Ann Willoughby was born at Robert Town, in the Parish of Birstall, January the 21st 1722. About the year 1739 she was stirred up by reading a Penny Pamphlet, and from that time grew so uneasy concerning her salvation, that it greatly affected her body, which her mother, & others of her relations observing, insisted upon her taking the advice of a physician. This she out of obedience complied with, being notwithstanding convinced that as her disease was of a spiritual nature it could not be removed by human means. She attended on Mr. Ingham’s preaching, from his first beginning and afterwards adhered for the Brethren as soon as they came to Yorkshire; and visited & conversed with those of them who resided at New House about the year 1742, Brother & Sister Ockertshausen being then settled at Mirfield, she having now received grace and cheerfulness from our Saviour, and being in Consequence thereof restored to her Bodily Health. She was also of a remarkable good understanding and ready of apprehension whereby she was employed in visiting the Single Women in that Plan.
On the 5th January 1744 she was received into the Congregation & was admitted to the Sacrament the 31st of July in the same year. About this time it was intended that she should change her state, but when it was proposed to her, she made some objection; so the matter was entirely dropped by the Labourers, & they were also satisfied with her.
(But she however could not give it up herself, and when the thing was now over, she declared herself in a different manner than she had done before. After this she went on heavily for a considerable time, but at length she gave it up, and was better satisfied + she had an extraordinary gift for economic affairs, and was very diligent and exact in the like undertakings, of which many were committed to her care, her labours were not without blessing)
But yet (from what cause we will not possibly determine) they were frequently Intermingled with disappointments and disagreeable circumstances to the dissatisfaction of others, (but particularly to the grief of her own heart and to the detriment of her bodily health.) Yet she was by many heartily beloved and generally acknowledged as an honest heart. In the beginning of June 1746, she came to live at the Single Sisters Economy at Pudsey; she was one of the Hourly Intercessors and also a visitor in the Plans, in this year was also for a short time at Oxheys and Holm, and had the care of each of those Economies; and May 1747 she made also the beginning of that at Cleckheaton, as well as the first school of the girls, which she kept at the Same Place.
From thence she went to Tyrsal in August 1750 and began an Economy there where she continued till December 1752 when she with the said Economy came to live In the Choir House of the Single Sisters, where she performed the Office which she had there of Accountant and Inspector of outward affairs as also of Vorgesetzte of a Room with that punctuality and exactness so peculiar to her and to the satisfaction of the whole house, and this she carried on even in her Sickness, which began In the month of November 1754 when she first complained whereby we plainly perceived that she fell away, and was troubled with a certain cough, which we thought would turn out to be a consumption. And the
12th of February she retired to the Sick Room, where by many persuasions we got her to use something from the doctor in hopes that she might soon be better. All things possible was done for her in regard to her health, but she often believed that the physicians did not rightly understand her disorder & therefore resolved to leave off taking medicines & to give herself over into the hands of our Saviour; but as her sickness seemed to be of a lingering disorder she had some small hopes of recovering again. During her sickness, the Congregation partook 4 times of the Holy Sacrament, and the third time, which was the 20th of April, our Dear Johannes brought it to her, which was attended with a very particular sweet feeling. He sung her that verse, the Soul of Christ her Sanity &c. after which she laid herself happily down to rest. The 23d she long’d very much to speak with Sister Mary, where she told she plainly perceived she grew weaker and believed she should go to our Saviour, and because she felt herself not capable of performing her Office of Writing & Reckoning as She Used to do, therefore her desire was to give it over, that she might spend those days which she had yet to live in pleasure & satisfaction and in the closest nearness of her Bridegroom & Lover, without the care of outward matters, which was approved on. Then she said, “This Was a Point Which I have long’d for to be Settled While I had Strength to Speak, Now the Second is, Concerning My own Heart, Which will take Up a Considerable Time, But I Would desire you to hear me Patiently & not be grievd after I have told you all, and then I only beg you To forgive you me & Love me Still, Some of them are oft matters, Which I know our Saviour has forgiven
me for, But I thought I could be more fully, satisfied If I acquainted you With them; and how those matters stood, So I have Wish’d very much to have a hearty Conversation With you,” which accordingly was done between them with many tears. Then she declared her heart was quite satisfied, and now she had but one thing more to mention, which was concerning her burial, what thoughts she had about it, and made some proposals, which was agreed to. May the 14th she spoke with concern, that today it was 15 weeks since she came in the Sick Room and she thought the time very long before our Saviour fetched her to himself. The 18th she had that favour to partake once more of our dear Saviour’s Body & Blood in the Holy Communion of which her poor hungry & thirsty soul was very glad. She also continued quite happy & cheerful, & the 21st we observed a particular alteration in her which we perceived to be convulsions, so that we believed she would soon go home. But she, growing a little better, continued the 22d all day in a cold death sweat. Though exceeding ill, yet she spoke often about her own heart & others, to our great surprise, & upon being asked if she would kiss our Saviours feet for us, she answered; not only that, but I will tell him every thing let me but first come to him. The 23d stronger convulsions and that with more continuance which seiz’d on her memory very much, so that we thought every breath she drew would be the last. But yet we could perceive that she often spoke in stillness whereupon we asked her who she spoke with, she immediately replied, with our Saviour, that He may manifest himself to me till the last moment as he always has hitherto done ever since I was first acquainted with him & his wounds. At 1 o’ clock in the afternoon, she desired to have a couple of hours to herself alone, with our Saviour, and at 3 for
with a smiling countenance, her Soul flew into the Pleura of her everlasting Bridegroom & Lover under those words, His Body Torn With many a Wound, That makes thy Soul & Body Sound; and, so go then go Dear Heart & hide &c.
After having liv’d 33 years 4 months And two Days