Notes
- Mrs Norman (1695-1779) was born probably in Bristol into a prosperous family called Oxford. At the age of 21 she was married to a wealthy brick-maker. Norman and her husband were among the first Bristol Methodists and entertained Wesley and Whitefield at their home. When Wesley was refused access to the pulpits of Bristol's Anglican churches, he preached on a plot of land belonging to Mr Norman. When her husband died in 1744, Norman was left virtually destitute. From 1749, she lived with the family of the wealthy Methodist James Ireland of Brislington Hall. Source: Arminian Magazine 1789, pp. 240-245
- Thomas Maxfield (d. 1784) was born in Bristol. He was converted in 1739 by George Whitefield and acted as a sub-pastor to Wesley before moving to London where he was appointed a band leader at the Foundery. In 1741 he became the first Methodist lay-preacher and for many years remained high in Wesley's estimation. Maxfield was ordained into the Church of England for the purpose of being better able to help Wesley as his chief assistant in London. He finally broke away from the Methodists in 1763 over his sympathy for the views of the visionary George Bell. There was some talk of reunion in later years and John Wesley preached in Maxfield's independent chapel. Despite this reapproachment the division between them remained permanent. Source: Dictionary of Evangelical Biography 1739-1860, edited by Donald M. Lewis (1995), Dictionary of National Biography and Encyclopedia of World Methodism (1974)
From Bristol to Sarah Ryan. Ryan’s letter was received in good time – Sister Norman was lamenting Ryan’s departure. Spiritual matters are discussed in detail. Johnson has returned to Bristol where she found that the Lord has carried on his work ‘sweetly’. ‘Your dear Hannah is come to Jordan’s banks, rivers of love overflow her soul. Ye Lord has entered her at Kingswood on Sunday last & then so filled her yt she that she breaks out in prais & thankgiving…Molly [Mary] Davis is much on ye same state. She sais she fells nothing in her heart but love…’ Spiritual matters are further discussed. Molly [Mary] Warren has received the ‘seal’ and speaks the new language while Chrissy Smith is wonderfully blessed. The Lord is wonderfully present in their meetings. Johnson thinks that Sister Norman grows ‘mightily’. Johnson read out Ryan’s letter out among the little ones and they all rejoiced. Brother Biggs’s letter also arrived and Johnson sends her love to him and to Thomas Maxfield and his wife. Sisters Furly and White have gone but is no matter, for as Hannah says, they have the Lord.