THE Life Death TRAVELS AND SUFFERINGS OF Robert VVidders OF KELLET in LANCASHIRE WHO Was one of the Lords Worthies together with several Testimonies of his Neighbours and Friends concerning him LONDON Printed in the Year 1688. A Short Testimony of the Life Travels Sufferings and Death of that Faithful Servant of the Lord Robert Widders WHo was Born in Vpper-Kellet in Lancashire of honest substantial Parentage who was a Seeker after the Lord and the knowledge of his way and wandred from Mountain to Hill but could find no rest nor satisfaction to my Soul till it pleased the Lord God that in the year 1652. Dear George Fox came into these parts who informed my mind and turned me to the Light of Christ Jesus in my inward parts which was comfort to me that had long sat in darkness and so I was convinced of Gods pure eternal Truth And in the year 1653. I and George Fox and James Lancaster passed into Cumberland where I and James Lancaster went to Emelton Steeple-house (1) Steeple-House and I spoke to the Priest and People in publique and charged them in the presence of God that if any of them could tell what would become of their Souls if they should be cut off that present let them then speak but never a one of them durst open their Mouthes Then the next First Day (2) Steeple-House I was moved to go to Coldbeck Steeple-house where I spoke to Priest Hutton when he was in his High-place And the rude people his Hearers did throw me down among the Seats and dragged and trailed me forth into the Yard and threw me down upon the Ground and punshed and beat me till the blood gushed out at my mouth and I lay for dead some time But a woman took pity and held up my head till my breath and life came to me again as some said that stood by Ever blessed be the Lord God who upheld and strengthened me by his eternal power that I was not dismayed nor discouraged For on the same day in the afternoon I went seven Miles to Ackton Steeple house (3) Steeple-House where I spoke to Priest Nicholls of Ackton in his High-place and said Come down thou Deceiver thou enemy of Christ the hand of the Lord is against thee And one William Brisco of Crofton then present a Justice commanded the Constables to secure me and after examined me in the Priests House and the Priest Nicholls flattered and fawned upon me And I told him The Spirit of Persecution lodged in him he said Nay he was no such man. Then presently after he said to the Justice I had stoln my Horse and that he could find in his heart to be my Executioner with his own hands Then I told him again Did not I say unto thee That the Spirit of Persecution lodged in thee So the said Justice Brisco made a Warrant to send me to Carlile Goal and after he had given the Warrant to the Constable he called me before him again and asked me by what Authority or Power I came to Seduce and bewitch People I told him I came not to Seduce and bewitch People but I came in that Power which shall make thee and all the Powers of the Earth bend and bow before it to wit the mighty Power of God. And as I spake these words from the word the Terrour and Dread of God took hold upon him and smâ—te his heart Then he called for his Warrant again out of the Constables hand and caused the Constable to put me on to a Moor near Night So the Lord delivered me at that time But not long after was I moved of the Lord to go to the said Ackton-Steeple House again where the said Justice Brisco had Power to send me to the Common-Goal at Carlile (1) Prison where I didly in the Dungeon among Thieves a long time and never came out Night nor Day till I was released Then afterwards I went to Lamplough Steeple-House and spoke to the Priest (4) Steeple-House and People and they were very Rude and tore the Hair off my Head and rent my Coat And in the Afternoon the same Day I went to another Steeple House two Miles from thence (5) Steeple-House and spoke to the Priest but he went away and would not stay Afterward I was with G. (6) Steeple-House F. in Scotland and went there to a Steeple-House called New Munckland Likewise as I came back I was at a Steeple House in Northumberland (7) Steeple-House and there spoke to the People And one Henry Harbuttle and his Wife were Convinced that Day And in Bishoprick I was at several Steeple-Houses And in Bishopaukland I speaking thorow the Town Several Steeple-Houses the People stoned me with Stones and bruised my Head very Sore And likewise in York-shire where particularly I was at a Steeple-House near Skipton and spoke to Priest Webster and bid him come down thou Inchanter for he was a false Man for he had been partly convinced and turned back again Simon Magus like I also spoke to the people and to one Justice Coats a moderate man then being present And I directed them to the Word of God in the heart which divided between the precious and the vile And then I went to a Moor side where a few Friends were gathered together and I sat down among them and it was immediately revealed to me that the said Justice Coats would send for me And presently there came many Horse men and Foot and said I must go before the Justice who examined me and said I had broken the Law in disturbing the Minister and People and he might send me to Gaol at York Castle I Answered Send me to York Castle if thou durst for to that of God in thy Conscience am I made manifest Then said he I neither dare nor will So took me by the Hand and told me I might take my own time And so the Lord preserved and delivered me for which I praise his Holy Name And also I was at several Steeple Houses in Lancashire as Warton Halton Kellet and Arkholm Chapel Lancasâ—ire Steeple-House where at Arkholm the People were like to Fight and I standing in the Chapel Door held up my Hand and spoke to the Priest to come forth and take up the People they will needs Fight they being in the Dogs Nature And at the Assize time at Lancaster I went to the Steeple House and spoke to the Priest whilst he was Preaching before the Judges and the Priest was all in a Fright and Smitten and broke Up and the People in a hast hurried out So the Lord God everlastingly Delivered Kept and Preserved me by his Everlasting Power in all my Travels and Exercises of this kind Blessed be his Holy Glorious Name for ever Here followeth a Breviate of the Heads of the great and sore Sufferings of this Faithful follower of the Lord Robert Widders both in Body and
over the Houshold of God. And against the changable Priesthood as seeing to the end thereof to the bringing in of the better hope whereby all them that believe are brought nigh unto God and for the holding of his Testimony with a constant mind he was exposed to great Sufferings but through the assistance of the Almighty God of Jacob and the putting on of the Heavenly Armour he was enabled to pass thorow them all like a valiant man for which everlastinglâ— blessed and praised be the Name of the holy pure powerful God saith my Soul. He was a man that was given up to obey the Lord in what he required of him neither would he reason with flesh and blood but had his eye directed by the Lord to the recompence of the heavenly Reward which I believe was more to him than all the fading World. Oh the remembrance of his Spirit and the coming up of the same in the endless life doth often tender my heart In the time of his weakness of Body he was very patient and often blessing and prasing the Name of the Lord for his favours and mercy to him through Christ Jesus And having been in a weak Fit he said Miâ—e eye beholds Jerusalem a quiet-Habitation into the possession whereof it is the belief of my heart God had gathered him as one of the number of his Faithful Disciples and Followers to rest with him in eternal blessedness for ever and evermore Amen and Amen saith my Soul Thomas Widders My Father was about 68 years old when he deceased at his House in Over Kellet who was Convinced and owned the Truth above 34 years who died the 20th of the First Month 1686. The Testimony of Margaret Fox concerning Robert Widders I Have a Real and true Testimony in my heart to bear for my dear Friend and Brother Robert Widders who was a Faithful Servant of the Lord and a good Souldier under the Banner of Jesus Christ in his Day he never did shrink nor staâ—â—ed aside in no scrive not sufferings the Lord suffered him to be exercised in I have known him and been conversant with him Thirty four years and we were made partakers of the eternal Truth near together in the beginning of the infancy of Truth among us now in out Age when the Morning Stars Sang together He was called forth to the service of the Lord early in this glorious Day that hath ever since shined upon us glory be to the Son of Righteousness for ever He went forth in the power and demonstration of the Spirit and turned many unto God early in his Day He was of a quick understanding and the Gift of the Spirit of discerning was plentifully bestowed upon him And tho he was not very much in Declaration yet I know and many also can bear Witness and Testimony that his very presence and countenance and eye was refreshment and comfort unto them and that the witness of God in their hearts would have answered his appearance the power of the Lord was so quick and lively in him What I write is Sealed in my heart to be true He was a dear and a faithful Brother to me and to my Children in all our Tryals and Sufferings It is too much for me to write here what comfort strength and assistance he hath been to me and mine both when we were in Prison and out of Prison he would not have failed to come to see us night or day over two dangerous Sands if it had been in the deep of Winter many a time hath he done so of his own accord and for the most part I have been sensible of his coming before he came so near and dear he was