ENG-YORKS-BOLSTERSTONE-NEWSLETTER-L Archives

Archiver > ENG-YORKS-BOLSTERSTONE-NEWSLETTER > 2002-10 > 1036079625


From: "Jane Lachs" <>
Subject: [BOLSTERSTONE NEWS] SANDERSON - 'sprinkled by a Priest'
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 16:53:52 +0100


Resignations from Membership

Resignation from the Society tended to be by default. Generally, Friends
appeared to do all in their
power to prevent resignations usually by giving those concerned time in
which to consider their decision.
There are no real instances of formal resignations in the minute books of
the PM. The only case where the
parties indicated that they were no longer interested in being regarded as
members occured in 1782. This
concerned two of the sons and a daughter of John Sanderson. A brief sketch
of the family might prove
helpful in understanding how this situation arose.
The Sanderson family was one of the earliest in the vicinity of Penistone to
become convinced Quakers
during the seventeenth century. Since neither Penistone nor Midhope
possessed a meeting house the
Sandersons attended High Flatts. It is likely that they also held Meetings
for Worship at Judd Field and
possibly even Sheephouse when there was no PM. John Sanderson of Midhope was
probably the
wealthiest of the Quakers in the area during this period. His personal
subscription to the building of
Lumbroyd Meeting House in 1763 amounted to a very generous and sizeable £6
5s Od: by far the highest
individual donation. (1) This generous donation is easily understandable
considering the nearness and
convenience that the new Meeting House at Lumbroyd would provide to the
Sandersons living at
Midhope. Whilst he was alive his children diligently obeyed him in all
respects. There is no note of any
misconduct from them during his lifetime. However, their bond to the Society
must have developed into a
purely token one.

When John Sanderson died at least three of his children started to live the
kind of life
that was more typical of wealthy non-Quakers living in the area. A few brief
indications of this exist in the
minute books but it is not until the 11th month of 1782 that the case comes
to light when a deputation
from the Men's Meeting was sent to visit the two brothers (Joseph and Joshua
Sanderson) and another
one from the Women's Meeting to see the sister (Hannah). According to the
record they had for sometime
neglected the attendance of our Religious Meetings for Worship 'as well as
joined the people of another
Profession in their way and manner of Worship.' (2) Hannah Sanderson seems
to have particularly
offended Friends by being baptised or 'sprinkled by a Priest.'

It is doubtful that Friends expected to get the Sandersons back into the
fold. They had probably been
aware for sometime that the children's allegiance would not be very long
lasting after their father's death.
Nevertheless, they had to confirm the worst:
"friends have Visited Joseph, Joshua & Hannah Sanderson Children of the late
John Sanderson but met
with no satisfaction the sons expressing thay had no desire to be Continued
as members of Our Society... (3)"

Financial considerations apart, the loss of a family like the Sandersons
must have been deeply felt and
their motives noted. Quite possibly someone delivered ministry round about
this time, in one of the local
meetings, on the theme of the 'evils of wealth and its temptations to
worldly and vain pleasures. The
Sandersons became Methodists. Whatever the Sandersons' reasons, they had
their wish; their case went
to the next MM where their decision to leave was formally recognized.
(1) See Appendix [5]
(2) PMMB 1782
(3) Ibid


Note from the book "Plain Country Friends, The Quakers of Wooldale, High
Flatts and Midhope" page 45/46

Cheers Jane
PS
Hannah was "sprinkled by a priest" at Bolsterstone 6th June 1782 "dau. of
John SANDERSON of Upper Middop. Being adult & as she thinks fit for a
husband. Before she was a Quaker."
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.408 / Virus Database: 230 - Release Date: 24.10.2002

This thread: