Robert Coles Brother of Thomas

In the Baptist Magazine for 1862 there is under the heading "Recent death" an obituary for Mr Robert Coles who had died at Winston Мill, Gloucestershire, on March 30, 1862. Coles was born in 1773 at Ailworth Farm, near Naunton, Gloucestershire. His parents, we read, "were regular attendants upon the ministry of the Rev Benjamin Beddome, MA, of Bourton-on-the-Water; and though they removed when their son Robert was about four years old, to Rowell farm, near Winchcomb, and seven miles from Bourton, yet their places in the accustomed sanctuary were always filled at the Sabbath morning services. 'The word of the Lord was precious in those days,' and the eminent gifts of Mr Beddome were not unappreciated by them; for seventy years afterwards their son could speak with vivid recollections of the outline of the sermon, which was regularly brought home by his father on the Sunday morning, to be the subject of meditation and conversation through the rest of the day."
It goes on to speak of his conversion and his later involvement and interest in the progress of the gospel in the village of Arlington. A miller by trade he was also a deacon and a godly man.
It says that the early seeds sown "were watered when he himself frequented the house of God where the venerable Beddome now trembling with age and feebleness sat in his pulpit to teach and exhort, and still loved to unite the hearts and voices of his people in the hymn which, Sabbath after Sabbath, embodied the preacher's deepest feelings on the subject of the morning's sermon. In after years the hallowed spot was rendered yet more interesting by his own brother the Rev Thomas Coles AM being called to the pastorate as successor of Mr Beddome, at the beginning of the present century. By his brother's hands he was solemnly immersed in the stream which flows through the beautiful village of Bourton and although residing at ten miles distance was accustomed to attend there at the monthly celebration of the Lord's supper."

Memorial Inscription

This site here records the following inscription as found in Bourton on the Water.

(The transcriber has mistakenly written 25 instead of 52 and lopped ten years of Beddome's age).

B36
Benjamin BEDDOME, 1717-1785

For 25 years Pastor of the Baptist Chapel

Bourton on the Water, interred near the spot where the

Chapel formerly stood.

The stone was erected by his Great Grandchildren

The info was gathered by Alf Beard in April 2007. They appear to be "survivors" from the burial ground which surrounded the former Baptist Chapel, built in 1701 and since demolished. The inscriptions can be identified as some are listed in Non-Conformist Chapels and Meeting Houses, Gloucestershire, published in 1986. The former burial ground is adjacent to the Cemetery, and surrounded by a stone wall.

Richard Hall 05

MR notes how Beddome had married 17 year old Elizabeth when 32. He says there must have been at least 10 children, though many died young. He says the first-born John aged 15 adn notes how William Snooke comments in 1774 on the funeral of the one-year old Joseph Beddome, “the third of that name to die”. Benjamin died at 25, Foskett at 26, of course. Both trained as medical doctors. Elizabeth had died aged 51 in 1784, the same year as Foskett who drowned boarding a ship at Deptford. At least four children outlived the father and their descendants were still living at Bourton in the 1920s. A note of Hall's says “1798 Sept 28th - agreed to let our tenement to Mrs. S Beddome for 6 months for 3 Guineas – or at 5 Guineas a year if they continue a twelve month. If any taxes are charged to it they are to pay. Delivered the keys to Mr S Palmer Oct 3rd 1798.”
MR pictures Hall in old age as slightly more relaxed, spending time with younger children and grandchildren, walking his dog, recounting tales to the kids about going to see the King, or what it was like at the Tower of London, or how there used to be highwaymen and robbers. Slowly a rather more avuncular figure emerges – “even if he appeared a pious old prig to the rest world!” Visits to London appear to have been twice-yearly. On one of these, on June 17, 1801 the 72 year old set out for London with his wife and Mrs Snooke. They got as far as Witney when he was taken ill and the party was forced to return. His son Benjamin takes up the story “My father continuing to get worse, Dr Cheston, a Physician from Gloucester, was sent for who came on the 23rd. Dr Cox also came on 26th and Mr. and Mrs. Griffith from Bath. My brothers in law” (ie step-brothers) “William and Francis with my cousin Eliza came on the 30th. July 2nd, a little before 6 o’clock in the morning my dear father departed. Mr. Davidson an esteemed friend of my father and one of his executors came on Monday 6th. On Sunday 7th my father’s remains were interred in the Meeting Yard at Bourton – the Revd. Thos Smith of Shipston-on-Stour officiated. On the following day Mr. Davidson and Mr. Francis Hall left for London and Mr. Griffith & Mr. William Hall for Bath."

