentage of William Ellis. Meeting held by R. Haydock. Convincement, Character, and Settlement of William Ellis. Commencement of his ministry. Marriage. Character of Alice Ellis. Notices of John Richardson and Mary Frost. Letters from John Real, Thomas Gwin, and James Tatham. Birth and death of Jonathan Ellis.

Among tlie grassy hills in the upper part of Airdale, in the West-Riding of Yorkshire, a group of villages, named Airton, Calton, and Scostrop, lie in close contact with each other. These villages are six miles east of the town of Settle, they are included in the parish of Kirkby Malhamdale, and are near to the remarkable limestone cliffs of Malham Cove and Gordale Scar. In one of these villages a cotton manufactory is now carried on; but in former days many of the inhabitants were hand-loom linen- weavers. Of this class, in the 17 th century, was Stephen Ellis, of Calton, who had several children, and whose son WilHam was born on the 5th of the 8th month, 1658.

William Ellis lived with his father until he attained his

*Z LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF

sixteenth year, and he then removed to Skipton, having engaged himself to John Stott, of that place, who was also a linen-weaver, and who, with his wife, had joined the Society of Friends. Two years after William Ellis had removed to Skipton, Eoger Haydock, of Penketh near Warrington, in Lancashire, appointed a meeting at Lower Bradley, two miles from Skipton. This meeting was attended also by Eleanor Lowe, afterwards the wife of Eoger Haydock, and her consin Elizabeth Hodson, both of whom had likewise received gifts in the ministry, in the exercise of which they were travelling. William Ellis having heard of this meeting, signified a wish to attend it, which was readily acceded to by his master and mistress. Eleanor Haydock describes this meeting, in a Testimony concerning her husband, published in 1700, as "a good meeting, where William Ellis and some others were convinced."

Abigail Stott, the wife of the master of William Ellis, in a notice respecting the convincement of the latter, describes him before attending the meeting at Bradley, as being in bondage to the spirit of the world, and much carried away by folly and vanity ; but afterwards, not only as convinced of the way of truth aud righteousness, but as being, in a good measure, brought into obedience to the same ; and maintaining a humble, peaceable, and self-denying life, circumspect both in his words and ways, lest he should offend the Lord." She also says, that he was a good example to her servants, and a reprover of vice and the appearance of evil in her children, whom he often restrained from vanity and that which corrupts youth ; that he often laboured with his hands when he might have slept, in order that he might get to meetings ; that after he had done his work, he often retired into places more free from noise and hurry ; that he loved honest-minded Eriends, and all the neighbours who were in any measure well-minded, whether rich or poor, but was especially a visitor of the needy ; that through faith in Christ Jesus, he denied himself of the glory and friendship of the world ; and that he often suffered and was reviled for confessing Christ before men.

The particulars of the sufferings of Wilham Ellis for conscience' sake, beyond the common distraints made upon Friends for refusing to comply with the unjust, but legalised demands, for the compulsory support of a national churchestablishment, do not appear to have been recorded, except in one case. In this case, Abigail Stott says, that " as he was passing through Skipton, to attend a meeting for worship with his friends, he was taken by violent hands, and imprisoned in the tolbooth." How long he remained a prisoner does not appear.

When about twenty- one years of age, William Ellis removed to Airton, where he resided during the remainder of his life, There is reason to believe that in his settling at Airton, he established himself in a very humble way as a linen-weaver ; but that by industry and good economy he gradually improved in his temporal circumstances, until he became a master-weaver, employing a considerable number of men. He was liberal, according to his circumstances, when his means were small, and his liberality increased with the increase of his means.

Soon after his removal to Airton, he came forth in the ministry, bearing a public testimony to the Truth of which he was made a partaker, and in which he walked uprightly, so as to be a good example. In process of time he became an able minister of the Gospel, and a diligent labourer in the vineyard of the Lord. He cherished a deep concern for the maintenance of Gospel order in the church of Christ, and while but a young man, began to express what was upon his mind in meetings for discipline; but not being forward to speak in these meetings, and having a reverent

b 2 regard for those who were in Christ before him, and being careful to speak in the fear of God, and in a sense and savour of the divine life upon his mind, and demeaning himself with great humility, his labours were well received.

In the early part of 1688, William Ellis was married to Alice Davie or Davy ; he was then about 30 years of age. Of the early days of Alice Ellis no account appears to have been preserved ; but she proved a true helper to her husband, and was zealously concerned for the promotion of the cause of Truth ; and for this object, cheerfully gave him up to travel in the Lord's service ; and she heartily united with him in acts of hospitality and benevolence : she also became a minister of the Gospel, and several times accompanied other Friends in religious visits to different parts of the country, but her labours were chiefly exercised in her own meeting and the other meetings of Eriends within the monthly-meeting of Settle.

William Ellis travelled in the work of the ministry into various parts of England ; but though he had the unity of his Eriends in these apostolic journeys, no record of them, at that early period of the Society, appears on the minutes of the monthly-meeting of Settle, to which he belonged. The following letter from John Eeal, a Eriend of Ealmouth, addressed to William Ellis, evidently refers to a visit of the latter to Cornwall as early as 1690. — John Eeal died at Penryn in 1697 ; in the register of Iris burial be is described as "an ancient Eriend." — John Bichardson, who is mentioned in this letter, was from Yorkshire, At the time of his being in Cornwall on the religious visit here alluded to, he would be only about 25 years of age; he laboured diligently in the Gospel in Great Britain, Ireland, and America, and died at Hutton-in-the-Hole, in 1753, aged 87 years. See his Journal, also the Tract, No. 42, of the York Eriends' Tract Association. — Mary Erost was from North

WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS.

