The journals of William Clowes, a primitive Methodist preacher...

Introduction

Courteous Reader, we been induced to publish the book before you by the solicitations of many of my friends, and the hope that all who read it may be spiritually benefited. I beg that you will read it with candour, as my skill in composition is limited ; as I did not write it originally for public but private use, and was hence uncareful of the correct spellings of the Christian names of persons, and the proper names of places, some of which may therefore be incorrectly spelt. As I have not had much aid from any of my friends, except Mr. J. Davison, now in Scotter circuit, and as the book has gone through the press without either my inspection or his, and with but slight inspection from any other person, I expect you will find many errors, though none affecting the facts of the book. I must apologize for the pages being headed the " Life of W. Clowes," instead of " the Journals," &c, as in the title page, and for the use of the third person in the headings of the chapters instead of the first, as in the other parts of the book. These incongruities were overlooked till several sheets had been printed, when it was thought

IV INTRODUCTION.

uniformity would justify their continuance in the first edition. I shall feel obliged if discoverers of errors will, in their book-order letters to the General Stewards, enclose corrections on slips of paper to the address of the Connexional Editor, who has engaged to furnish therefrom errata to such copies of the book as may be issued after the supplying of the first orders. That God may be the eternal portion of the readers and the writer of the following pages is the sincere prayer of

Yours, in Christian affection,

WILLIAM CLOWES.

LIFE

Chapter I

Birth — Parentage — Death of Parents — Bound apprentice — Youthful follies — Becomes addicted to dancing — Marriage — Leaves the country — Singular adventures — Arrives at Warrington — Returns to Tunstall — Daring impiety at the Market Cross — Goes to Hull, in Yorkshire — Continues reckless — Imitates, with companions, the press-gang, crosses the Humber, and alarms the town of Barton — Fights a battle — Captured by the press-gang — Makes his escape — Recaptured, and set at liberty — Leaves Hull, and arrives at Tunstall.

In the town of Burslera, in Staffordshire, on the 12th day of March, 1780, I entered on the scene of probationary existence. I was the son of Samuel and Ann Clowes. My father was by trade a potter, which business has long been pursued by a considerable part of the population in this district of the county of Stafford.

My mother was a daughter of Mr. Aaron Wedgwood, an extensive manufacturer in the pottery department, in conjunction with Mr. "William Littlor. In 1750, the manufacture of the white stone ware was carried to a high state of improvement; and by them after-

B wards the first china-ware was made at Longton, near Stoke. Messrs. Thomas and John Wedgwood, cousins to Mr. Aaron Wedgwood, in 1740, built the largest house in Burslem, to which was given the name of the "Big House;" they also in that town built the first manufactory, which was not covered with thatch.

My father, in the early part of his life, became pious ; but in consequence of reading a pernicious book, and yielding to temptation, his heart departed from the Lord: and during the remainder of his life, until his last illness, excepting at intervals, he was wild and dissipated. The illness, however, to which he became subject, and which was of a lingering character, allowed him opportunity to reflect on the state of his soul, and to seek -that salvation which he had lost in the period of health and youth. My father's earnestness in seeking the restoration of God's favour was not in vain ; the Lord healed his backslidings, and enabled him, on the margin of the grave, to attest that paradise awaited the arrival of his immortal spirit.

My mother was early trained in a regular attendance on the services of the Established Church ; her disposition was amiable, and her morals blameless ; but she did not understand the way of salvation by faith ; however, after my conversion to God, my frequent conversations brought her to see this matter in a clear light ; and on one occasion, whilst a friend and I were praying with her, she obtained the forgiveness of sins by faith in Jesus Christ.

Having, however, to pass through heavy trials, in consequence of her family, and particularly through the conduct of her husband, my mothers love to God grew less fervent ; and that constant and believing prayer, which arms the soul with fortitude and true greatness under sorrows however multiplied, was not so fully exercised. But notwithstanding the partial declension which she experienced of the love of God, she continued to the end of her pilgrimage to trust in the Lord. Her departure from this world of toil and anxiety was sudden ; but it was such as to inspire me with a hope of meeting her in heaven, where the righteous are

" Far from a world of grief and sin, With God eternally shut in."

