Susanna Wesley's Epworth Memoirs by Colin Ella - part 5 A Hubsand In Gaol
(Samuel Wesley's debts land him in Lincoln Castle Gaol) It was the local elections in 1705 and I feared that my husband's harsh treatment of some of his flock; his letter criticising the Dissenter's Educational System and his known support of the Tory Party might well incite more rebellion.
Axholme and Epworth especially, were hotbeds of electioneering. The concentrated and close knit insular Isle of Axholme contained more landowners than anywhere else and so it was a real battleground for the contestants.
Some folk thought that Samuel would support the Whigs but this showed how little they knew of my man for he was as true a Tory as you could have found in the length of Britain. However, what I had dreaded was not long in coming and there were ugly scenes down at St Andrew's - certainly such as our church had rarely known. A vicious mob hounded Samuel from the door of his own sanctuary calling him a rascal and a scoundrel and worse. It did not surprise me that the well known trouble maker, Robert Darwin, was one of the instigators.
Miraculously my fellow escaped unharmed and soon afterwards went off to Lincoln to record his vote. We were terrorised during the evening when a horde of rioters descended on the Rectory, banging drums, firing pistols, throwing firebrands, and general creating the most fearful pandemonium. For myself I had been taken to the house opposite to ensure safety for the imminent birth of our sixteenth child. The confinement left me weak and miserable before I drifted into unconsciousness. When I did come round I was shocked to find my new born baby dead beside me. I felt utterly desperate and would willingly have changed places with that tragic little mite. But my insensibility had been a blessing as it had kept me unaware of the terrifying events of that night which Emilia related later. My children had been frightened out of their wits by the rioters, windows ripped out, locks and catches broken off and it was a mercy we were spared from fire. The mob had damaged the garden and farmyard , stabbed some of our cattle and almosr severed one of hindlegs of our housedog. Such were our troubles in our early years at Epworth and many of these rioters were folk who had taken part in riots against the Dutch drainage engineers years earlier.
More troubles were to come for when Samuel did return from Lincoln he was very soon back there. Debt forever hung about him like a millstone and one of his creditors grew very angry about the thirty pounds Samuel owed him. He had my husband arrested and then he found himself a prisoner in Lincoln Castle Gaol. Typically he made the best of it and even enjoyed himself there as he was able to preach the gospel to his fellow prisoners.
Richard Darwin, who had so often tried to ruin us, met with an awful fate when he was returning from Bawtry, much the worse for drink. He fell from his horse and broke his neck, his face having ghastlt lacerations as a result of his being dragged over rough stones. Samuel saw the hand of God in this but I could not agree with him.
Samuel continued to relish his stay in gaol reckoning it was a welcome change from the trials and tribulations of his parish work. He found his cell a resting place, a haven of peace and quiet, even claiming he could do more good there than at Epworth. Every Sunday morning he preached to his cell mates and also took afternoon prayers..
Sometimes I felt guilty for wanting to see the Rectory better furnished and our offspring better clothed, but was induced to believe that it is easier to be content without riches than with them. I was happy to play my humble part if God was glorified and the best preparation for suffering was a regular and thorough performance of the daily round and common task.
Next week: Part 6 My Rectory School
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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