He records the brief Memoir of his father inserted in Dr. Rippon’s register:

“July 2nd 1801 Died Mr Rd Hall of Bourton on the Water Gloucestershire in the seventy third year of his age. He was for many years a member of the church of Christ in Carter Lane Southwark in the time of Dr Gill. His illness was sudden and he was in great pain for several days, but it pleased the Lord to afford him consolation. His mind was much occupied by the Holy Scriptures and with great patience and resignation he bore the afflicting hand of God, acknowledging that the ways of the Lord were just and equal. He expressed warm emotions of tenderness to his family, especially the younger branches of it whose concerns appeared very much to interest his heart. He spoke of the importance of early instruction in Divine things and the benefit of having the mind stored with the treasure of God’s word, the advantage of which he had experienced, and hoped his youngest son would be a follower of those who walk in the ways of the Lord.”
As already mentioned, Rippon ended with the words “Mr Hall was certainly not distinguished among his religious connections for the felicity of his disposition but we are given to understand that he has left behind him the testimony of an affectionate husband a kind father and a sincere friend”. The family were outraged by this, and according to son Benjamin wrote to tell Rippon what they thought of him but no trace of the letter remains.

Richard Hall 04

1780 started positively with Hall's son William being taken into the family business. Several versions of the next important and sad diary entry exist. In one Hall writes “11th January, 1780. O the affliction of this day. My very dear and affectionate wife departed after so short an illness as about six or seven hours, to my great grief and sorrow, having lived together in the conjugal state 27 years, all but 41 days. Blessed be the Lord”. Other members of the family confirm that “She was remarkable for her piety, an affectionate wife and tender parent”. She died from a stroke.
Buried in Bunhill Fields, January 18, Eleanor was interred alongside her father. To the original tombstone was added, “Underneath this tomb are also deposited the remains of Mrs. Eleanor Hall late the beloved wife of Mr. Richard Hall of London Bridge and daughter of the above named Benjamin Seward Esq.”
Hall appears to have started attending St Magnus at this time, becoming Church Warden. Bourton held attractions for him – though he never mentions what they were. He set off for the Manor House, June 16, staying with the recently widowed Mrs Snooke. His frequent mentions of Mrs Snooke might suggest he hoped to promote his cause with the wealthy widow. Maybe he tried suggests MR. He stayed a month and returned to London, July 20. Then, with no explanation, the entry for Thursday December 14 reads “This day entered into the Solemn and very important engagement of a second marriage with Betty Snooke”. Betty Snooke was not William Snooke's widow but his younger sister. Ominously, he continues “may it never lessen the Happiness of my Dear Children”.
Possibly Betty Snooke wavered, but MR says subsequent events suggest that a problem lay with Hall's children - perhaps the three, anxious to guard their Seward inheritance, thought it more appropriate that Richard should marry “an old widow” for companionship – one way past child-bearing! The diaries give the firm impression Hall's decision to re-marry was somewhat calculated but after about 10 years things slowly improved for Betty.
Reviewing events years later, Hall writes “The Lord in whose hands are all my times and ways, has suffered a further change to take place – my dear children being dissatisfied that we should continue to live together I removed to a small house at Bourton on the Water, where we slept the first night November 19th 1781.”
Not for them the grandeur of the Manor House – they moved into “a house opposite the New Inn” – rented from Mrs Snooke. Throughout October and into November they packed “to go into the Country” leaving November 7 and settling in on the 19th. “O that the Lord will be pleased to make this a peaceable and quiet dwelling”.
“December 28th – Mr, Mrs & Miss Palmer, Mrs Beddome, her Sons, Mr Boswell and Richard Boswell, Mrs Snooke and Sophy din’d. Very stormy with wind. Rain – our Parlour smoaked so I was oblig’d to put out the fire and dine without one. Had a fire made upstairs.” Fitting into a tiny house would have been a major upheaval – even more so when Anna, the first of two children, arrived March 15, 1782. Benjamin was born in 1787. He subsequently mused “The name Benjamin was probably given me from respect to the late Benjmn. Seward Esqre. and out of compliment to the Rev. Benjmn. Beddome, to whom my Father was much attached”.
Hall's first marriage had produced William Seward 14/9/1754 (married 1785, producing 8 children, 1786-1803); Martha 6/3/1756 (also married later in 1785, to Henry Griffith. They had 6 children, 1786-1794); Francis 26/12/1757 (married 1788. They had 4 children, William Snooke Hall being the only one to reach maturity, 1789-1793) and Frances 12/11/1758. The second marriage to Elizabeth Snooke (1743–1818) produced Anna Snooke Hall 15/3/1782 and Benjamin Snooke Hall 28/11/1787.

