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Gentleman's Magazine 1760 p.319
From Mr C--- of Lancaster to the Rev. Mr. B---.
Feb. 4, 1755.
SIR,
UPon my return hither, I wrote to Mr W--- of L---, the poor clergyman you mentioned to me, desiring he would send me a particular account of his curacy, and the number of his family, and from him I have just received the following answer. I also wrote to Mr C---, a clergyman who lives in the neighbourhood of Mr W---, to let me know Mr W---'s character, and how he behaved, &c. which he has done in the letter I here inclose. Mr C--- is a person of great worth and integrity, so that I can depend upon the truth of his letter. You will, I doubt not from these papers, be of opinion that Mr W--- is not unworthy the regard you have been pleased to shew him, and that he deserves encouragement.If I can give you any farther information in this affair, or can be in any way serviceable in paying Mr W--- what you are so kind to collect for him, I shall, with pleasure, observe any directions you shall give; for I know not a more deserving object than he is, though we have numbers of poor clergymen in these parts; nor a more charitabale office that a person can be employed in.
From Mr W---.
SIR,
Yours of the 16th instant was communicated to me by Mr C---, and I should have returned an immediate answer but the hand of providence then lying heavy upon an amiable pledge of conjugal endearment, hath since taken from me a promising girl, which the disconsolate mother too pensively laments the loss of, though we have yet eight living, all healthy hopeful children, whose names and ages are as follows. Zaccheus aged almost 18 years; Elizabeth, 16 years and 10 months; Mary 15 years; Moses 13 years and 3 months; Sarah 10 years and 3 months; Mabel 8 years and 3 months; William Tyson 3 years and 8 months; and Anne Esther one year and three months; besides Anne who died, [2] years and 6 months ago, and was then aged between 9 and 10, and Eleanor who died the 23rd instant January, aged 6 years and 10 months. Zaccheus the eldest child is now learning the trade of a tanner, and has two years and half of his apprenticeship to serve. The annual income of my chapel at present, as near as I can compute it, may amount to 17l. ten of which is paid in cash, viz. 5l. from the governors of the bounty of Queen Anne, and 5l. from W.P. Esq; of P---, out of the annual rents, he being lord of the manor, and 3l. from the several inhabitants of L--, settled upon their tenements as a rent charge, the house and gardens I value at 4l. yearly, and not worth more, and I believe the surplice fees and voluntary contributions one year with another may be worth 3l. but as the inhabitants are few in number, and the fees are very low, this last mentioned sum consists chiefly in free will offerings.
I am situated greatly to my satisfaction with regard to the conduct and behaviour of my auditory. who not only live in happy ignorance of the follies and vices of the age, but in mutual peace and good will one with another, and are seeminlgy (and I hope really too) sincere Christians, and sound members of the established church, not one dissenter of any denomination being amongst them all. I got to the value of 40l. for my wife's fortune, but had no real estate or cash of my own, being the youngest son of 12 children, born of obscure parents; and though my income has been but small, and my family large, yet by a providential blessing upon my own diligent endeavours, the kindness of friends, and a cheap country to live in, we have always had the necessaries of life. - By what I have written (which is a true and exact account to the best of my knowledge) I hope you will not think your favours to me out of the late Dr Stratford's effects quite miss-bestowed; for which I must ever gratefully own myself, Sir, your most obliged and most obedient humble servant,
R. W. Curate of L---.
To Mr C--- of Lancaster.
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