unto me But what shall I say his Life and all that ever he had was given up freely to the Lord and his service I believe he never neglected any service of the Lord if it was made known unto him either in England or Scotland or America beyond the Seas He left his Wife and Family and took his Life in his hand and went Joyfully to the service of the Lord. And when he went first forth into Cumberland and thereawaies he was beaten and stoned and knocked down O! the Imprisonments and cold Winters that he passed thorow so that his body was so starved that he never quite recovered while he lived He gave his back freely to the Smiter upon every occasion and now in the latterend of his daies the Tythe-mongers fell upon his outward Estate and swept away many of his Goods and when he had a little more together the Tythe-monger and the Informers came again and fetched it away so that in the latter end of his daies his Sufferings were great through the Spoilers who suffered the spoiling of his Goods joyfully for Christs sake So that this good Man hath gone thorow many sorts of sufferings and now he is gone to his Rest and his Father for whom he hath suffered where he certainly receiveth an eternal Reward with a Well done good and faithful Servant enter thou into the Joy of the Lord. I was with him in his sickness and he was as patient as a Lamb tho he could take little food except such as he could drink so he passed quietly and patiently away and the Lord dealt gently and kindly with him and he is now in everlasting bliss and felicity with the eternal God whom he served and suffered for M. F. Sarah Bachouse her Testimony of Robert Widders THis Testimony did arise in me in tenderness and brokenness of Spirit concerning our dear Friend Robert Widders who hath laid down his head in peace with the Lord. He was a man sincere for God and did bear a faithful Testimony for him to the end of his daies Sarah Bachouse Alice Hugginson her Testimony concerning Robert Widders THis Testimony arises in my heart as a following stream and issues out to the melting of my Spirit and the refreshing of my Soul with the tendering love of God in the remembrance of my dear Friend and faithful Brother Robert Widders who in his life time amongst us was a good Example and pattern of holy life in and with whom I have often been refreshed and my heart overcome with the overcomings of the dear love of God to my Soul so that I can say dear Robert thou art from us gone surely for ever to live with the eternal One in Joy and Peace for evermore Oh the heart-breaking tendering love that springs a new and fresh in me in the remembrance of him often refresheth my Soul being satisfied that his Memorial in the Truth will never die nor wear out Alice Hugginson Anne Camm her Testimony concerning Robert Widders I Feel a Concern upon my Spirit to write a few lines concerning my Dear deceased Friend and Brother Robert Widders who was a Man that I dearly loved and honoured in the Truth for surely he was worthy being Faithful in his day and Valiant for the Lord and his blessed Truth I
with them is and ever will be of blessed Memory having served out his Generation and attained to a good old Age and the honorable Gray Hairs is gathered to Rest in endless Gâ—ory Amen Thomas Camm Cammsgill 6 of 4 Mo. 1687. William Hugginson his Testimony of the Life and Death of that ancient Friend and faithful Brother in the Truth as it is in Jesus Robert Widders I having had good experience and knowledge of him near Forty Years can do no less than give a short account of his Godly Life and holy Conversation he had amongst us surely he was a Man of a noble Spirit indued with a large wisdom in Heavenly things He had also a deep discerning of the Spirits of men so knew right well how to speak to their condition and that in a right Season his words being in the Lise and Power he hath left many living witnesses to speak forth the same And he was a good example in times of Tryals and Sufferings both in Body and Goods amongst us for he had a large share of both as doth appear in his own Testimony of Sufferings before written only this I can say being of the same Meeting with him and very intimate and open hearted in the things of God and well knew his care and diligence both in our quarterly monthly and particular Meetings and more especially in our great suffering time by the Informers His advice was to me and that very tenderly as one said that he became Eyes to the Blind and Legs to the Lame and many precious Exhortations proceeded out of his mouth to the refreshing and comforting of the lowest Member or hindermost of the Flook and Heritage of God. He was so tenderly affectioned that his very Life was given up to serve the Lord in his day to strengthen and to stir up the pure Spirit of God in the very lowest member so that I was and am sensible that he answered the mind and will of God