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

Coleridge, <strong>the</strong> poet, makes mention in one <strong>of</strong> his letters* <strong>of</strong> Dr.
Toulmin :-
Monday, 14 May, 1798 [Stowey]. I suppose you must have heard that his
(Dr. Toulmin's) daughter, in a melancholy derangement, suffered herself to
be swallowed up by <strong>the</strong> tide on <strong>the</strong> sea coast, between Sidmouth and Bere.
These events cut cruelly into <strong>the</strong> hearts <strong>of</strong> old men ; but <strong>the</strong> good Dr. Toul-
min bears it like <strong>the</strong> true practical Christian-<strong>the</strong>re is indeed a tear in his
eye, but that eye is lifted up to <strong>the</strong> Heavenly Fa<strong>the</strong>r.
Mr. Kentish was incapacitated from preaching for some years before
his death. He thought <strong>of</strong> resigning in 1832, but was prevailed upon by
<strong>the</strong> congregation not to do so.
' Of him and his successors it is needless to say anything here, <strong>the</strong>ir lives
are known to most readers, and <strong>the</strong>ir praise is in all <strong>the</strong> churches.
Down to 1867 <strong>the</strong> ministers here were 'CO-pastors.' Mr. Nicholson was
called Assistant Minister, and Mr. Crossley was Dr. Crosskey's colleague.
The communion-'plate consists <strong>of</strong> eight pieces :-Chalices (4), silver,
634511. tall, bell, stem, foot, two handles. London date letter, 1782-83.
Maker, H.B., in shield. Bought by minute <strong>of</strong> Vestry, 18 November, 1782.
Patens (4), silver-plated on copper, shelving rim gin. wide, flat centre
6gin. diameter ; all stand on 3 round knobs sin. tall. Makers W. & R. I
i.e.. Wilmot & Roberts. There are no flagons now, but it is said that
formerly <strong>the</strong>re were two. In November, 1781, <strong>the</strong> Vestry <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New
Meeting proposed to purchase a "sett <strong>of</strong> plated cupps and flaggons." Minute
<strong>of</strong> Vestry, 5 November, 1781. Alms dishes (4)) 1oj4in. diameter, soup plate
form. Makers, Yg:. i.e., Yates, Birch & Spooner.
The Registers, which I saw in December, 1897, are :-
I. Baptisms
Births ..
11. Baptisms
Deaths ..
111. Baptisms
IV. Baptisms . . .
V. Births and Baptisms
S..
1735-1751
1719
1747-1775
~ot dated
1775-1794
1794- 1836
. . . I 836- I 840
*Unpublished letters from Samuel Taylor Coleridge to Rev. John Prior Estlin ; com
municated by Henry Arthur Bright to Philobiblon Society. Miscellanies, vol. xv., pp.
73, 74.
These two entries are interesting :-
Job Orton, son <strong>of</strong> _/OS@~ and' Elizabeth Smith, born September 12th,
1744, and baptized October ~st, 1744, by me,
Sanz. Bourn.
Orto~z, son <strong>of</strong> _/oseph and Elizabeth St~zifi, born June 23, 1749, baptized
_/z~dy 11, 1749, by me,
Job Orton.
- SILLITOE, min. Birmingham, Lower Meeting, Deritend, 1692-1704?, daughter ((l. 1732)
<strong>of</strong> William Fincher, ej. from Wednesbury, 1662.
d 1704? early in life.
cf. Wreford ; Beale, p. 31.
THOMAS PICKARD, b. about 1682, at Alcester; ed. Stratford-on-Avon ; ord. 19 September,
I705 ; min. Birmingham, Lower Meeting, 1705-1732 ; New Meeting, Moor Street,
1732-1747 ; Coseley, 1732-1747.
c$ Toulmin's Bourn, p. 270.
SAMUEL BOURN, b. 1689, at Calne ; ed. Manchester, by James Coningham, M.A., 1707-
I709 ; min. Crook, nr. Kendal, 171 1-1720 ; Tunley, 1720-1727 ; Chorley, 1728-1732 ;
Birmingham, New Meeting, 1732-1754 ; Coseley, 1732-1754 ; 712. (1712) Hannah (d.
1768), daughter <strong>of</strong> - Harrison <strong>of</strong> Kendal ; Issue, Joseph, Samuel, Abraham, Benjamin,
Daniel, Miles, John, and two o<strong>the</strong>rs d. young.
d. 22 March, 1754.
c$ Dic. Nut. Biog. ; Recog,d, p. 35.
SAMUEL BLYTH, b. 31 January, 1718-9, at Norton Lees, Derbyshire ; ed. Findern Academy,
by Dr. Latham, -2 April, 1741 ; min. Shrewsbury, te712porn7-jl, April-October, 1741 ;
Frome, 1743-1747 ; Birmingham, New Meeting, 1717-1791 ; Coseley, 1747-1761 ; nz.
Sarah (d. 1780).
d. 28 December, 1796 ; bur. Birmingham, Old Meeting Yard, and removed, 1882,
to Witton Cemetery.
cf; Tombstone in Witton, Toulmin's Bourn, p. 273 ; Wreford, p. 69 ; Beale, p. 52.
WILLIAM HAWKES, b. 1731, in Deritend, parish <strong>of</strong> Aston ; ed. Findern Academy, by Dr.
Latham; min. Birmingham, New Meeting, 1754-1780; Coseley, 1754-1761 ; Issue,
William (min. Manchester, Moseley Street, 1789-I~ZO), daughter (m. Joseph Smith),
Thomas Lakin (d. 1820).
d. 5 April, 1796 ; bur. Aston Churchyard.
cf. M.R., 1809, p. 659 ; Wreford, p. 71.
JOSEPH PRIESTLEY,
b. 13 March, 1733, at Fieldhead, parish <strong>of</strong> Birstall, Yorks. ; ed.
Daventry Academy, by Rev. Caleb Ashworth, D.D., 1751-1755 ; LL.D., Edin., q
December, 1764 ; ord. 18 May, 1762, at Warrington ; min. Needham Market, Septem-
ber, 1755-1758 ; Nantwich, Hospital Street, May, 1758-September, 1761 ; Leeds, Mill