Susanna Wesley's Epworth Memoirs - part 4 Separation
MY HUSBAND and I rarely saw eye to eye and in some ways we lived separate lives.
I got on with the kitchen, nursery, and house school whilst Samuel was immersed in his church affairs, parish visits and his writing.
However, over one particular difference of opinion I really did think I had lost Samuel.
I was a firm Jacobite and one morning Samuel asked me why I had not given my 'Amen' response when he was praying for King William.
I told him that I did not believe the Prince of Orange to be our rightful King.
My husband was incensed and retorted sharply, 'If that is the case you and I must part, for if we have two Kings we must have two beds!'
The outcome of this was that Samuel packed his bags and went off to London (he was the Convocation man for the Lincolnshire Diocese).
I was deeply shocked by his departure but I still stuck to my opinions.
Weeks passed and Samuel did not return so I wrote to Lady Yarborough of Snaith to seek her advice, as she herself was a supporter of clergymen who had not taken the Oath of Allegiance.
Lady Yarborough put my case to Dr George Hicks, a prominent churchman.
In the considerable correspondence I had with these two I told them of my distress and anguish over being left alone and tried to argue as to how unreasonably Samuel had behaved.
Folk at St Andrew's were beginning to wonder why their Leader was missing and this bothered my mind.
Eventually I just had to try and move the situation forward and I wrote to my husband and told him that I would accept the judgement of two referees regarding our difference.Samuel wanted none of this but Doctor Holmes fully backed my idea.
He suggested that I explain the matter to both the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Lincoln.Samuel did pay me a two day visit but he remained aloof and cold and when he did leave he told me that he would never see me again.
Now I really did feel that our marriage was over.I prayed long and earnestly that an answer would be found.
God answered my prayers for a clergyman friend eventually spoke to Samuel and although he severely criticised my own attitude and actions he somehow persuaded Samuel to return to me and make things up.
It had been a long and very trying time but I did not think our congregation at St Andrew's knew anything about this near divorce.
I still found my man's stubbornness and intransigence, fiery temper, oddity and sense of humour all hard to live with but he was my man, and I felt a deep spiritual love and respect for him.
Not long after his return on the 17th June, 1703, he got the son he had long desired.
We named him John Benjamin - our Jacky. Now we discovered a new found joy and Jacky's arrival strengthened our union and deepened our love for each other.
Next week in Part 5 - Samuel in Gaol
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
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