and did that which was right in his Sight and laid down his Head in peace with him And now the remembrance of that great and dear love that he had to our Family often breaks my Heart into tenderenss and refresheth my Soul so that I can say my Family misseth him But to the Almighty God we must all submit to whom be Glory and praise for evermore Amen And now dear Robert thou art gone surely living with the Eternal one in that heavenly mansion of Rest and peace for evermore Amen William Hugginson Thomas Dockrey his Testimony concerning Robert Widders AS for our faithful Friend and Servant of the Lord Robert Widders He was called early of the day of God when it pleased him to visit his Seed in the North of England who in the year 1652. sent his faithful Minister and joyful Ambassadour G. F. with others to declare his Name and his Truth and his Gospel and the way of Peace Life and Salvation by Jesus Christ which indeed was the greatest joy and satisfaction to many a Soul in these parts that ever they met with who had been seeking after the Lord his peace power and presence which now many hath found and lived in and hath finished their time and course here to the laying down of their Heads in peace with God to whom be praise for ever Robert Widders owned the Truth above 34 years he was a Man zealous of mind and fervent in Spirit and true in Heart to serve the Lord God faithfully all his days after he was turned to the Lord and to his eternal Truth He was steadfast in Faith and of a sound judgment and deep discerning who visited many in Sickness of body and them that were in trouble of Conscience and had a true discerning of their spiritual conditions and could have spoken a word in season sutable to them And to those that were innocent and truly desirous after good he was loving and tender and of a chearful Countenance But to the Hypocrites and false in Heart he was sharp and threshing having the Spirit of Judgment so that his Spirit might often have been known by his Countenance But he greatly loved Unity amongst Brethren in the Spirit and power of the Lord God. And he was one that chosed rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of Sin and of this world for a season For as it may be seen before in this little Book he was a great Sufferer both in Imprisonment and spoiling of Goods For his Testimony to the Truth and for keeping his Conscience clear he was freely given up and faithful and true in and thorow them all well knowing that the Doctrine of Jesus was and is true Blessed are these that suffer Persecution for Righteousness sake theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven and had rather have suffered much than that the Lord and his holy Truth should be dishonoured or his people evil spoken of And now he hath finished his course and kept the Faith having lived in the Truth and dyed in the Lord Aged about sixty eight years and blessed are such for they Rest from their Labour and their Works follow them And he is gone as to his natural Life but his Spirit and Life spiritually yet remaineth and lives as He that believeth in me said Jesus hath everlasting Life And this is the will of him that sent me That every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting Life and I will raise him up at the last day And he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die And the Saints in the Apostles days had a Life hid with Christ in God who were come to the Spirits of just men made perfect to the general assembly and Church of the first-born whose Names are written in Heaven And to God the judge of all to whom all must give account and who is the just rewarder of all according to their deeds done in the Body be they good or evil And we that yet remain in the Body God Almighty keep and preserve us faithful and true to him to his Glory to the end of our days and to our eternal Peace and Felicity Amen Thomas Dockrey Thomas Jackson his Testimony of Robert Widders THis Testimony I have to give concerning our dear and faithful Friend Robert Widders He was a zealous Man and sincere for God in his day and servent in Spirit always ready and willing to serve the Lord wholly resigned thereunto in Spirit and Body and Estate and his Travels Exercises Tryals and Sufferings doth certifie ever since he was called into the work of the Lord and he was called early and indured the heat of the day And after I came into acquaintance and fellowship with him he was a Strength and Comfort to me for which I have cause to magnifie the Lord on his behalf for I was sensible of his labour of Love and care in the Church of God that it must be preserved in Unity as