About the fourth year of my age, I was attacked with the small-pox, which nearly occasioned my death. Six years afterwards, I became an apprentice to my uncle, Joseph Wedgwood, whose pottery was near Burslem churchyard. In this service, I was taught to make small plates, and soon grew expert in my new employment. To encourage diligence, the task of making twenty-one dozen a day was allotted to me, which I performed with ease. Occasionally, however, my fondness for youthful diversions drew me into negligence ; and my fear of punishment was such, that when only part of my work was done, I entered it as completed : thus making my uncle the dupe of my trickery. After a few years spent in this way, I wished to learn that branch of pottery business called turning ; accordingly, my uncle Wedgwood's service was abandoned, and I was bound apprentice to Mr. Mear, to learn the newly desired employment. In turning, I was soon deemed a proficient ; and, for my encouragement, was paid for all the work extra to that which was due to my master. This arrangement placed a little money at my disposal, a portion of which was spent for some lessons which I had received at a school b 2 in the neighbourhood. Dancing was placed at the head of my amusements, as being the source of my highest pleasure. In this practice I constantly strove to excel my companions ; and, shortly, I engaged with others to dance before the giddy multitude for several prizes. When the day of trial came, each performer stretched his ablest powers to bear the palm away from his competitors. It was to me a day of distinguished triumph in the cause of sin and folly ; for those who were appointed the judges of our merits declared that all the prizes were mine. Pride and vanity now so inflated my heart, that I challenged the best dancer in England to equal me in my favourite amusement. This circumstance occurring, was the cause of my falling into bad company that more than ever corrupted my life. Associated with dancing, was visiting public assembly rooms, where banquetings, gambling, and fighting ranked among the sins of my youth. In the exercise of the last, my body has often been so beaten, that I have been nearly covered with bruises. Indeed, on one occasion, I was carried out of the room where I had been fighting, apparently dead, and a medical man was sent for to ascertain whether any symptoms of life remained.

My apprenticeship ended about the twentieth year of my age, and on the 28th of July, 1800, I was accompanied by Hannah Rogers, of Tunstall, in Staffordshire, to the parish church at Newcastle-under- Line, in the said county, where we were united in the solemnities of matrimony. The marriage ceremony, however, was so carelessly thought of, that, had not a person fastened the church doors, to prevent interruption from the people without, I should have escaped unmarried, and left my bride mortified by disappointment, and the laughs of the people in the churchyard. My entrance into the married life was not followed im* mediately by reformation of conduct, for I continued to aggravate and augment my guilt for five years longer, by plunging more deeply into my old sins, and adding others to them. After my marriage, convenience led my wife and me to lodge with her mother, and but a few weeks had passed over before they offended me. Being unable to brook the offence without some kind of retaliation, yet being unwilling to retaliate it by striking them, I struck the wall in the house, then left them, and went to seek work at Warrington, in Lancashire. After having travelled as far as Northwich, where I arrived in a hungry and weary state a little before dark, I knew not whither to go for help or direction : the task of reaching the end of my intended journey that night was hopeless. Thus situated, I was addressed by a man who called me to him, and asked me if I was a potter, for I had a potter's apron on. I told him I was. He then replied, "Then we will have a drink together." My attention was then directed to a public-house, into which I was desired to enter, and to call for a pint of ale. My penniless condition induced me for a while to hesitate ; but my new friend removed my hesitation by giving me threepence to pay for the order. He first told me he would follow me into the house, but he was finally induced to accompany me. He then very kindly made me the partaker of some bread and cheese, and a quart of ale. While we were thus regaling ourselves, I told him my case, and that, having heard of a pottery at Warrington, 1 was going thither in search of employment. Affected with my story, he wished me to keep the threepence which he had previously given me ; and showed me

