From James Gething in Coalbrookdale to Mary Tooth at the house of Henry Moore, Spitalfields Methodist Chapel, London. Tooth's sister [Rosamund] was so kind as to ride to [Coalbrookdale] to inform him of the 'Benevolent sermon'. Gething lost no time in consulting the trustees 'whether we could have the chapel then' - Gething has already mentioned to Tooth their preference for having sermons when the [building work on the] chapel is complete. The trustees have kindly consented to have the [sermons] as early as possible in September - 7th or 14th for example. They will also have the quarterly collection and the trustees' sermons - 'we shall have them by close [of September], must keep them at as proper a distance as we can'. Tooth should understand that the chapel will not be finished by then, but the 'cover' [roof] should be in place by the end of this month and the work so far done as to make for a degree of comfort [inside the building].
Tooth should engage [John or William] Radford if possible for the first or second Sunday in September - the committee is very desirous to have them [the sermons] as soon as possible.
Gething has something else to say but will defer that until he sees her. Reference is made to [James] Rosser.
Gething was sorry to hear that Tooth has been unwell.
In a postscript, he mentions that Miss Morris delivered an excellent sermon last Wednesday night at [Coalbrookdale] in the Quaker school room.
From Rosamund Tooth to Mary Tooth
Mary's letter arrived safely. Rosamund gave Mary's message and the shilling to George Loydon in [unreadable placename] on Sunday morning. Miscellaneous matters are discussed.
The Friday after Mary left, Mrs Griffiths arrived for Mary's instructions [regarding the class meeting] and said that she would write to Mary when she had seen the class the first time. Rosamund assumed therefore that Griffiths had written, but when she spoke to her next, Griffiths admitted that she had not as writing hurt her - by this time Rosamund had written three or four times. [The writing is very faded and difficult to read]. Reference is made to Mrs Paul and to Griffiths's supervision of Mary's class in her absence.
On Monday Mrs Hurd had a recurrence of the pains around her heart, so that Mr Fletcher said that she must be bled. She was much relieved by the bleeding and was at class yesterday morning. Miss Darnett[?] has met the Tuesday class every week. Reference is also made to the Wednesday class but Darnett is now confined to her house, so Mrs Parks[?] met them both this week. Mrs Parks is at Wolverhampton.
Reference is made to the death of an unnamed man. It is feared that there was little hope in his end - Mrs Paul saw him on the Thursday night but he would not speak to her. Sally Glover also told her that he responded to Mr Cooper in the same way. Mr Parks said that the man told George Glover that he did not doubt that the Lord would rescue[?] him. Reference is made to Mr Cooper's class meetings.
Last Monday morning, Rosamund paid Mrs Roland a visit - she was very pleased to see Rosamund and enquired after Mary. Roland also told her of some very painful times which she had passed through on account of Miss Roland and W. Rudde[?]. Apparently the girl is 'determined to come to nothing'. Roland's daughter visited Rosamund today with that sister of [unreadable name] who was with Miss Galton. She enquired what classes Mary had in Madeley.
They had the meeting last Friday in the [Madeley] Vicarage barn[?]. Miss Morris[?] spoke from Isaiah 40:11 - it was a very good meeting but Rosamund was sorry to see how unwell she was. Her exertions appeared far too much for her strength. Rosamund urged her to spend that night at Madeley, but she said that she could not.
Rosamund saw Mrs Thomason yesterday - she sends her love. Miss Welling[?] is staying for a few days at [Richard] Williams's as another 'place' [position] is in prospect. The napkins[?] which were used at Mrs Shotton's funeral were apparently stained[?] with [ie by] the coffin and will therefore be replaced.
On Sunday night Mary Kirkham gave birth to another boy. Rosamund saw her yesterday morning.
The violent storm which occurred just before Mary left, washed part of Mr Loyd's stable down. [The water] came into the house and reached the topmost stair. Miss Loyd was upstairs and was much alarmed. Her brother stood upon the wall and tried to save items but was washed into the River Severn - fortunately he was able to climb out unharmed.
Samuel Owens preached a very good sermon at Sunday noon from Isaiah. He did not visit as he and his wife were having tea with her mother. Last Monday evening [Edward] Sumner went to his preaching appointment - his text was "for me to live is Christ etc". 'I suppose he comes no more as I heard him bidding someone farewell& he said nothing of the kind to me, but I know he has asked Mr Evans to take next Monday night &he asked Michael Bailey, who replied let Mr Loxdale. No says Mr Evans, he preaches 3 times on Sunday for Mr [George] Russell & [two unreadable words] thats enough for HIM, then take it yourself then, Mr Evans declined saying he had rather take 2 Friday evenings than one Monday. I suppose it will be Mr Bailey…as he had no objection. Mr Cooper's text last night was 6 verse the 4 chapter of St James'.
Yesterday afternoon Rosamund had a visit from two or three of Mr Miller's daughters with friends from Wolverhampton, who called to see the room upstairs. Last Sunday week two persons called and the lady said that she had visited Madeley twenty-eight years before - she is travelling for the sake of her health. She said that Mary would not remember her, but showed to Rosamund a token of esteem which Mary had given to her - one of Mary's cuttings. The lady's first husband was called Cox and her present one is Mr Smith. [The rest of the letter is so faded as to be unreadable]
Notes
- John Radford (1784-1848) was born in Bristol and was converted under the ministry of the Wesleyan Henry Moore. He entered the itinerancy in 1807 and exercised an active circuit ministry of forty-one years in England and Wales. He died suddenly from cholera while on his way home from the Conference of 1848. Source: Minutes of Conference 1848
- William Radford (1779-1844) was converted by the preaching of the Methodist minister Joseph Benson and became a member of the Bristol Society in 1797. Radford was a member of a small group of young men who met for prayer and the distribution of religious tracts. He became a local preacher in 1800 and entered the itinerancy in 1803. Radford's active ministry of thirty years was spent in England and Wales. After superannuation due to ill health, he settled in Bristol. Source: Minutes of Conference 1844