 MR has noted how a mark of Hall's esteem for his cousin, the poetess Anna Seward, was that he sent her the better oysters – those from Pyefleet at 4/3d a barrel. Friends of lesser importance (eg Beddome) had to make do with the cheaper ones from Colchester, costing 3/4d.
Beddome's death in 1795 obviously affected Hall. Writing 40 years later, his youngest son (Benjamin) mused “(I recall) the death of the Revd. Benjm. Beddome M.A. for 55 years the respected pastor of the Baptist Church at Bourton on the Water aged 78 years. This occurred September 3rd. I recollect his funeral which was on Sabbathday afternoon September 6th. My father and mother attended – the Revd. Benjmn Francis of Horseley preached the sermon to a crowded congregation from Phil. 1.21.”

Richard Hall 03

Sadly, there was division after Gill's death and his young successor John Rippon (1751-1836) was not liked by all. Hall's son later wrote “In consequence of a division in the Church on the death of their Minister my father's mind appears to have been very unhappy and for a time he was unsettled. Much animosity and contention existed in consequence of the majority of the Church choosing Mr. Rippon, (afterwards Doctor), who was ordained to the pastoral Office November 11th, 1773. My father was one of the minority who signed the protest against this step, and with that minority chose Mr. Button to be their pastor, for whom it appears that they built a new Place, but owing to some shyness between the members he discontinued his attendance and in 1776 was set aside by the Church”. (Exactly what this last sentence means is unclear. Button served faithfully at the new place in Dean Street for many, many years).
Hall, says MR, always viewed this as most ungenerous conduct on the church's part. He never forgave Rippon (who remained as pastor for 63 years all told). Cathcart's Baptist Encyclopedia (1881) says "When about twenty-one he became the successor of the great Dr. Gill, in London. Mr. Rippon had neither the talents nor the learning of his predecessor, but he was bold, witty, and ready in speech; his "preaching was lively, affectionate, and impressive; his administration of church affairs was marked by great prudence, and he soon became very popular."

MR suggests a more personal slant. He says that Rippon took a fancy to Hall’s daughter Martha – then just 16. Hall, MR suggests, was having no Devonshire hot-head messing with her affections! Spurned by the family, Rippon turned his attentions elsewhere and soon found an alternative bride.
Later family diaries recount: “On 20th August, 1776 my father was much pleased by the baptism of his beloved wife at Leominster by Mr. [ie Joshua] Thomas and on the 6th November, 1777 that pleasure was enhanced by his daughter (Martha) giving in her experience to the same Church and being baptized by the same minister on the 20th of the same month.” Such pleasure was short-lived because two years later daughter Martha went back to Rippon’s church! Hall was horrified and his relationship with his daughter deteriorated. He seems to have regarded her as something of a “wild child”. Matters improved in time but at some stage after 1785 (when she married) contact dwindled to the extent that they barely spoke or corresponded. For the last 10 years of his life they never met or wrote to each other. Hall was to die without resolving their differences.