one Body of which Jesus Christ is head and that it might be presented without spot or wrinkle or any such thing unto God the Father He was a good example and adorned his profession with a good Conversation which is the substantial part of Religion He was one of the Valiants in Isruel whose Bow abode in strength and carried perfectly to the mark his Bow was bent against Hypocrifie and Deceit and Unrighteousness his Feet was shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace But prepared and ready to trample upon that which would have risen in opposition to the Life and power of Godliness though never so fair a shew he was of a good discerning and found in judgment his Countenance very amiable to those that were faithful to God and his Truth But terrible to the workers of Iniquity his deportment was Grace and Comely I had a reverent esteem of him in my Heart being one of the same Meeting with him he is often fresh in my remembrance for I have often been refreshed with his presence And altho his Body be removed from us yet his memorial lives with us and is worthy to be recorded to future Ages that by the Foot steps of the Flock of Christ's Companions many who make a true enquity after the beloved of their Soul may come into the fold of Rest and lay down their Heads in everlasting peace as he hath done when time here shall be no more Thomas Jackson Robert Hubbersty his Testimony concerning Robert Widders THis loving Testimony I have to bear for our ancient and well beloved Friend and Brother Robert Widders who indeed was a very Fatherly man amongst us for so I can truly call him in respect of his Godly care and unseâ—gned love he had unto the Lords Children and People for indeed he was one of the Lords Valiants who ventured his life freely for the Captain of his Salvation and was never weary nor fainted in his service that he required on him tho he went many times as with his life in his Hand to many Steeple-houses and spoke the word of the Lord faithfully both to Priests and People who often recieved great abuses from them and castings into Prisons But blessed be the Lord for ever more who gave him courage and boldness and made him of an undanted Spirit that he grew more and more valiant for the Lord and did bear the Burthen in the heat of the day and passed thorow great Sufferings both in Body Prisons and Goods for bearing his faithful Testimony to the Truth and for keeping his Conscience clear in the sight of God. But this good man indured all with great patience constancy and chearfulness Dear Robert the remembrance of thee refresheth my Soul for thou ever preferred the Lords business before thine own and was very faithful and valiant for him and never lost an Inch of Ground He was a Man of a quick sight spiritually of good discerning and sound judgment I speak my own experience of him and as I took his Counsel it always wrought to a good effect He was one that truly feared the Lord his delight was in obeying of him who taught him to live a Godly life in this evil World and hath made his latter end everlastingly blessed And now dear Robert thou hast been an upright man and hath followed the Lord fully and hath received the Answer of a good and faithful Servant and is entered into the joy of the Lord to reign with him in Glory out of the reach of all the Persecutors and greedy Informers But certainly the Lord will plead with them in Judgment who will reward all according to their deeds done in the Body and out of the Body be they good or evil Robert Hubbersty John Hudson his Testimony of Robert Widders THE Testimony that I have to bear for our dear Friend Robert Widders he was a Man of a Noble and discerning Spirit and very weighty in judgment he was tender of the young in the Truth and if any walked disorderly he was ready to labour with them for their good by exhorting them and would have dealt plainly with all people and would have said that was the purest love that dealt plainest and if any was weak and had a tenderness in them he was kind to such and would have admonished them to mind the Lord and he would give them strength over the Enemy yea he was a Man that was valiant for the Lord and his Truth as his life and Sufferings does demonstrate as by Imprisonments and spoiling of his Goods for Tithes and by the Informers But in them all still was noble and chearful and exhorting Friends to be faithful and trust the Lord with all who was a strength to me in the time of my Sufferings when the Informers followed us very hotly both week-days and other Meetings dear Robert was very constant tho weakly of Body and incouraged Friends to be faithful to the Lord and diligent to their Meetings and the Lord in mercy did strengthen us and made us willing to give up for his Name and Truth-sake and the Lord hath given us peace therein And tho dear Robert suffered much by the Tythe-mongers and Informers yet he was still Noble Patient and chearful who was so good an Example as is worthy to be had in Remembrance And tho he be removed outwardly to endless Rest with the Lord yet his Memorial of good Savour lives with us John Hudson The Testimony of John