Born: 11 December, 1696 at Mirfield
Died: 24 March, 1761 at Hopton Mirfield

Learn more about the life of Joshua Barker

Departed March 24th 1761 Our BrotherJoshua Barkerwas born in the Year 1696,
on the 22^nd of December at Hopton in the Parish of Mirfield he lived with his
Father till 19 Years of Age at which time he was put Apprentice to a Broad-Cloth-
ier in that neighborhood, he was married to his present Widow the 15^th of July
1719 by whom he has had 8 Childrn two of whom went home in their Infancy
and one at Mans Estate and of the 5 survising ones, one Son is a member of
our Society, he liv’d happily with his Wife and being of a religious turn he went
with his Wife constantly to the Church & Sacrament, and had religious Meet-
ings kept in his house where they us’d to pray and read Burkets Exposition on
the new Testament; his self working was for some time in his way, so that to
be a poor Sinner at the feet of Jesus was a hard matter to him for some time,
and he was a long time among the B^rn before he got a feeling of our Sav^rs Dying
Lovein his heart. When Mr Ingham preach’d in the Beginning in these parts
he went to hear him, his Wife at first was against it; but upon her hearing
both B^r Ockertshausen at her own house her Prejudice dropt away and they ^both went
both together, he always had a great attachment to the B^rn, and upon the his
Land Lords being against the Preaching at his house, he rather left it than com-
ply with his Desire not to let the Gospel be preach’d there. He soon became
a Member of our Society, and had the Grace to be receiv’d on the 22^d of April
1752 into the Congⁿ & Nov. 19^th in the same year he partook of the highest Good in
the holy Sacrament for the first time. Within these 2 Years he has occasionally
said to his Wife I shall not be long here but shall soon be go home, but don’t be trou-
bled for you will not stay long after me. At the regulating of the Bands and Classes
anew in January 1760 he became a Band Servant, in which capacity he was a
faithfull Helper & belov’d by his B^rn, and found a Blessingfor his own heart.
On Monday night the 10^th of November he was taken with a violent and pain-
full Disorder so that his Disolution was expected before morning, the Vio-
lence of which was however somewhat abated the next Day when he was visited
by B^r Watson on his return from Huddersfield. He was very chearfull not-
withstanding his great bodily Pain & in a sinnerlike Connexion with the man
of Sorrows, whom he said he longed to see face to face, & beg’d him and the
B^rn to bear him on their hearts, before Him on that account. From his first
becoming sick he always thought he
should yet Permission to leave his mor-
tal Tent, and from hence be taken the faithfull one to see, at which he
frequently rejoic’din his heart, & speaking with a Brother of the great Long-
ing he felt to be at home with his wounded Friend that only matchless Heart

Heart and observing his Wife looked thoughtfull, he said to her when I am
with him I will speak a good Word for you, that he may soon fetch you also
and I’m sure he will not deny me my Request and this he comforted her about
their parting. Soon after the Sacrament, being visited by a B^r he express’d
his great Longing for that highest Good, in order to strengthen his heart under
the great bodily pain he felt and declared that the better Death and Passion of
the LordJesus was what his heart rely’d upon and his its only Good for time &
Eternity. Once being visited he express’d his Desire to be buried with his B^rn
at Lambs Hill and seemed grieved that on account of his outward Circumstances
he must give up that hope but he was soon comforted upon our assuring
him we wou’d see to it that his desire shou’d be accomplish’d. Jan 21^st he had
his part of the holy Sacrament with some other sick for which End he came on Horse-
back to the to the Chapel which was the last time of his being there. On the
Great SabbathB^r Watson carried him the Sacram^t, and first related ^{to him} what
had had pass’d in the Congⁿ at G.H. on Maunday Thursday and then ^{in a} child-
like Prayer Prayer beg’d that mouth which spoke his own clean, to speak this
B^r who could not enjoy the Application of the bloody Gore from his Back in y^e
Pedilavium on account of Sickness clean, and to hasten the ripening of this fruit
of his Deaths Agony & take him home to himself or soon enable him to appear
again among his B^rn. Then he sung: What Lord thee so tormented &c. O let him in
thy nail holes see his Pardon & Election free &c. Give him absolution, and a gen-
tle praising Tone, deep Foundation in thy Cross’s Stem, and then during an
inexpressible tender & melting feeling he receiv’d his share of the holy Sacram^t
after which he was particularly chearfull and happy and frequently said to his
Wife, now I have got what I wanted, and seem’d highly blessed. That Night
was a very painfull night to him and his Disorder very became again very vio-
lent. On Monday being visited by one of the B^rn to whom he again signified his
Longing to be at home which Desire was granted him the next day in the Eve-
ning about 8o’clock after having lain quiet & still from about 4o’clock with-
out speaking, he sweetly fell asleep & grew pale on Jesus arm & Bosom, in y^e
65^th year of his dying Life, with that Childrens Watch Word; all that
are in the Graves shall hear his voice. Now there’s no Soul who doth
not want (ev’n when in her LordsJoy) and doth not quick upon the Grant
fetch her Corpses revrently.