O LIFE OF

the way leading from the town to the place of my pursuit. Though the hospitable conduct of this stranger gave me feelings of pleasure and gratitude, yet the darkness of the night, added to my non-acquaintance with the road, dejected my mind afterwards. After having walked a few miles, I turned aside into a meadow, intending to make it my bed until the arrival of morning ; but hearing some people approaching, I deferred my slumbers, to ask them where I could meet with a night's lodging. A woman in the company assured me that she could get me accommodated if I would accompany her to a village just at hand. I then very cheerfully became her companion, and on reaching the village was shown to a public-house. Scarcely had I entered the house before I was hurried into the calculation that the threepence given to me a few hours before would be insufficient to defray the charge of the night's entertainment. Policy dictated that my circumstances must be concealed from the host. I therefore wished my conductor a good night, and took a seat as composedly as a sense of my comparative destitution would allow. Presently I was asked what should be prepared for my supper. I replied, I had taken a refreshment a few miles off, and having need of nothing to eat, I would take a pint of ale only ; and then, being much fatigued with travelling, would be shown to bed. Accordingly the ale was brought and was hastily drunk. Afterwards I was shown into a good room, in which was a comfortable bed, but such was the exercise of my mind as to how I should pay for my lodgings, that the comforts of the bed were really almost forgotten. Of the contrivances of the night, the most prominent was, that a few mushrooms which I had gathered on the previous day should be put into a handkerchief and placed on a table in the sight of the person who should attend on me ; and that, after my quitting the bed-chamber, I should request some tea for breakfast. In the execution of this scheme of deception, in the presence of the individual in question I took another handkerchief out of my pocket, besides that in which the mushrooms were first inclosed, and spreading it on a table, I carefully tied it about the bundle of mushrooms, as if to signify that its contents were of uncommon value. I then intimated that I would take a walk till the breakfast was prepared, and, leaving my bundle on the table to prevent suspicion that I designed not to return for the purpose of defraying the charges of the public-house, I bade a final adieu to the place.

I arrived at Warrington about noon, and the fact of having more money in my pocket at the close of my journey, than at its beginning, was hailed as the result of dexterous contrivance. Immediately on my arrival I hastened to the pottery and asked for work, but was severely tried on being told that workmen were not wanted till Martinmas. Unwilling to have my journey rendered fruitless, I hired to begin work at Martinmas, and received five shillings as fastening cash. The remainder of the afternoon was spent at the White Hart Inn, where, in company with some of the potters, I became intoxicated. The next day I returned to Tunstall, and found all in peace. On a Monday, about a fortnight after this, some of my companions and I went to the wakes at Leek, about ten miles from Tunstall. We arrived about four in the afternoon, and with eagerness we pursued our revelries until the following morning. Then we began to hold a mock prayer-meeting in the public-house, but this extravagance of impiety became so annoying even to the wicked bacchanalians, that they drove us out into the street. We then repaired to the Cross, in the Market-place, and resumed our unhallowed employment ; and to enliven our mockery, some, while professing to pray, used cramp sayings ; others shouted "Amen" and the rest laughed, to denote their approbation of the exercises. From the Cross we staggered to a fresh public-house, and there maintained our follies till the next morning, when all our money was spent. Still determined not to pause in our career, one pawned his watch, and the others borrowed two guineas of the sergeant of the 55th regiment, and one guinea of the sergeant of the Artillery, both of whom were recruiting for soldiers. These sums were obtained on the condition that if not returned by Saturday evening we should be taken into His Majesty's service. Having thus secured a fresh supply of money, we went on in our wicked course until Thursday night, and then each of us retired to his home.

In a fortnight afterwards, accompanied by my wife, I started for "Warrington, to work at the pottery, according to agreement. While I remained there, which was till nearly the close of the following year, my conduct underwent no improvement. From Warrington I returned into Staffordshire, and continued to aggravate my guilt by taking new tours of wickedness.