Beakbayne concerning Robert Widders THis Testimony I have to bear He was a man quick spirited and of a chearful Countenance and when the Messengers of the Truth came among us he was one with the first in these parts that received them and their Testimony which he hath faithfully kept and holden even to the last of his daies He was sharp in Reproof gentle in Admonition his Bow abode in strength he was as a sharp Sword to Deceit and Hypocrisie but as Balm and Oyl to help the Tender and afflicted in Spirit about spiritual things I being newly Convinced of the Truth he was ready to give good Advice to me and told me as concerning the Work of Truth That there was nothing got but through Judgment which then I knew little of but since hath found it the way to Life and Mercy I have been Prisoner with him several times at Lancaster and his chearful Countenance and good Example and Advice to Friends alwaies Ministred strength and comfort He was as an Elder and his presence was encouraging And tho he be gone as to the outward man yet his Life and Spirit is in our Remembrance His Sufferings were great yet he never did shrink what ever Storm or Tempest came but followed Christ Jesus his Captain through sufferings patiently and hath obtained an eternal Reward where the Spoilers cannot come John Beakbayne Robert Barrow his Testimony of Robert Widders O It is freshly in my mind the many comfortable daies and sexsons of Love
that we have had together in the enjoyment of God's Power and Presence in our Spiritual exercise from time to time Within this 34 years since 〈◊〉 Lord our God brought 〈◊〉 â—o believe in his Nâ—me and maâ—◠〈…〉 whereby Redemption from the evil of the World is known and the freeing vertue of the eternal Truth witnessed And when I consider his sincerity and-zeal he was alwaies concerned for the Testimony of Jesus for the promoting of the glorious Gospel Worship and for the good of the Brotherhood in which heavenly exercise the Lord did endue him with wisdom and gave him a discerning eye and the Spirit of a sound mind and true judgment in the Authority and Dominion of which he was made bold and valiant for the Truth of God upon earth and therein was a terror to Evil-doers where eâ—er he came of all sorts as Priests hypocritical Professors and profane or Will-worshippers of any kind And if any had been overtaken with a fault as the Apostle said he would have endeavoured to have restored them with the Spirit of Meekness good Advice and sound Judgment and he would have said our God hath put us upon a Spiritual Travel and ought not to leave a Hoof in Egypt he was a a strength and encourager to the Faithful And as concerning his Travels in godly Zeal for the Truths sake both in England Scotland and some parts of America tho his Gift was not much in Declaration yet he had the word of Wisdom discerning and sound Judgment good Advice and Admonition to Friends and for the establishing them in the Faith and Truth of God where ever he came and herein the Lord prospered his Work and labour of Love in his service And he was faithful in his Testimony against Tythes the Hirling Priests and Impropriators and was a great sufferer by them And was faithful and zealous for meeting to Worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth as Christ Jesus set it up above sixteen hundred years since tho for standing his Testimony herein He was a Sufferer but in all these exercises he was valiant and stedfast and the Lord God did bear up his head and through the enjoyment of Gods power and presence he was content in every condition of a chearful mind and good example And when weakness of Body attended him and the time of his departure drew hear his love to God and good will to his Brethren filled his heart with tenderness and heavenly comfort in the feeling sence of which I with other Friends being present was made glad in the Lord on his behalf for he talked with me very sensibly within unto hours of his departing at which time I was assured he was Reodtemed from the Earth and quit of all Worldly trouble and care and in the enjoyment of the seasoning Grace and sanctifying power of God he hath ceased from his Labour and left a good savour behind him and laid down his Head in peace This being the sence and Testimony of one of his old acquaintance the blessed Truth and Unity of the peaceable Spirit of Life Robert Barrow James Taylor his Testimony of Robert Widders THis is a short but true account of the faithfulness and innocency of Robert Widders being with him some months to visit Friends both in prison and out of prison in Cheshire Darbyshire Yorkshire Bishoprick often meeting with hardships in the way it being in Winter wicked people would take up Stones and roul them in Snow and cast them at us And in all this time and travel dear Robert was still meek and harmless yet noble and valiant for the Truth of God. And I am satisfied