Susanna Wesley's Epworth Memoirs by Colin Ella - Part 19 More Sadness at the Rectory
I WAS not at all happy when Samuel (pictured) decided to take himself off to London to arrange for the printing of five hundred copies of his 'Dissertations on Job' which he had at last completed.
Three hundred copies had already been requested and Sam and John were doing their very best to obtain subscribers for the rest. I took some comfort from the fact that my good man had agreed to our man-servant, Robin Brown, travelling down to the Capital with him, but nevertheless, I was tremendously relieved to see them both return safely to Epworth.
Samuel and my eldest son, Sam, then made further attempts to persuade John to take on the Epworth living. My husband was so very keen to keep it in the family but John was having none of it, and he sent him no less tan twenty-five reasons for his not wishing to become the Rector of Epworth. I was not in any surprised by John's reaction for he was well established in his work at Oxford and enjoyed freedom from care and was well provided for. He had a secure income and a real opportunity to extend and widen his learning. Why in the world would he have wanted to forsake all that to take up a position totally unsuitable to his talent and potential. Deep down my feelings were telling me that God was preparing our Jacky for some as yet unknown but huge and mighty mission.
Sam has applied for the post of Undermaster at Westminster School and was very disappointed when he did not obtain it. The outcome of this was that he and Ursula moved to Devon. Here Sam soon became the Headmaster at Blundells' School in Tiverton. The school, their living accommodation and the grounds were delightfully located and Sam and his wife settled in quickly. He rapidly became very popular in the area and the number of pupils at the school greatly increased. Ursula was stalwart in supporting him, but then, so typical in our family, sorrow was soon with him. They lost their son when he was but twenty-one years old. We thanked God that they still had their lovely daughter, Phil, always a great favourite of her uncles and she was especially fond of Charles.
Our sadness increased as the household watched my dear man sinking nearer to his end on this earth. He looked so weak and frail and although he could scarce draw breath he still persisted in carrying on with his writings and would gasp out dictation to whoever was his helper at the time: some John or Charles and of course, Johnny Whitelamb until he went into seclusion at Wroot after Molly's death. The house was quiet now with only our daughter, Kezia, still at home. Patty had accepted her uncle's invitation to live with him in London. We all still dearly missed poor Molly, especially as she had seemed to be in heaven itself at Wroot Rectory. Hetty had taken her passing very badly and this aggravated her already unhappy experiences.
Next week in Part 20 - Samuel Passes On
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Weather for Epworth
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
