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-1820 My Dear Brother Father cannot imagine why you should conclude that he has money. The money you brought him from Rochdale last half year he has laid out in beds and other furniture. But I will write to your cousin by this post and tell him that it was in consequence of his promise that we made the engagement for you to remove to Warrington; and I will tell him that I will engage to take the whole hundred pounds upon myself; and that if he should advance twenty more I pay that and pay him the whole in two years and a half( I mean my father will). You will come down and draw the rent and then you will see how matters go. I do not expect much money in my pocket the half year if any, so I suppose that the land will have to be payed for to James Ashworth's widow. But if there be sixty pounds to spare you shall have forty; and if only twenty you shall have to do the paying of your ----------. I write to Jonathan (there is a cousin Jonathan whom you will hear more of later) by this post, which I hope will make a favourable impression. We wish you well. I shall write to Joshua tomorrow but you must write and --- the day. Mary and I intend meeting you at Shipnell on horseback if you let us know the exact day. Father , Mother and sisters unite with me in love to you, and believe me to remain your affectionate sister Elizabeth Crowther Transcriber note: (Elizabeth also known as Betsey) To Rev. Geo. Tindale
plp 31-5-49 York May 29,1808 My Dear Brother I must preface this letter as you did your last,- viz., "I did not think of delaying to answer yours till now, but one thing or another has caused me to put it off". And when it came near the time meeting of the District I thought I would put it off till after that meeting. We begin our business at Hull, last Wednesday at 6 O’clock in the morning and finished before dinner on Thursday. Neither Mr. Bradford nor I was neither able or willing to act as Chairman. So we balloted for a Deputy Chairman and the vote was almost unanimous for myself. Then came ----------------- missing sentence. ------- further read that he has ended his life by an act of suicide! Your own prudence will digest what use you may make of this information. You know the state he was in. Hull, sat morn, May 28 Thank God we are all ------ well, and wife and children join me in love to you and yours. Yours affectionately, Jon. Crowther
Addressed to The Rev. George Tindale Methodist Chapel Boston Lincolnshire
The following text is a letter from Jonathan Crowther to Mr. Jabez Bunting, Methodist Chapel, Sheffield England. York, Spivey,1809 My Dear Brother, I received your communication by the hand of Mr Coater, The remittance was six pence too much. Mr Todd took only 2 pounds. I should have written sooner but that I have been two or three days out of my Circuit. As to the "Petitioning" or in other words, dictating for Preachers for the entering Methodist year, I cannot say much. It is a system I never could see the propriety of. I think it to be productive of more evils in the Methodist Connexion than anything, perhaps more than all things else. Nothing was said at our late quarterly meeting upon the subject. And I am not sure that anything will be said the next quarterly meeting. But, would you condescend to spend , were it only for a single year, upon the ground where Roman Emperors made their entry into the world, and their exit from this vale of tears (I mean you know, only some few) your way will be open. But Leeds or Liverpool, I suppose possess superior churches. It is feared that Kingswood School is under curse similar to that of the barren fig tree. As to preventing so large a number from attending the "Conference", I feel little anxiety, especially as it is to be submitted to the consideration of all concerned, juniors not excepted, at the district meetings. Perhaps we might enact, 1st that the decisions of the Districts Meetings, shall in general, be decisive upon all matters. 2.ndly, that no Preacher shall attend the Conference till he shall have travelled 7 years. 3.rdly That no Preacher shall attend the Conference more than once in two years till he shall have travelled 4 years. -And- do not smile- 4.thly That no Preacher shall attend the Conference at all, who accepts his appointments from Stewards, Trustees, etc. and who goes to the Conference chiefly to see that the decrees of these Juntas be registered.- I think there is neither Scripture nor reason to support the making the Hundred Supreme Governors". If it would not shake the settlement of the Chapels, I should be glad that the Hundred were abolished. And I shall gladly give my vote for adding another Hundred to them, or for fixing it, that every Preacher after travelling 4 years, or even 12 years, shall vote for the President & Secretary, and be in all things upon a level with the Hundred. "Our District", I think will meet in Whitsun-week. I think "the Portsmouth squabble" is not "terminated". My Wife & Mrs.. Farror join me in best respects. Your affectionate Brother, Jon Crowther Burslem Nov 8th, 1819 My Dear Brother; Your very intelligent and perspicuous letter of the 6th instant I have just received. It gives me pain without at all surprising me. It contains a statement such as I have been expecting to hear from several places in Scotland. I am decidedly of the opinion the ---- ought to embrace the opportunity which offers for selling the Chapel which was last built. I think your reasons in favour of so doing, to be very strong, satisfactory, and unanswerable. I think we need no further witness. As to my having power to