Hall remained unmoved and carried his grudge against Rippon to the grave. The dislike was reciprocated – at Richard’s funeral Dr Rippon wrote a short eulogy, not, as was normal, praising the deceased for his fine qualities, but stating: “Mr Hall was certainly not distinguished among his religious connections for the felicity of his disposition but we are given to understand that he has left behind him the testimony of an affectionate husband a kind father and a sincere friend.”
Hall made his distaste for Rippon clear to all and sundry. A letter from a friend who was the Baptist Minister in Bedford dated February 16, 1773 reads: “… you complain in your letter you are like a sheep without a shepherd. May the great Head of the Church afford you support, relief, direction and consolation. But I always think it must dismay a humble minister to think of succeeding the great Dr Gill of precious memory.”
Hall refers to his sadness at matters being “very quarrelsome”. He was still attending Rippon’s services – and indeed having him round for tea – but matters were coming to a head and on August 16 he records “was at Church meeting. Very disagreeable disputes and contentions”. Later in the year (October 11) he records “Was at Church Meeting – things very confused. A protest against the proceedings delivered in – signed by 19 persons. Very fine day. Like Summer. Cool”. There is a reference to Rippon's ordination (November 11 – “to my great concern”).
In summer, 1774 Hall appears to have made a visit to Bourton, which he did from time to time. In 1775 he was there again and we read interestingly "1775 - Sept 8th – after 10 o’clock at Night when at Bourton a Shock of Earthquake was felt. Mr Beddome felt the bed rise up three times. Felt at Oxford, Bath, Salisbury etc."
Then on January 16, 1799 Snooke died. Richard later wrote “After a short illness of about five days of a paralytic stroke departed my worthy friend and brother-in-law William Snooke Esq. aged 49. My dear wife and self went to Bourton on hearing of his illness but he died the day before we got here. We stayed the interment which was on the 17th.”
It must have been a huge blow to Richard says MR – William was all the things Richard was not – rumbustuous, charming, always laughing at his own mistakes. Richard, always pious and invoking the Lord, must have envied William his simple Faith, his generosity – and of course his enormous wealth!

Richard Hall 02

MR comments on Snooke's regular stock investments. Hall also started to dabble in stocks and shares while still young and throughout adult life kept jottings of stock movements and changes in Bank of England interest rates. The letter in the Angus Library from Beddome to Hall is on this matter. Snooke and Hall made some joint purchases – presumably, says MR, using the income from the Seward estate, since it belonged to both equally. Bengeworth was a problem. The Mansion House was run-down and neglected and it took time to find a willing tenant.
The births of Hall's children are mentioned in his Journals. By the time Francis, the third, arrived in 1757 it was clear the family had out-grown the “rooms above the shop” and in 1758 we read “we moved house – Slept at our country house at Stockwell 14th May”. Eleanor may not have known it but by then she was already a couple of months pregnant. The Journal goes on to record “November 12th 1758 my daughter Frances was born - she died 23rd December, 1758 . A most sorrowful Christmas for us all.” Later on he recalled “So, in total my dear Eleanor bore me four children, apart from ten miscarriages”.
“January 8th 1759 at the age of 60 died my father Francis Hall after a declining state of health.” After her husband’s death Hall’s step-mother removed to South Lambeth. Richard inherited the business and premises in Red Lion Street and set about expanding. From making and selling silk hosiery he progressed to selling all manner of fine silks, etc.
Reviewing his father’s life at the start of the following century Hall’s son Benjamin records that in 1763 Hall “was baptized by Dr Gill under whose ministry he had sat with much pleasure for several years. This circumstance took place at the Barbican chapel on 14th December and on the 18th he was received into full communion with Dr Gill’s Church at Carter Lane Southwark.” Hall himself notes that he gave his experience in to Dr Gill’s Church December 5, 1763. On March 17 1757 he had given a generous gift “towards Dr Gills new Meeting £20/0/0”. This was linked with the move to Carter Lane, a few hundred yards from Red Lion Street. Hall was regular at the meetings on Friday nights and on Sundays.