Born: 5 June, 1712 at Wyke Parish of Birstall
Died: 18 April, 1770 at Hartshead

Learn more about the life of John Astley

MirfieldApril the 18th 1770. The Life of the Md Br. Jno Astley who went home Apl 18 1770
My Dear Brn & Sisters
It will without Doubt be Expected, that Some
Thing Should be Said of the Life of our departed Brother
John Astley, for it is usual amongst us but as he
has left nothing from under his own Hand, and beside;
has told me little or nothing by Word of Mouth, therefore
I want Materials. He told one: that He was Born in
Lower Wyke in the Year 1712. and there learnd the
Trade of a Shoemaker. and there like wise He Married
The presant Widow, being a Wild Wicked young Man &c.

But by the Preaching of our Late B^r Delamott:
(who was invited in to Yorkshire by M^r Ingham) he was
Brought upon Serious thoughts, & a Heartyconcern
about his Salvation, and that in this Situation of
Heart & Mind he fell early in to the hands of the B^rn
who soon after his awakening came in to Yorkshire, and
that by that Means, he was not only Happily preserv’d
from relapsing into his Former Course: but ^also by the Simple
and Evangelical Preaching of the Brns, he became convinced of
our Sav^rsunmeasurable love & Grace for Sinners; and became
more, & more acquainted, and Confident toward Him, and
Therefore began to value, & love the Fellowship of the Brethren
and beg’d for reception in to the Congⁿ He & his Wife, had this
their Heartydesire Granted them as near as he could guess
in the Year 1747. and were soon after admitted to the Holy
Communion, for the first time. He thought

It was the First communion which was kept in Fulnek Hall
however be that as it will, it was the first to him in That Place,
and Numbred with Him; amongst his particular Hours of Grace!
From that Day: He has maintain’d His communion with the
B^rn to his Dying Hour, tho’ it was often times, but slenderly &
and with difficulty yet it never ceas’d realy.

They were Married in the year 1733 in Feb^r and had
a 11 Children 5 of whom are in the Burying Ground in Fulnek;
one in Hartshed Church yard, one Daughter, at Dukenfield, and one
at Ockbrook Choir House. and the other three i.e. one Son, and
two Daughters don’t belong to us. they had once a little oeconomy
of Single B^rn at their House in Hartshed, but this was not their own
but the B^rns Projecting, but as it did not answer our Sav^rs & the B^rns purposes
it was soon Given up again.

He has been her Some years, a pretty good steward
and Servant of the little Congⁿ in Mirfield, and so has also
His present Widow, and therefore his Memory must remain
Dear to us. He was a Child of Grace indeed, yet his life
was Chequer’d o’er with Grief and need.

His Domestick affairs have bore a very indifrent
Trace these Many years, by which Means his credit was
reduced considerably; and this not only with Strangers,
but partricularly So among our own People, therefore
I am rather inclin’d to Draw a vail over the Most part
of his Life. than to Expose it to Publick view.

However: all is Well, what End^s Well. altho the beginning
and Middle had Some thing deploreable yet the end was
adoreable. I have labour’d upon it from the beginning
of his Sickness to get his Mind off from all Eaternal
concerns, as he could Mend nothing in it, & entreated Him

to Fix his heart and Eyes on our Sav^r and on his ^all atoneing
Sacrifice, which advice he took Child-likely and became quite composed,
and Chearful in his Mind. we visited him pretty often in order
to keep this Matter alive in his heart which has happily Succeeded
on Easter day he Send for me, accordingly I went with 2 more Brethren
Pray’d heartily by Him, kept a little liturgy, by his Bedside, &
gave him my last Blessing, thinking he could not live till I could
come again. this little visit was attended with a most blessed feeling,
So that I left him with a Heart quiteSatisfy’d.

on Easter Tuesday, I and my Wife went to See him once more
I was quite Edify’d with his look & Spoke tenderly to him, and
Sung Some Suitable verses for him, in which he join’d with us
which we could see by the moving of his lips, this was the last
happy little visit, for: the next Monday Early, he fell Softly
and Happily asleep in his 58^th year.