authorize you to sell the Chapel, I hardly know what to say. We have no rule that I recollect, applicable to the case but Dr., Clarke, during the year of the his last Presidency, bought a Chapel for the Connexion without any order from the Conference, and drew 500 pounds out of the Book Room to pay for it. And though this was an unnecessary and unwise transaction, and though we lost more than a hundred pounds by it, yet he was never called to any account, nor censured by the Conference. I refer to the purchase of the old Chapel at Wednesburg. If therefore, the doing of which proved to be an evil was passed over without blame. I hope my sanctioning what I believe will prove to be a good thing, will not be censured. Indeed, I believe neither I nor you need to be afraid. Do the best you can, and as soon as you can. I approve of the sale; and all the authority of I am possessed, be it more or less, I send (?) you in furtherance of the disposal of the Chapel. I really think it providential that a Chapel should be wanted, in that neighbourhood, at this time, and that you have an opportunity of selling it. It is only a few days, since I received a letter from Mr Frazer, of Ayn, saying, that he received no quarterage and had to provide Coals and Candles, as well to --- ---, & support his family. PS I will thank you to preserve this letter, and bring it with you the Conference, as I have not time to copy it, and as there is a possibility, though I think no great probability ----- ------ ---. Rev Jonathan Crowther Written to Rev. John Burdsall Methodist Chapel Glasgow, Scotland
The following text is a letter from Jonathan Crowther to Mr. Samuel Bardsley, Methodist Preacher at Biddeford Devonshire. The date was not Xeroxed but from the context of the letter and the places mentioned I surmise the letter was written from his preaching circuit that he had in 1789 at Colchester in Southeastern England. Also, the envelope was stamped Colchester.-------- WRITTEN TO SAMUEL BARDSLEY- A PREACHER FRIEND ABOUT 1789 My Dear Brother You see tho' I am slow, yet I am quite sure. Indeed I think I never had so little inclination to writing letters as I have had this year, and indeed I but seldom so little time. I found this to be a dreary Circuit, tho' perhaps not quite so dreary as by some represented. One preacher is always employed in this town. ?Another between Manningtree (9 miles eastward) and Horwich (20 miles Eastward) and the third at Bury St Edmond's (30 miles North) and the Isle of Ely vc (fifty miles north). We keep one horse, and he that foes to the far corner of the Circuit always has him. We have had a trying kind of year thus far. On the night of the 19th of October, in less than an hour after I had dismissed the congregation, a fourth part of the roof of our Chapel here fell in. Has this happened an hour sooner, I and scores of my hearers might have ended our days together. But not a sparrow( and much less a house of prayer) can fall to the ground without the notice of our heavenly father. And I thought it remarkable that no creature was hurt by the fall but one poor sparrow that perished in the -----. It cracked several times while I was preaching and several pieces of plaster fell. Yet there was no confusion, nor was any person frightened away altho' we continued above an hour. We have got it completely repaired as well as the dwelling house which very much needed it. But when it will all be paid for I cannot tell. It is God's house, and it concerns him to look to the payment. Indeed his providential goodness has been remarkable already herein. Mrs... Hasper still continues out of her senses. She told me one day, "Her Father never beat her but once, and it was for fear Sammy Bardsley should kiss her." (reader please note that he is writing to Samuel Bardsley) She seems to have been both a good and sensible clever woman when she was in her right mind. She is at private lodgings. Her husband bears up under the affliction with great patience and fortitude. She would have lived in our dwelling house here, but tho't I and everybody else was -------------. We have had a kind of universal sifting thro' the Circuit, yew we have not laboured altogether in vain, and I hope we shall on some account leave the Circuit better than we found it. We have but little pomp and still less luxury in this Circuit. I have sometimes been ready almost to sigh when I have recollected how much better I have frequently been accommodated in Scotland, but I have had moderate health, tho' I have been rather poorly lately. If we are but where we ought to be, and enabled to please and glorify the God, it is enough. then we shall ere long be admitted to a place where there is rest, peace, and every possible enjoyment forever. the Lord, at any rate, tho't it should be thro; deep waters and hot fires, bring us safely thither. And who knows how near death and eternity may be! I beg you would not forget frequently to mention at the throne of grace, one who sincerely and cordially respects you. I hope you have had a comfortable, peaceable, prosperous year. May this blessings ever attend you. My brother Robert is in the Norwich Circuit in the room of Mr. Green who is gone home. My brother Timothy is but poorly in health, and his wife is afraid he is going into a consumption. but I hope God will hear prayer and prevent it. Brother Miller is a young, upright, zealous, plain, acceptable Preacher; studious and teachable. I shall be glad to hear from you, and if I think proper give my respects to Mrs... Fenwick, I am Your truly affectionate Jon. Crowther
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