that my faithful and well beloved Friend is entered into everlasting Rest Joy and Peace where I hope e're long to be also This is written in much weakness of Body by me James Taylor who is since Dead James Lancaster his Testimony concerning Robert Widders THis Testimony I have concerning our dear Friend and my fellow Traveller in the Service of God late deceased at his own House at Kellet in Lancashire yet lives in the Spirit in our remembrance of his works and labour of love with us in out Service all along as we travelled in the Truth soon after it appeared amongst us being well informed in our selves by a Messenger of God sent of him into our North Country calling us out of the worlds worships and forms and likenesses to the substance Jesus Christ c. his Light within Gods Covenant so came our peace made manifest within in our Hearts Souls Minds and Spirits and so came to know what did belong to our peace in that day of our Visitation from on high from God by his Light Grace and Spirit within and so were called to go to our neighbouring County called Cumberland that they might come to the same the Light of Christ Jesus within in whom and by whom we found that which we had lost in Adam in the fall thorow disobedience to God we found Souls Life and Peace This was our message all along in that County And afterward in Scotland in Northumberland Bishoprick Yorkshire and in our own County Lancashire and in several Counties in England with London City and were well refreshed meeting with our Brethren there who had been in the same work with us and had our reward from God and Life and peace in our own Bosoms that which will last and indure and abode with us in all forms and tempests great and high Winds made great Tossings and put great fears upon many But blessed everlastingly be the Name of our God in which we first believed and went out none of these things did move us so that we might finish our course and testings as he my dear Brother and fellow Traveller has done and ended his days in peace And I farther give in my Testimony concerning our dear Brother Robert Widders who was a Man as my self stricken in years yet was willingly given up at the requirings of the Lord as to go into some parts of America where we arrived at Barbados in seven weeks time where we visited our Friends and Brethren in the Truth and from thence he with other Friends passed to Jamaica and was very serviceable there and from thence Robert Widders with other Friends passed to Virginia and so to Mary-land after that Robert with other Friends passed thorow the Wilderness to East and West Jersey Long-Island New-York and so by several Islands to Rhode-Isâ—and and New England where we had many precious meetings amongst Friends And after our Service was performed in New-England with much difficulty Robert Widders with other Friends returned thorow the Wilderness to Virginie and Mary-land again and had good Service there in our Journey where many were turned from the dumb Idol Shepherds to serve the living God in the Spirit and in the Truth And so with much hardship in the Wilderness having nodwelling places to lay our Heads in but in the open wilderness
Goods for Tithes for Sunday Shillings so called and for Meetings by the Act against Conventicles keeping the Testimony of Jesus and his Conscience clear in the sight of God. IN the Year 1654. Priest Schoolcroft of Caton in the County of Lancaster being concerned in the Tyth of Vpper Kellet did run Robert Widders to an Outlawry and by a Writ cast him into Prison at Lancaster Castle where he remained Prisoner about one year and an half and then was freed by Supersedeas And also the Farmer of the Outlawyrs came and made Distress for a Fine And they came again the second time and entred me for an Outlawry but the Priest died so that came to nothing And after that one William Atkinson being Farmer of Tythes of the said Vpper Kellet Sufferings for Tythes sued me at the Common Law for several years Tythes and recovered Judgment for ten pounds and took Goods to the value of 12 l. In the year 1678 one James Greenwood now of Bolton by the Sands in Lancashire Farmer of the Tythes in Bolton Parish whose manner and Custom is to pay a small Rent in lieu of Tythe Hay sued Robert Widders for Tythe Hay in kind for five years And brought Thomas Lucas his Thresher at Tytheborn to swear at the Assize at Lancaster that Robert Widders had fixty Load of Hay growing in the year out of which the Tythe-farmer Greenwood challenged six load of Hay by the year tho Tythe hay was not payed in kind but a small Rent as aforesaid And Judge Bertie giving treble dammage they took Goods worth 6 l. 15 s. And at the same Assizes in 1678. the said Tythe-farmer Greenwood sued Robert Widders for Tythe Corn for five years he demanding 23 l. 17 s. 5 d. as the said Thomas Lucas his Thresher Richard Fawcett of Vpper Kellet and John