About two years after he had become the minister at Rotherham, he received a pressing invitation from the Dissenting congregation at Pontefract, to which place he removed in the spring of 1695, and continued his ministry here till his death, which took place in his father-in-law's house, Balifield near Sheffield, Sept. 3, 1704, in the forty-ninth year of his age, and was buried at Hansworth. Mrs. Elizabeth Heywood remained a widow, and died April 15, 1720. They had three children. Timothy, who was born at Pontefract Dec. 13, 1695, commenced business as an apothecary in Sheffield, and died Sept. 24, 1717, only six days after his marriage. Elizabeth their daughter died March 21, 1718, and Bridget died young.

MEMOIR

OF

MR. ELIEZER HEYWOOD,

SECOND SON OF THE

REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD.

MR. ELIEZER HEYWOOD was born April 18th, 1657, exactly that day twelve-months after the birth of his brother. When about a year old, he was suddenly taken so very ill, that he was for a short time supposed to be dead, but speedily revived a little, and the next day the small-pox appeared. At a very tender age, he and his brother were, on special occasions, encouraged by their father to engage in prayer, in the family. When Eliezer was questioned by his father at a solemn meeting for prayer, what he desired God's servants should pray for, on behalf of himself and brother? he replied: "that God would give them grace and gifts, forgive their sins of childhood and loss of time, make them studious, and keep them from temptation and sinful company."

Eliezer and his brother were instructed by the same masters, were students together at Mr. Frankland's, and finished their education in Scotland. Whilst at Natland, under Mr. Frankland's instruction, Eliezer had a narrow escape from a watery grave whilst bathing with some of his fellow-students. He had gone into a deep place where he was taken over head, but lift

ing up his hand, part of which was seen above the water, Mr. Timothy Jollie came to his help and rescued him.

After he had completed his studies and returned home, he was received into church-fellowship at Northowram, Dec. 30th, 1677. He went to be chaplain to Major Taylor, of Wallingwells, Nottinghamshire, on the borders of Derbyshire, Sept. 9th, 1678, and though this gentleman died March 29th in the next year, Mr. E. Heywood continued tutor and chaplain in the family twenty-two years. On occasion of this settlement, his father made the following remarks: "My sons are now parted who have lived together as twins. It went sore with them to be separated, but being now grown men they better understand their work and interest, and so are willing to be parted, though with much difficulty and many tears. Blessed be God for this reciprocal working of fraternal love, so that herein that saying is not verified, Fratrum concordia rara est. God has knit their hearts together by nature, and I hope by grace. They are parted that lived as brethren; and death will part us all. Blessed be God for hopes of a delightful and satisfying meeting in heaven. They are parted; so did I and my dear brother part, though we had lived together at school, at Cambridge, and in one house some time when we were ministers at neighbouring places; at last we parted almost forty miles distant; and now we are parted by death, as will be the case with them. O how fresh doth this their parting bring to my remembrance those sad separations of my amiable brother and myself; for I may truly say, our hearts were extraordinarily endeared to each other. But how will our souls be transported at our next meeting! Blessed be God for this hope. My sons are gone from me, but not without my leave and approbation, nay, to my abundant content and satisfaction; it might have been otherwise. They are gone with my blessing and prayers."

In travelling to his father's house, Jan. 1680, he was suddenly taken ill with ague-fits, at Derby, and was obliged to remain there a short time, before he could be removed. In September also, the same year, he was so ill at Walling-wells, that he was occasionally insensible, and was for a time supposed to be near death.* This illness continued three or four weeks and left him in a very weak state; but after he had visited his father, he so far recovered as to be able to return to his work in the beginning of December. Still he did not recover his wonted strength, and in September the next year, he had a return of his complaint, though not so severe as the former. See page 245.

66

At the time his father, Mr. O. Heywood, was a prisoner at York Castle, he heard that his son Eliezer was very ill, so that when he wrote to enquire concerning him, he did not know whether the letter would find him dead or alive; but a few days afterwards he received the following intelligence from his son: My God hath done great things for me, and I desire to admire and adore him as a God hearing-prayer. He was pleased in a great measure to prevent fears, and though I had the symptoms of a malignant fever, by which many hereabouts have been snatched away, God was pleased of his goodness to direct to means which were successful soon after its beginning, and now, praise be given to his holy name, I am pretty well again, and was yesterday at the funeral of a lusty person who had died of the same disorder. O the distinguishing providences of God! I am not altogether without hope that God may have some work to do by me: blessed be God. That same day, Nov. 10th, 1685, I was enabled to pay my grateful vows."