Having heard of a new pottery at Hull, in Yorkshire, I next made it the object of my pursuit, and was soon employed by its owner. There I might have accumulated a fortune ; for at some branches of my work I could earn a pound a day. So unlimited was my prodigality, however, that, instead of saving, I plunged into debt. Dancing, singing, drinking, and fighting, occupied the chief share of my time.

As long as I remained at Hull, the press-gang

WILLIAM CLOWES. i*

was unusually vigilant, and wherever it appeared, it excited great consternation ; for the pressing of men to serve the navy was very great. Full of daring and reckless exploits, several of my associates with myself hired a boat and crossed the Humber to Barton, and availing ourselves of the notion entertained by the inhabitants that we were the press-gang, we threatened to press both old and young, and thereby caused such alarm that the men of the town decamped and hid themselves. The notion of our being the press-gang arose from some of us being dressed like sea officers ; I wore a coat and pantaloons of the best superfine, mounted with yellow buttons, which were made according to the orders that pride led me to give the tailor, when I first came to Hull. After having entered one of the public-houses, we began the exploits of folly for which we were well prepared, having amongst our company two fiddlers, two hornpipe dancers, and several singers. Nor did we cease our riot until the next day, when we returned to Hull.

I had not been many days at home, before what I had terrified others with, in my wild career, I was doomed to have inflicted upon myself. At about ten o'clock one morning, being at the Dog and Duck inn, where several officers were stationed, I was provoked to fight. The officers appeared diverted with the combat, nor did I expect that my opponent and myself were soon to become the objects of their seizure. Scarcely, however, had we ended our conflict before we were pressed to go on board of a ship of war which was in the Humber. As the gang was not immediately at hand, we were put into a kitchen, and had we not been removed at the moment we were, I had formed the design of escaping, by ascending a table which stood under b 3 a window whose upper sash was let down, and leaping head first through. Just as I was about to spring through the window, which had I done, I should undoubtedly have been killed, we were arrested by some constables, who led us to the rendezvous. As we were going down High-street, still bent on making my escape, I rushed from the constables and ran up Grimsby-lane into the market place, which was crowded with market people. The constables pursued me, shouting "Stop thief!" but I cried, "It is only the press-gang. I have done nothing amiss." Some attempted to seize me, but others allowed me to pass them without interruption. Thus circumstanced, none stayed my flight ; for I turned, twisted, leaped, and ran, till I had eluded all my pursuers. However, being nearly exhausted and greatly fluttered, I entered into my master's china shop, into which I was followed by the constables who had seen me enter. They took me thence back to the rendezvous, that I might accompany other pressed men on board a vessel awaiting our arrival. Mr. Smith, my master, together with the landlord of the inn in which the captain of the press-gang lodged, successfully entreated the captain to grant my opponent and me our liberty. When the captain had pronounced our freedom, he admonished us never to be out of our houses after nine o'clock at night. I then determined not merely to abide by his admonition, but to be out of town before nine in the morning. Accordingly, in a little time after this,! left the town and my debts in it, and at the close of the second day from my leaving Hull, having carried much luggage for eighty miles, I felt as greatly wearied and exhausted as ever I remember to have felt in all my life. Howeverj on the fourth day I arrived at home.

Chapter II

Strivings of the Spirit in early life — Children's prayer meeting — Convinced of the sin of disohedience to parents — Revival of religion in Bursleni — Dances in the town hall — Pierced with feelings of alarm — Rushes home — Father administers to him gin and tohacco — Resolutions — Habit of swearing — Betrayed by an associate — Distress increases — Goes to a place of worship — Unbosoms his feelings to his wife — Takes an oath — Family disagreement — Leaves home — Arrives at "Warrington — Breaks his oath — Deep distress — Takes another oath — Associates with racers — Notice of foot-racing exhibitions — Resolutions and oath broken — Misery insupportable — Terrible dreams — Reading in a prayer book about eating and drinking damnation — Invited to a love-feast — Curious affair with the door-keeper — Views and feelings in the love-feast — Attends a prayer meeting — Mightyinfluence — Converted — Remarks.

