Midland Churches: A History of the Congregations on - General ...

succeeded Mr. Willetts at Dudley," &c. In <strong>the</strong> face <strong>of</strong> this direct reference,
and in <strong>the</strong> absence <strong>of</strong> any respecting Nathaniel Stokes being minister <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Old Meeting, <strong>the</strong> author feels no difficulty in dismissing him and in
saying he was not minister to this society.
The Stokes family must have continued <strong>the</strong>ir connection with <strong>the</strong>
meeting-house for many years, as <strong>the</strong> register <strong>of</strong> bilrials, in <strong>the</strong> ground
connected with it, amongst o<strong>the</strong>rs records that Joseph Stokes, <strong>of</strong> Dudley,
aged 21 years, died 4 January, 1815 ; Belljamin Stokes, <strong>of</strong> Dudley, died
21 May, buried 26 May, 1837; Fanny Stokes, <strong>of</strong> Dudley, aged 64, died
28 September, buried 2 October, 1857 ; whilst <strong>the</strong>re are numerous entries
in <strong>the</strong> baptismal register referring to families <strong>of</strong> this name.
James Hancox, who had ministered to <strong>the</strong> societies at Bloxham and
Milton, in Oxfordshire, from 1726, removed to Dudley in 1733 on <strong>the</strong>
occasion <strong>of</strong>-
his fa<strong>the</strong>r dying and leaving a wife and family, that he might be near <strong>the</strong>m
to assist his mo<strong>the</strong>r in carrying on his fa<strong>the</strong>r's busiiless for <strong>the</strong> benefit <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> family.*
He was ordained in Dudley, at <strong>the</strong> same time as Joseph Fownes, on
20 April, 1743, having been appointed minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society-ei<strong>the</strong>r as
assistant to or CO-pastor with blind Joseph Stokes-in 1733. He died on
27 September, 1769, aet. 67. His daughter, Anne, became <strong>the</strong> second wife
<strong>of</strong> Benjamin Carpenter.
One <strong>of</strong> Hancox's entries in <strong>the</strong> Register <strong>of</strong> Baptisms is to <strong>the</strong> effect
that Berzja~zi?~ Ha?-1-isou, Fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> above registered S~Y~/L Harrzj-on, 7e?as
baptized 14 April, 1745, it not bei?zg known He had not been baptized itz his
Irtfaan~y till aftey <strong>the</strong> Baptism <strong>of</strong> his child.
The silver chalices, still used by <strong>the</strong> worshippers, were given to <strong>the</strong>
society during his ministry in 1751 by "Mr. I.*F.*," most probably John
Finch, a succession <strong>of</strong> that name being prominent in <strong>the</strong> society from 1722
to 1840.
After a short vacancy, supplied by Mr. Tindall, William Denny Wood
was appointed minister in 1771, and held <strong>of</strong>fice until 1804, when he was
paralysed. Judging by <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> his entries in <strong>the</strong> Register <strong>of</strong> Bap-
tisms his ministry was an active one. It was also one which covered a
period <strong>of</strong> various notable events in <strong>the</strong> district. The year 1782 saw <strong>the</strong>
OLD MEETING-HOUSE, DUDLEY.