Greenwood the Tythe-farmer's Brother swore it as the single value and the said Judge Bertie granted treble value which came to 71 l. 12 s. 3 d. for which the Bayliffs Thomas Foxcroft and George Overend both of Burton in Lounsdall in Yorkshire with others came and took Goods from the said Robert Widders worth 98 l. 1 s. as was valued by four credible men of his Neighbours Locking up the Barn door and Threshing out Corn at their pleasure taking the Straw also away being most part of a year in spoiling And again in the year 1683. the said James Greenwood Tythe-Farmer sued the said Robert Widders at Common Law for Tythe upon the Statute that gives treble dammage and brought one Richard Tatem of Ireby in Lancashire who swore that the Tythe of Robert Widder's Corn in the year 1678. was worth 1 l. 1 s. And he brought one John Chapm in of Capenwray whoswore that the Tythe of Robert Widder's Corn in the year 79. was worth 5 s. 6 d. And again the said Richard Tatem swore that the Tythe of Robert Widders Corn in the year 1680. was worth 1 l. 6 s. Also the said Tythe-Farmer Greenwood brought one William Middleton his Servant who swore that the Tythe of Robert Widder's Corn in the year 1682. was worth 4 l. 19 s. And upon these four said Evidences at Lancaster Assizes in the said year 1683. Judge Walcot gave Judgement for James Greenwood treble value which was 22 l. 14 s. 6 d. the single value being 7 l. 11 s. 6 d. And Edward Charnock of Lancaster a Sheriffs Bayliff and Josiah Dickinson of Nether Kellet Son-in-law to the said James Greenwood Tythe-Farrner came and took Goods from the said Robert Widders worth 27 l. 15 s. as prized by four Neighbours The Sufferings of Robert Widders for Sunday Shillings so called THe 14th day of the 10th Month 1683. came Robert Leaper of Over Kellet Overseer and demanded 3 s. of Robert Widders for being three daies absent from their Worship which Robert Widders could not pay for Conscience sake Then by vertue of a Warrant from Thomas Coall Edward Wilson and Roger Moore all Justices took Goods to the value of 3 s. Again the said Justice Fined the said Robert Widders 3 s. upon the said account and by Warrant from the said Justices came John Butterfield and Robert Robinson Wardens upon the 27th of the 6th Month 1684. and took Goods from the said Robert Widders worth 3 s. Also Robert Widders was Fined the third time upon the said account 3 s. and by Warrant from the said Justices upon the 10th day of the 9th Month 1684. came Richard Gibson Constable and Robert Robinson Warden both of Over Kellet and took Goods worth 4 s. Here followeth the Sufferings of that Dear and Faithful Servant of the Lord Robert Widders for Meetings upon the Conventicle Act and other waies RObert Widders for being at a Meeting was fined 3 l. 6 s. 8 d. by William Spencer and George Middleton both Justices for which William Haughton Bayliff of Lancaster took one Cow. Robert Widders having a peaceable Meeting in his House the 31 day of the 6th Month 1684. where there came Richard Gibson Black-smith Constable and Robert Robinson Warden both of Over Kellet with a Warrant from Justice Bindless of Borrick who put them on And required Friends to go before the Justice which they did and by some Informers took Information and Fined Robert Widders 20 l. for his House himself and his Wife each 5 s. for being at the Meeting in his own House by the Act against Conventicles And upon the 26th day of the 7th Month 1684. came Richard Gibson Blacksmith and Richard Fawcet Constables and John Helme and Thomas Lucas Overseers and John Butterfield and Robert Robinson Wardens all of the Township of Over Kellet to Robert Widder's house with a Warrant from the said Justice Bindless bearing date the 26th day of the 7th Month and demanded the said Fines of Robert Widders which he refusing to pay they made distress of his Goods worth 22 l. 7 s. as two of the said Officers did value them Again Robert Widders for being at a peaceable Meeting at William Waithmans of Lindeth the 7th of the 7th Month 84. was Fined 10 s. by the said Justice Bindless of Borrick Upon the Information of George Dawson Warden John Bachouse and John Hall all of the Township of Warton Officers and upon the 10th day of the 9th Month came the said Richard Gibson Constable and Robert Robinson Warden both of Over Kellet and took Goods worth 10 s. from the said Robert Widders Again Robert Widders for being at a Meeting at Richard Lancasters of Yelland the 21 day of the 7th Month 84. was fined 10 s. by the said Jnstice Bindless upon the Information of Robert Bachouse Constaand John Hubersty Warden both of Yelland had Goods taken from him worth 10 s. by the said Richard Gibson Robert Robinson and Thomas Lucas all of Over Kellet the 20th of the 10th Month 84. Also Robbert Widders for being at a Meeting at Robert Hubersties of Capenwray the 19th day of the 8â—h Month 84. was fined 5 s.