Without detaining the reader with a detail of manysingular adventures which took place in my early history, I may now proceed to narrate certain circumstances preliminary to my conversion to God. That most eventful of all circumstances which took place, was preceded by repeated strivings of God's Holy Spirit, even in childhood. I was convinced that I was a sinner. When I was about ten years old, I remember being in a prayer meeting conducted by Nancy Wood, of Burslem, in her father's house, principally for the benefit of boys and girls, and at that meeting, being clearly convinced of the sin of disobedience to my parents, I wept bitterly, and resolved henceforth to be obedient. I had scarcely returned home when my father, though ignorant of what had taken place, put my resolution to the test by desiring me to go on an errand to a neighbour's house in the dark ; few things could have tried more the strength of my resolution than this command. My father's wish was, however, promptly complied with, and the consequent pleasure amply compensated my having overcome the fears I had experienced in accomplishing the errand. Obedience to my parents, alas ! was practised for a very short time ; my vows were soon forgotten, and I quickly became careless and undutiful towards them.

At a subsequent period a revival of religion took place at Burslem, when my convictions were such, that had an experienced Christian taken me by the hand, I have no doubt that I should at that time have been converted ; but being young, I passed unnoticed, and soon lost those convictions. The next visitation which I had was in the town hall at Burslem, in which I was one of a party assembled to dance. I had hardly taken a step in the exercise, ere God impressed me with the consciousness that my life had been spent in flagrant sin ; great distress of mind followed. I there inwardly promised the Lord that I would serve him. Instead of relief, I was alarmed with the dread that if I did not leave the place, the Lord would take away my life and precipitate me into hell; and therefore without speaking a word to any person, I took my departure from the place, and ran home. Finding my parents in bed, I hastened up the stairs, and told them my alarms. Hastily they arose, and judging that my complaint was an attack of the colic, my father gave me some gin, and the smoke of tobacco, which were conveyed down my throat. My father was not, however, the physician that I needed, and hence his remedies only added affliction to my bonds. Rendered sick in soul with a sight of my sins, and sick in body by tobacco smoke, and tortured by the anticipation that hell was opening to receive me, I was really a most miserable object. I wished my mother to pray for me, but she admonished me to pray for myself.

Accordingly I began, and promised the Almighty that if he would spare my life, I would give body and soul to his service ; finding myself a little relieved, I retired to rest. Powerful as this visitation was, by associating with my numerous acquaintances the recollection of it, and the promises it induced, grew less vivid, and again I became forgetful of God and his ways. I however felt fully that sin and misery were always linked as companions, and to avoid the infliction of so much of the latter, I had thought marrying would have been a good experiment, as I judged I should become more detached from the company of my worst associates ; added also to this was the resolution to take only half a pint of ale a day till I had conquered my proneness to intoxication. To cure myself of the habit of swearing was a work also which I had thought often about. I remember having had once, after an awful swearing fit, so much horror of mind in consequence, that I wondered whether any other person experienced similar feelings or not, and immediately asked one of my companions, privately, if he had such feelings as I, after swearing. Instead of giving me a secret reply, as I expected he would have done, he exposed my question to the company present, and called me a fool, and having uttered a horrid oath, asked me if I was going to turn Methodist. This treatment made me blush ; but being unwishful that the company should believe that I had any Methodist feelings, or was likely to be one, I made a witty remark to end the matter.

After having felt great dislike for my faintheartedness,

14 LIFE OP

because I could not, like others, swear without strong remorse, I now purposed to be more brave. The Spirit of God, notwithstanding, attacked me with augmented force, and constrained me again to attempt to alter my conduct. On one occasion, after a plunge of dissipation, I was so assailed with perturbation and disquietude, that I formed a resolution to go to the Methodist preaching.