During Mr. Eliezer Heywood's residence at Walling-wells, he occasionally preached elsewhere, besides his stated labours in the family, and when King James's declaration for liberty of worship came forth, he desired Presbyterian ordination. According to his wish, he with three others, was ordained at his father's house, June 1st, 1687, concerning which his father thus writes: "I had devoted my two sons, which was my all, to the work of the ministry, and desired nothing else for them but a principle of saving grace, useful gifts to fit them for that high calling, a regular entrance into it, a fit opportunity for faithfully managing it, and success therein. In most of these, God hath answered me according to the desire of my heart. I hope God hath given them grace, competency of gifts, and John a regular entrance into the ministry some years ago. June 1, 1687, my son Eliezer having been examined in all parts of learning, disputing in Latin, &c. was set apart to the ministry, with fasting, and prayer, and imposition of hands, to the great satisfaction of all present. Blessed, blessed be God, that he hath counted me and mine faithful, putting us into the ministry. It is more to me than if they had been made knights or created barons of the realm, with proportionable estates. God is welcome to them, to make what use he pleaseth of them, and though they are yet in gentlemen's houses, as chaplains, yet I humbly hope, and wait, and pray that the Lord will call them forth among his people, and bless their labours to the good of souls."

January 18, 1700, Mr. Eliezer Heywood was married at Hansworth, to Helen, daughter of Mr. John Rotheram, of

Dronfield in Derbyshire. On this occasion, the family at Walling-wells, as a token of their esteem for him, and his long services, made him a very handsome present. He appears to to have continued his connection with this family, after his marriage, two or three years. His first child, called Oliver, was born March 8th, 1701, but lived only six or seven days.* About this time he commenced housekeeping at Carlton, near Walling-wells. He removed to Dronfield, in 1703, or 1704, and preached there to a small congregation till within a short period of his death. He was the father of eight children, some of whom died in infancy. He buried his wife August 26, 1712, having followed to the grave his eldest daughter, only five weeks before. He remained a widower the rest of his days. Mr. E. Heywood died at Dronfield, June 12, 1730, aged seventy-three. The following is a copy of the inscription on a tablet in Dronfield church:

ELIEZER HEYWOOD, A. M.
Fide et Vitâ Theologus
(Oliveri Fil: et Johan: Fra: A. M.
Utriusq: ex paternâ et maternâ Gente
Vere Evangelici:)

Moribus sanctis, et pari Modestiâ Imitandus
Ardentissimoq: Docendi Studio Suspiciendus
Hic Jacet Reconditus.

Obiit A. XII Cal: Junii A. D. MDCCXXX,
Etat: Suæ LXXIII.

Non ita procul hinc Occubat Helen Uxor
Sui dilectissima VIII. liberorum Mater
Ex eodem Conjugio, ex quibus filius
Unicus et Duæ filiæ superstites.

Mr. Eliezer Heywood was succeeded at Dronfield as pastor of the dissenting congregation there, by the Rev. Samuel Shaw, who afterwards removed to Mansfield and died there in 1748. Eliezer Heywood, (the grandson of O. Heywood,) son of the above, was born at Dronfield, Oct. 8, 1710, and educated by Mr. Wadsworth, dissenting minister at Sheffield. In 1729, he went to London, and was under the tuition of Dr. Ridgley. His father's declining health caused him to leave London in March 1730; he married the daughter of Mr. Shaw, the successor of his father at Dronfield, and succeeded him at Mansfield. He died much respected, July 22, 1783, aged seventythree, having been minister at Mansfield thirty-three years.

Mr. Samuel Heywood, son of the above, town clerk of Nottingham, died greatly lamented, July 25, 1789, aged thirtyfour. Some of the family still survive, and remain at Mansfield justly esteemed.

See Letters, IV. and V.

CONCLUSION.

In the Pedigree of the Heywood family, it is stated, that Mr. Richard Heywood, son of the Rev. Nathaniel Heywood, of Ormskirk, was of Liverpool, but since that part of the volume went through the Press, the Editor has ascertained that Mr. Richard Heywood removed from Liverpool, and settled at Drogheda in Ireland. During his residence there, he solicited his brother Nathaniel, that he would send over his son Benjamin when he had finished his education, and place him under his care; accordingly he was sent, and became very successful in business; though he was cut off in the prime of life, being only thirty years of age when he died, he left his family in affluent circumstances.

When Mr. Heywood, the ejected minister of Ormskirk, had been arrested by the disease which brought him to the grave, and was on his death bed, he seems to have had no little concern for his beloved partner and their children, exposed to the rigours of persecution, (see page 498,) but he was enabled to commit them to the care of Him, who is the father of the fatherless, and the husband of the widow, and was encouraged to hope that the guardianship of heaven would not fail them. And his anticipations appear to have been realized, for the smiles of Providence singularly distinguished his descendants.

For the following Letter the Writer is indebted to J. P. Heywood, of Wakefield, Esq. to whom he takes this opportunity of making grateful acknowledgments for his patronage, and the original documents he has kindly furnished to mature this Publication.

Transcript of a Letter from Mr. Richard Heywood, of Drogheda, to his brother Nathaniel. DEAREST BROTHER,

Drogheda, the 1st Feb. 1699.

I received yours of the 27th November; it lay a great while at Liverpool, the wind proving contrary; but it was very welcome when it did come. I make no question but the account of my safety was very grateful to you. I do wish, and am encouraged to hope, that patience under your grievances, accompanied with serious diligence in the performance of your