On his birthday (January 15) in 1767 Hall writes “The Lord has spared Me to ye return of another Birth Day – may I live more in his Fear, and to his Glory”. In that same year he moved his shop to the end of the newly refurbished London Bridge – only a few hundred yards from the old premises but in many ways a different world. He notes “November 1766 - entered into an agreement for finishing a new-built house on the corner of Lower Thames Street London Bridge”. On April 3 he “Remov’d shop Goods to my New House, the Corner of Thames Street” He opened on April 6 and that night Dr Gill dined with him (“Spent a little time in Prayer”).
At around the same time the family moved from Stockwell “to a fine house … leased in Peckham in Surry”. We read “1767 June 13th Slept at New House for first Night”.
It was the custom for the Snookes to come up to Town once a year to see the Halls, usually in April. They would stay for as long as seven or eight weeks. They would all go on various trips.
Another note says - 1770 July 6th Bound my Son William Seward Hall Apprentice to me. William would have been just under 16. In time he would inherit a very different business from the one founded by his grandfather.
In October 1771 John Gill died, aged 73. Of this bereavement Hall writes “Great is his loss in the Church and much felt by me. It is a great affliction when we know the worth of our privileges by the want of them, especially our spiritual mercies. It is possible to set too great an esteem on man - perhaps I did not prize my faithful Minister as I ought to have done. I wish I had improved more under his sound Ministry. I now will greatly miss him. Will the Lord be pleased, as a token for good to me, to bring me into a good fold and give me an appetite for His Word and Ordinances. I desire to be thankful I have my pastor’s works to consult, which I much value.” Hall had written out every sermon he had heard Gill preach over the past 25 years and had them bound. In January 1772 Hall decided to have printed – at his own expense (£1.14.6) – 200 copies of “What I remember of Dr Gill”, which he then proceeded to hand out to friends and acquaintances.

Richard Hall 01

As mentioned, I've corresponded with a descendant of Richard Hall (1728-1801) who eventually became a member of Beddome's Bourton congregation. Hall was born in Red Lion Street, Southwark, March 4, 1729 (1728 he'd say). His Mother Ann (nee Kearse) was 25, having married Francis Hall two years earlier. They had no other children.
Red Lion Street is just off Borough High Street, which in turn leads straight to London Bridge - then an unfashionable but cheap place to live. Francis was a hosier and Richard followed him into the trade. MR says Hall Junior seems to have had a good education and always had books around him. Pilgrims Progress, Milton's works and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs are "among his well-thumbed favourites". Religious treatises figure large from an early age.

Hall later wrote "From a child I have small conscience of secret prayer and remember to have been extended thereto by my dear mother when very young, perhaps not more than that six or seven years old". His copy of Willison's Catechism (first published 1735) has the earliest version of his signature on the front page.
The family Bible was a 1578 Geneva Bible that MR still has. Hall had many Bibles – his favourite being an annotated Pasham’s Bible, which he mentions specifically in his will (printed by J W Pasham in London from 1776).
Throughout the 1730s Hall lived with his father "over the shop". MR suggests that at some stage the Halls' paths crossed those of the Sewards, particularly Benjamin, no doubt through the church they attended, where John Gill (1697-1771) was pastor from 1719. Further, like Francis, Benjamin was in his thirties, from a well-off family and had come to London to be apprenticed as a hosier. Seward and Eleanor Knapp had two daughters, Frances Seward (1732-1766) born when Hall was about 4 and Eleanor Seward (1733-1780). Eleanor senior died in child birth so the Seward girls were brought up back in Badsey and Bengeworth. MR is quite confident of trips there by the young Hall, laying a foundation for the later marriage to Elinor.
When Hall was 13 his mother died (April 17, 1741) aged 38. In less than 12 months his father remarried - a widow, Turner by name. Hall had a good relationship with her until her death, 1765.

