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

Han. Milward, <strong>of</strong> Shawbury, d. March 22, 1753, aged 47
Mr. James Mason
Abigal Mason, d. Jan. 9, 1778
Jane Mason, d. Oct. 4, I772
Mary Mason, now Fownes, d. Feb. 6, 1788, aged 73
"THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH FORMERLY ASSEMBLING AT
YE KING'S HEAD, BUT UNITED WITH YE OTHER,
NOV. 5, 1741."
Susanna Brown, <strong>of</strong> Preston, d. Xov. 14, 1746, aged 75
Richard Berington, d. Feb. 16, 1747-8, aged 81
John Bromley, at London, d. Jan. 1747-8, aged 82
Widow Goddard, d. July, 1753, aged 81
Sarah Vaughan, <strong>of</strong> Edgboult, d. Jan. 1758, aged 89
Peter Morgan, senr., d. Jan. 12, 1741-2, aged 73
Elizabeth Griffith, d. May 13, 1743, aged 78
Job Orton, senr., d. Nov. 18, 1741, aged 52
Mary Orton, d. May 26, 1762, aged 76
James Quarrell, d. Jan. 25, 1765, aged 79
Martha Quarrell, d. Jan. 4, 1746-7, aged 7j
Thomas Gittins, d. Jan. 15, 1767
Hannah Gittins,
Left <strong>the</strong> Congregation in <strong>the</strong> High Street,
Mary Wall,
and gone to <strong>the</strong> New Meeting.
Brown,
Abigal Brown, New Moor, removed to Manchester
Peter Morgan, junr., <strong>of</strong> Watley, d. April 4, 1760
John Berington, removed, d. May 12, 1760
Peter Hughes, d. Dec. 13, 1742, aged 36
Samuel Hughes, d. July 29, 1765
Joseph Hughes, d. Aug. 28, 1748, aged 33
Theoda. Colley, d. Oct. 18, 1753
Peter Colley, removed to Worcester, d. April, 21, 1757
Richard Astley's biography appeared in <strong>the</strong> Christian Kefo~mer, 1855,
p. 265. He was much, and deservedly loved in Shrewsbury. His influence
was felt anlong <strong>the</strong> general population <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> place, so that his death, even
though he had for some time ceased to reside among <strong>the</strong>m, caused a general
expression <strong>of</strong> regret and concern. His funeral, for he was laid near his
sister in <strong>the</strong> grave-ground <strong>of</strong> St. Chad's, not far from this meeting-house-
was attended with some ra<strong>the</strong>r unusual expressions <strong>of</strong> regard. The clergy-
man <strong>of</strong> that parish closed his windows for <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day.
James Riddell McKee's early years were devoted to tuition. In 1833,
he left his native Ireland to occupy <strong>the</strong> position <strong>of</strong> assistant to Dr. Beard
in his school at Manchester. Subsequently he became partner in <strong>the</strong>
establishment, and for several years <strong>the</strong> connection with Dr. Beard was
maintained with mutual advantage, and was <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> a life-long friend-
ship between <strong>the</strong> two families. When circumstances led to <strong>the</strong> retirement
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two partners, McKee undertook <strong>the</strong> management <strong>of</strong> a large public
school at Tavistock, Devon, and for four or five years resided in that
pleasant town, engaged chiefly in his scholastic pursuits. But he seemed
to long for <strong>the</strong> especial work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ministry, and he returned to Man-
chester on an invitation to conduct Unitarian services at Pendlebury ; he
also gave private lessons in <strong>the</strong> family <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> late Mr. Aspinall Turner, as
well as in several o<strong>the</strong>r families and schools in <strong>the</strong> neighbourhood. In
1854, he was chosen minister <strong>of</strong> this society, where he remained nearly 20-
years. This he regarded as <strong>the</strong> happiest period <strong>of</strong> his life. He entered
heartily into <strong>the</strong> works <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> various philanthropic and educational institu-
tions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> toxvn. After his retirement, consequent upon advancing years,
he removed to London, where he lived till his death. His wife was <strong>the</strong>
only child <strong>of</strong> John Jeffery, minister at Billingshurst, <strong>the</strong> companion and
friend <strong>of</strong> Miss Harriet Martineau in her American travels, and to whose
sterling worth that noble woman, in her autobiography, bears a cordial
testimony.
Of Edward Myers and his ministry here, <strong>of</strong> his gracious presence and
well-nigh unique personality, <strong>of</strong> his intense sympathy with, and never-failing
encouragement to his younger brethren in <strong>the</strong> ministry, <strong>the</strong> author dare
not yet attempt to tell. What Mr. Myers was to him personally none will
ever fully know. God grant to him eternal rest, and let light perpetual
shine on him. As his successor here has truly said <strong>of</strong> him-
He was one who consecrated himself to <strong>the</strong> service <strong>of</strong> man, which is <strong>the</strong>
highest service <strong>of</strong> God. S
The register <strong>of</strong> births and baptisms, deposited in Somerset House, by
Richard Astley, covers <strong>the</strong> period, 1692 to 1836.