The life of the Widower John Skelton who departed at Fulneck on June 30th, 1773.

He has left us the following in writing;

I was born in the year 1703 in Lightlif in the Parish of Hallifax. My father and mother belonged to the Church of England. My father died when I was but a very little boy, my mother brought me up until I was 8 years old as carefully as she could, and afterwards I was made apprentice to a Norwich carrier, where I learned to be very wicked, but yet I often had convictions that I lived in quite a wrong way, yet that left me again. In my 25th year I married. When Mister Ingham began to preach about in the country Yorkshire, it came in my mind to go to hear him; but the first time I received no blessing from it. The next night he was to preach at Smithhouse, when I had no thought of going till towards nighttime, when I had a long struggle whether I should go or not, but at last I resolved to go, whatever might come out of it, and that night our Savior got fast hold of my heart, so that I could after that have gone with Mister Ingham through the world. But yet I was at a loss what would become of me, for I was in such a ruined State, and never acquainted Mister Ingham that I was so miserable. I went constantly to the preaching and strove to be as good as ever I could, in order to find peace for my heart, but all in vain till about a year after, when I got some comfort; yet for all that, I thought I was not sure of being happy. I went to speak with Mister Ingham about going to the Sacrament in the Church of England, then he inquired how it was with me and I told him my whole mind, but he told me, it was not his way to advise people to go to the Sacrament. He left it however to me to do as I felt it in my heart, so I went and received a blessing thereby. When the Society was first begun in 1741, I was received into it.

Then the Brethren came to Smithhouse and I (2) went to hear them constantly, and one night, when the meeting was over, Brother Horne took me into his Room and asked me how it was with me and I told him my whole mind, and he spoke very friendly with me, and told me that I might go to all the meetings when I had an opportunity, of which I was very glad. One evening I went to a meeting at Smithhouse, and going as I was going home quite by myself, I felt something speaking to me at my heart. “Thy sins are forgiven thee” and ever since I have been very happy. On March 29th, 1746, my wife went home and left me with seven children, five sons and two daughters, and one daughter was gone before her. I had a desire to be received into the congregation and in November 13th, 1750, I was received, which was a great blessing to my heart. On June 21st, 1751, I received the Sacrament with the Brethren for the first time, which was such a blessing to me, as I cannot express with words. So I have lived in the nearness of our Savior ever since.

Thus far his own Words.

On November 27th, 1758, he moved to Fulneck, where he spent his time in a simple, childlike manner, enjoying the love and peace of God and was beloved by his Brethren. He esteemed his lot highly to have the favour to live with a people of God, taking simply everything that occurred from the hand of his dear Lord with whom his heart had a true connection. It was his great concern and his constant prayer to our Lord, that his children might all obtain the same grace, and that those who were connected with the congregation might truly make good use of and prosper before our Lord. And this his desire, our Savior granted him in so far that he saw the greatest number of them connected with the congregation for which he was very thankful and praised his Lord. Some months ago, his strength began to fail, and he thought immediately that his stay here would no more be long. Our Savior began to take him into his school and to show him, wherein he was particularly still deficient. For some time ago something against one of his Brethren, with whom he lived, had crept into his mind. He said: though he had spent many years in the congregation and lived in the enjoyment of the love of God, he found it a trying time for him and at school, for his heart it cost him something to see it in the true Light; but our Savior melted his heart and gave him grace to embrace the Brethren with many tears of love to the no small joy of those present. From that time the peace of his heart and though he found our Savior in his Heart pointed at it and wanting him to acknowledge it and give it up, yet self-righteousness had so much power, that he thought he could never forgive it. His labourer had a lovely bond with him upon that head, which made him so uneasy, that he could not sleep the whole night when some of his sons saw him the next day, a strange work was perceived in his mind and they were truly frightened at the expressions he uttered upon that occasion, and could not help shedding tears. But it was amazing to see how our Savior changed his mind: in an instant he called immediately for the brother fell about his neck kissed him with many tears, with all his and a disagreeableness pressed him to his heart, which caused such emotion in the beholders, that they wept for joy, as hardly being able to believe what they saw with their eyes. From that time such an alteration was observed in him, as if he had never not been the same man. He loved the above Brethren with an unfeigned love and could not bear, that any spoke a hard word to him. His peace of heart and his joy in the Lord was visible in his countenance. He spoke solidly with some of his children, partly telling them where they were in the wrong and partly fearing, how it would go with one of them after his departure. Once at being asked by his labourer how he did, he said: I have nothing to do but to rejoice in our Savior and to enjoy Him. He is very near to my heart whereby the tears ran down. One night our Savior manifested his love to his heart in such a rich treasure, that he firmly believed he should now be called home, and therefore caused his labourer to be called to when be could not express sufficiently what our Savior had given him to enjoy. But his hour was not so near as he expected. His sickness and was very painful pain increased, which he bore with patience and had still a great deal to suffer, which made him often call upon the Lord soon to come and take him to himself. His heart remained during all that time cleaving to our Savior and he said the peace of God never forsook him. Those Brethren that visited him felt exceeding well in his company.

At last on (3) the above one, 30th of June at 8 o’clock at night, came the welcome hour, when he entered into his eternal rest, having before obtained the blessing of the congregation and his choir; having he spent in this vale of tears 70 Years.