Hall noted from this same period that "On February 3rd 1743 I was bound an apprentice to my father as a Hosier at Red Lion St in the Borough of Southwark". He was just short of 15. In one place his son wrote In noticing the events of the 1745 my father mentions my grandfather being convinced of biblical baptism and of his being baptized by Dr Gill at the Barbican. He also records the death of his grand mother Mrs. Rebecca Hall who died 23rd November, 1745 aged 77. It was to be another 20 years before Hall "gave in his experience" and was himself baptised. Meanwhile he collected printed versions of many of Gill's sermons, then had them bound up into his own book entitled "Miscellaneous Sermons". MR says Gill was a most influential figure throughout Richard’s formative years – indeed for the rest of his life. His was the teaching by which all other ministers would be judged.
At some stage in the 1740s Hall and Eleanor became childhood sweethearts. Her elder sister Frances had met and fallen for a certain William Snooke (1730-1779). Snooke was wealthier than Richard but the four became very close friends in the years ahead. The two couples were to marry within a short space of time with their families' full blessings. Snooke was orphaned while still in his teens, leaving him to look after his much younger sisters Elizabeth (b 1743) and Mary (b 1745) known as Polly. For a while they continued to live at Compton Abdale Abbey. He later sold the abbey to Lord Chedworth (1768), but by then had long removed to the Manor House, Bourton-on-the-Water, taking up residence with his new bride, January 27 1752. He brought his younger sisters to live with him, so his bride in effect inherited a ready-made family with two girls, 7 and 9.

New meeting place at Bourton

MR says that Frances Snooke (nee Seward) wrote July 13 1765, prefacing her letter with a comment on her husband's "unavoidable engagements with the Meeting" obliging him to "imploy me as his secretary". She went on to explain that the pulpit was ready to be installed. She says it "may be call’d elegantly plain and neat as it has no carving about it". Evidently Hall had said that he would donate the pulpit cushion, which she asks him to send the next week as it was intended that "the Meeting" would be used "the Sabbath after next".
Hall presumably visited Bourton to inspect his new cushion (and to see his sister-in-law) a couple of months later, as the entry for September 4 1765 reads "Took Mrs Snooke behind me to Aylworth, when she fell off from the Horse on my opening a gate, but received no hurt".
MR observes that it is clear that Snooke was much involved with the building of the Baptist meeting place and also saw it as his duty to look after the pastor. His diaries apparently reveal that he paid Beddome 2 guineas every Quarter Day as well as contributing at Christmas to the cost of cleaning and heating the building in which he preached. Snooke was a very regular attender but, for some reason, was not baptised or a member. Beddome was also to become an important spiritual adviser to Hall.

After Snooke's death, his widow Anne maintained the tradition of paying Beddome what was by then 8 guineas a year. Anne lived at the Manor House for the rest of her life.

Yet more on the Sewards

MR records this note from Richard Hall's diary

1766 May 25th died Frances my beloved sister in law of the smallpox. She had but recently visited us in London and on her return to Bourton fell ill and died in her 34th Year. He says that the actual exchange of letters between William Snooke and Richard Hall during the period of the illness (which by a remarkable providence he has been able to see) is most poignant. He suggests that the news of Frances’ illness must have come as dreadful shock to Hall and his wife as they had been entertaining the Snookes in London just days before. The letters start with Snooke commenting that Frances felt poorly during the journey back to Witney – that she was unable to come down to dinner, but had some bread in her wine and water, that she felt "feverish, with a weariness in her Limbs". He suspected she had caught a cold. But the next day he reports that it is smallpox and seeks their prayers. Daily updates follow. On May 24 a specialist comes from Tewkesbury. Snooke mentions Hall's son Francis (then 11) who was staying with them in Bourton and attended school there. Sadly, May 25 brings a letter from a mutual acquaintance, Mr Palmer, that Frances Snooke is dead.

Richard and Eleanor set off from London immediately to be at the funeral. The family put up a plaque in memory of Frances in the chapel at Bourton, where it can still be seen:

"In a vault beneath is deposited all that was mortal of Frances Snooke, wife of William Snooke of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gentleman. The immortal part dismiss’d about the dawning of the Sabbath, from a body perishing by that dreadful disease the small Pox. She was the eldest surviving Daughter of that eminent Christian Benjamin Seward of Bengeworth in the County of Worcester, Gentleman. In whom the Divine Graces planted in the best of soils, a most amiable sweetness of Temper sprung up and flourished And far wide diffused their fragrance. The daughter was the exact Portraiture of her much valued father Every Alliance to whom Was an Honour – a Blessing."