Visiting a place where religion was the chief subject of consideration had been with me a thing of rare occurrence, and consequently my presence excited more than ordinary surprise and conversation. At another time, when I was in my house, conviction wrought so powerfully in my soul, that I burst into tears. My wife and her parents having observed my emotion, were anxious to know what had befallen me. In a day or two after this I determined to disclose the cause of my distress to my wife, and, in order that I might have a fitting place and opportunity, I persuaded her to take a walk with me along the canal side. As we went along, I told her, with tears in my eyes, that I was anxious to serve the Lord, and regularly to attend the Methodist chapel. But thinking I was either foolish or going insane, she replied that if we became industrious as some around us were, there was no necessity for any thing more, especially of crying and going to chapels. The coldness with which she treated my proposal, caused me to say little more on the subject. I resolved, however, to serve God, and that I might avert the wrath which I felt more than ever hung over my head, I went to my house at Burslem, and having taken hold of the prayer-book, or the Bible, I took an oath before God, that I would cease drinking to excess, and refrain from other crimes. The taking of this oath was secreted from every friend. Not long after this, having received an offence from my wife and her mother, my anger rose to such a pitch, that I revenged the offence, as before, by striking the wall of the house.

I then went to my mother's, and, as I thought I could not serve God at home, I determined to leave that part of the country. Unknown to my mother, I took her prayer-book, and, without a penny in my pocket, commenced my journey. In my ramble I occasionally sat down to rest my weary limbs ; and as I sat and read in the book I had with me, I wept much. Arriving at last at Warrington, I hired myself to a master, some of whose servants accompanied me to a public-house kept by one of them. I knew not that it was a public-house till I had entered it. A quart of ale was soon called for, of which it fell to my lot to have to take a drink. Holding the pot in my hand, the following interrogatives occupied my thoughts. " My oath is upon me, what shall I do ?" Looking at me, the men were crying, "Drink." "Shall I tell them my oath ?" Resolved to keep secret my perplexity, I yielded to the temptation ; and though I trembled, I ventured to drink ; and hardly had the pot left my lips, before I thought my damnation was sealed. I then gave the reins to my passions, and was led captive by the devil at his will. After remaining for some time in this bondage, I made another effort at reformation, by taking another oath in a manner similar to that which I had done before, telling no one of the matter. For a while I was firm, but alas ! the devil again prevailed against me, and resolutions and oaths, made in my own strength, were borne away like the morning cloud. One of my fellow-workmen having engaged to run a race with another for a wager, I, along with several others, was drawn into the foolish adventure.

The way in which these exhibitions were got up in our neighbourhood at that time may require a passing notice.

In the first place, the combatant, after receiving a strong purgative, was placed between feather-beds, and whilst some held down the corners, others got on the top to press upon the individual so enclosed, with all their weight. Thus the person was made to perspire in the most profuse manner ; he was then taken, rubbed, and dressed in flannel next the skin. Then the individual had to be fed with slices cut from legs of mutton, about half cooked, and to drink old ale. This was his diet for three weeks or a month. In " breathing" or training him before the day of trial, the racer was put to bed for an hour, then he had to go to the course dressed, and weights in his pocket ; these weights were afterwards laid aside, when the racers made their appearance together ; and then the only clothing they wore was a pair of drawers ; thus they stood at the head of the course ready to bound forward with the utmost celerity. The ground was usually marked out by three lines drawn and fastened on stakes, driven into the ground. The two outward lines were for the purpose of keeping off the crowd, and the middle one to prevent the racers running before each other. It was while assisting to get up one of these foolish exhibitions, my oath was again obliterated from my soul, and every shilling that I possessed was expended and lost; for my fellow-workman, as a combatant on the occasion referred to, was defeated; and then I appeared to myself, what in truth I really was, — a poor, disappointed, and unhappy mortal. Indeed it could not be otherwise with me than a constant failure, from the course adopted, labouring to serve God in my own strength. What broken resolutions and abortive efforts at reformation and amendment does my history furnish !