Shields ; slie also must have been young at the time of this visit, and must have attained to an advanced age, as she died in 1756.

" Launceston, 1st of the 1st mo. 1G91.

To William Ellis.

My dear and loving friend, unto whom my love flows and abounds ! in the blessed and unchangeable Truth of our God, very dearly doth my love salute thee ; and my desire is, that as the blessed and holy appearance of the Truth hath been made known unto us in our day and time, so we may walk and live in it, to our mutual comfort and consolation. Oh my dear and well-beloved friend! I cannot forget the many heavenly opportunities wherein we have been comforted and refreshed together ; and our God is loving and kind to us, in sendiug his children and servants to visit us, in this remote part of the country. And now, having this opportunity, and the company of dear John Eichardson and Mary Frost, whose labour of love and service are well accepted of in these parts, I coidd do no less than give thee a few lines, whereby thou mayst know that I love thee, and all the dear children of my Father, who are all begotten of the Seed Immortal, and born of the Spirit of Truth; and that I should be glad to see a few lines from thee, as opportunity happens. Blessed be the Lord ! Friends in these parts are well, and the blessed Truth prospers; though the enemy and adversary of mankind seeks, as ever he did, to hinder it ; yet the Lord's power is over all, and his seed is growing, and the plant of renown is springing. Glory and praise to the name of the Great God for evermore ! I have not time to enlarge to thee at present; but this take, as the remembrance of my dear and unfeigned love, wherewith I bid thee Farewell. Give my dear love to thy wife, though unknown.

John Beal."

By the subjoined letter, it appears that William and Alice Ellis had a son who was named Jonathan. This seems to have been their only child. Thomas Gwin, of Falmouth, the writer of this letter, joined the Society of Friends when young, and became a laborious and sound minister among them : he was the author of several tracts, containing much excellent counsel ; one of the earliest of these was addressed " To the children of Friends and other young people." He died in 1720, aged about 64 years.

"Falmouth, 2nd of 10th mo., 1692.

Dear William Ellis,

Thy acceptable lines I received, and am glad that myself with many Friends more, here away, have a place in thy remembrance, which will not, I hope, be blotted out, though our abodes are at so great a distance ; but that the Lord, in whom our fellowship and communion have been, will still preserve the same, fresh and lively, while he sees fit to continue us in these tabernacles of clay ; and that, as he has made us, as it were, monuments of his tender mercy, so we may for ever speak forth his praise. According to the resolution of a good man of old, who in his prayer said, From my youth Thou hast taught me, and now likewise when I am old and grey-headed, Lord! forsake me not, until I have showed thy strength to another generation, and thy power to those who are yet to come ; and as the Lord is thus near us, we shall be very near and dear one unto another : so dear William, I have communicated thine to pretty many Friends, who are glad with me, of thy wife's well-being, and of the birth of thy son Jonathan : the Lord, if it be his will, cause him, as he grows in years, to grow in grace, and in his Divine favour. As for my part, I have been exceedingly exercised, by the removing of my little daughter, on whom I had placed too much affection ; but it hath been the Lord's will since that, to give me another, who I desire, may grow up in God's fear ; for I have a true unity with thee in thy concern on account of Friends' children ; and a jealousy sometimes on my mind, lest the ensuing generation receiving the profession of Truth in a traditional way, and being unacquainted with the wonders of the Lord, which he has wrought for his exercised people, in their travels through the wilderness, may be ready to sit as those who are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountains of a formal profession. The Lord, I beseech him, turn away this careless and lukewarm spirit from among the offspring of Iris people ; and engage the young generation in zeal and fervency, in his service. As to Friends here, though some are too careless, yet there is a remnant whose delight is in the Lord, and to whom he delights to clo good, and to refresh with the visitations of his presence, whereby their strength is renewed, season after season. And the spirits of some are concerned, and their mouths sometimes opened on God's account, being made witnesses of the operation of his Divine Power, by which they are stirred up to speak forth his praise. I am, dear William, thy friend and brother in the fellowship and bond of Truth.

Thomas Gwin."

The following expression of condolence shows that William and Alice Ellis were soon called upon to give up their only child. James Tatham, the writer, was a native of Wray, near Lancaster, and was a brother of John Tatham, mentioned in page 9 : he had settled as a grocer in Whitechapel, London, where he died in 1703, aged 52 years.

" London, 15th of 5th mo. 1693.

Pear Friend,

I received thine, whereby I understand that thou got well home, at which I was glad ; but I was sorry to hear of the loss of thy son ; but consider his great happiness ; he has passed his sojourning here in a little time, and is entered, without doubt, into his Father's bosom, where there is peace and joy for evermore. — I shall not be tedious at this time, hoping thou wilt be sensible by this, what is in my heart. We must leave all to the Lord, and to his ordering hand of Providence.

James Tatham."

WILLIAM AND ALICE ELLIS.