Snooke remarried the following year.

The Seward will can be accessed here.

Communion Utensils

From Richard Hall's diaries MR notes that there were items bought for the Baptist Meeting House including

“October 1757 – Two two-handled pewter Cups and 2 plates gave to Bourton Meeting”

More on the Sewards

Seeing this blog, a gentleman contacted me some while ago. He is a descendant of Richard Hall who was a member of Beddome's congregation for some time and, like William Snooke another member of the congregation, married a Seward daughter, Eleanor. (Snooke married Frances on June 11, 1751, in a memorable “double” – Frances' aunt Grace Seward (widow of the martyr William Seward) marrying Josiah Roberts on the same day in the same church.) The gentleman in question (MR) has done a lot of research on Hall using the notebooks and diaries he left.

He says that shortly after Richard's wedding to Eleanor Seward (1733-1780) at Badsey Church near Bengeworth, on February 21, 1753 the Hall and Seward families left for London. Richard then writes in his diary:

“I had scarcely entered into the Marriage state before I was called deeply to sympathise with my Partner in the unexpected Death of her worthy father. Mr [Benjamin] Seward and his wife [Elizabeth] had left Bengeworth after the time of my marriage in order to visit London, where he was seized of fever which terminated in his death March 30, 1753. His last words were “Sweet Jesus, Come! Come!” His remains were interred in Bunhill Fields burying ground in a vault which Bro. William and I had built for him.”
The epitaph was apparently written by Beddome and is on the tomb:

Whoever knew the man, with sweeping eyes
Must read his mournful epitaph
Here lies the tenderest husband Providence could send.
The kindest father and the warmest friend.
The scholar, Gentleman and Christian too
what more could Grace, what more could Nature do?
Sound was his judgment, just were all his ways.
Ever applauding yet not fond of praise.
With feet he trod the Heavenly road.
Here sleeps his body but his soul is with God

Benjamin Seward's wife (his second wife Elizabeth) remained in London until her death which occurred on January 29 1754 at the age of 58. Her remains were interred in the same vault. "Thus" Richard remarked in his diary “both left their house at Bengeworth and never returned it to it. Oh how wondrous are the ways of the Lord, but he gives no account of any of his matters.” As noted previously, in her will Elizabeth left the income from £4,550 to various Baptist causes. This charitable trust was to be overseen by seven Baptist ministers,
including the minister at Bengeworth, Dr John Gill and Beddome from Bourton. Richard Hall and William Snooke were the executors of the will – and also the residuary beneficiaries.

MR refers to the great financial effect the sudden demise of both Mr and Mrs Seward would have had upon Hall’s fortunes. He explains how in the 18th Century a single woman had extensive rights to own property – but those rights disappeared on marriage. In legal parlance when she became his wife Eleanor ceased to be a feme-sole and became a feme covert – under her husband’s protection, but equally, her husband’s property. It is highly likely that before Eleanor “entered into the married state”, Benjamin Seward would have paid a dowry – and in return Eleanor would have been granted a guaranteed “pension” in the event of Richard’s death. Any property owned by Eleanor became Richard’s on February 21, and anything she acquired after that date passed to him and not to her.

MR has seen a surviving letter from Frances Snooke (March 29 1765). It shows that Richard had been asked to let his son William, then 11, visit the Snooke family at Bourton. She writes "Thank you for your very acceptable letter – the more so as it gives us the agreeable prospect of seeing our Dear Billy so soon at Bourton. We think the journey and Country Air will be very serviceable to our Dear Nephew." The same letter contained words of comfort from Frances to her sister. "I am sorry you complain of such a dark and uncomfortable frame of Soul … you seem my dear Sister to have the desires of Faith tho’ you have not the Joys of it. It is a great Mercy to experience the former and a strong Encouragement to hope that in the Lord’s time you will possess the latter".