Bristol Contemporaries

Roger Hayden's book Continuity and Change includes a list of Bristol students 1720-1791. Beddome was a student for only a relatively short time but his contemporaries seem to have been as follows.

1. Joshua Andrews (1708-1793) A Welshman who later ministered back in Wales. On June 3 1769 there was a collection for him at Bourton (see Church Book) "a poor minister near Abergavenny".
2. John Beasley (fl 1720-1765) Pastor Abingdon (1742-45) Wantage (1745-57)
3. Edward Cooke (fl 1730-1770) Pastor at Pershore
4. Caleb Evans (?-1778) A lesser known Caleb. Half brother to Hugh Evans. He became a school master back in Wales.
5. David Evans (?-1786) Welsh. He supplied the Bourton pulpit before Beddome. He went on to Hook Norton (1739-48) Great Gransden, Huntingdonshire (1749-1751) and Biggleswade.
6. Evan Jenkins (1712-1752) Welsh. Various pastorates
7. John Poynting (1719-1791) Followed his father Isaac in Worcester 1741-1791
8. Joseph Stennett (1717-1769) Son of Dr Joseph, brother of Samuel, all pastors. After working with his father he was pastor at Coate, Oxfordshire, 1742-1769
9. Benjamin Vaughan (d 1789) Welsh. Became a Sandemanian.
10. Isaac Woodman (1715-1777) The one baptised in Broadmead, 1735. Pastor in Warwick and Leicester
We may also note that Thomas Flower Jr (1706-1767) son of the Bourton minister prior to Beddome (Thomas Flower Sen died in 1740) was in Bristol just before Beddome. He was at Horsley for 4 or 5 years before becoming pastor in London for eight years but then switching to the corn trade, which earned him the sobriquet "Worldly-minded Flower".

So five Welshmen, one local man, a Londoner and three others. Beddome was in his early twenties as was Stennett. Woodman was slightly older, Poynting slightly younger. Andrews and Jenkins were a few years older. With Beasley, Cooke, Vaughan and the two Evans's we cannot be sure.

Chronology

We will seek to add to this from time to time.

(1673 Birth of mother Rachel; 1674 Birth of father John in Warwickshire. He later moved to London; 1697 September 19 John becomes assistant pastor back in Warwickshire)
1717 Jan­u­a­ry 23 Born Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire. (Birth of Anne Steele)

1718 [1] Birth brother Joseph (later moves to America)
1720 [3] Year church covenant made at Bourton
1721-23 [4-6] (1723 Birth Ryland)
1724 [7] Move to Bristol
1726 [9] Death grandmother Mercy Neckless
1727 [10] Death Peter Kitterell, Broadmead; coming of Foskett to Bristol, who lived with Beddomes
1728-30 [11-13]
1731 [14] March 23 Death Aunt Rachel Cope
(1732 Birth future wife Elizabeth Boswell)
1733 (Future father-in-law Richard Boswell baptised). Ap­pren­ticed to a sur­geon in Bris­tol

1734-1736 [17-19]

1737 [20] (Bromsgrove) August 7 Mr Ware of Chesham visiting minister. Preaches on Luke 15:7. Beddome for the first time, deeply impressed. Made him weep for some weeks after. Becomes student at Bristol Academy under Foskett.
1738 [21] (Worcester) Still at Bristol. Enigma poem in Ladies Diary (Bazley leaves Pithay Church)
1739 [22] (Alcester) Moves to Lon­don to study at Independent Academy. September 27 Baptised by Samuel Wilson. Joins Bap­tist church Pres­cott Street.
1740 [23] (Birmingham) January 9/February 28 First sermons in London. Recognised. Spring Death of Thomas Flower at Bourton. May 26 Letter from parents. Beddome begins to preach at Bour­ton. Called as pastor.
1741 [24] (Pershore) Awakening in Bourton. Forty converted, including Ryland (bap Oct 2). Nothing suitable being found elsewhere, work began on a fine new and commodious manse just the other side of the Windrush in Bourton.

1742 [25] (Warwick) May 17 Letter from father to son on improving preaching. Dec 23 Sends letter courting Anne Steele.
1743 [26] (Leominster) April 5-7 Preaches for the first time at Midland Association. May Some 48 new people join church, bringing membership to 113. Accepts Bourton pastorate. September 23 Ordained. Joseph Stennett preaches, Foskett gives charge.

1744 [27] (Tewkesbury) (Death of tutor John Eames). Year William Palmer moves Olney to Bourton.
1745 [28] (Bridgnorth) May 18 Ryland says in diary, it was on this day, after a year's study in Bristol, that BB told him of Bourton church's desire to see if he was fit for the ministry. Saturday, May 25 Rides over to Horsley to preach (Rev 19:8). Wet. Ryland accompanies him part way to talk.

1746 [29] (Bromsgrove) February 28 and subsequently Ryland preaches at Bourton. April 4 Bourton church calls Ryland to ministry, although there is a little delay at his request. May 20, 21 Midland Association meetings. Moderator. Catechising commended.

1747 [30] (Upton)
1748 [31] (Bourton) Chapel extended. October Invited to join father in Bristol. Declines.
1749 [32] (Bromsgorve) April 26-28 Midland Association meetings. Moderator. September Moves into manse alone. Dec 11 Marries Elizabeth Boswell (1732–1784) daughter of Bourton deacon Richard. Severe six weeks illness and composition of perhaps his first hymn.

1750 [33] (Warwick) Jan 7 Birth of first child John Reynolds (d 1765, London). Death Samuel Wilson and call to London. Declines but calling goes on into 1751 before it ends. Chapel extension strengthened.
1751 [34] (Tewkesbury) (June William Snook marries Frances Seward)
1752 [35] (Birmingham) Feb 27 Writes preface to Scriptural Ex­position of Baptist Catechism, by Way of Quest­ion & Answer. (Death fellow minister Evan Jenkins, 40. William Snooke moves to Manor House, Bourton.) July 12 Collection for Brother Whitewood of Reading.

1753 [36] (Bourton) Assocaiton meetings in August? (February Richard Hall marries Eleanor Seward) Birth Benjamin Jr (d 1778, Edinburgh)

1754 [37] (Worcester) (Jan 29 Death Elizabeth Seward, second wife of Benjamin, 58)
1755 [38] (Bromsgrove) June 18 Fast day (French War) Aug 13 Fast day (War and harvest)

1756 [39] (Bridgnorth) Birth Samuel Beddome (d 1815)
1757 [40] (Upton) March 23 Death of mother, Rachel, 62 April 22 Fast day (French War) Oct 24 Death of father, John, 83 Oct 29 Death of Elizabeth’s mother Hannah, 60. Died from a fever.

1758 [41] (Alcester) (Feb 7 Death Joseph Stennett Bath, Sep 17 Death Bernard Foskett, 74) Birth Foskkett Beddome (d 1784) Dec 26 Note about books from sister Mary

1759 [42] (Pershore) Midland Association meetings in June? BB author of Association Letter. Newton hears him in Warwick. Two letters extant (Jul, Oct)
1760 [43] (Leominster) May 11 Collection for Bro Hall and Arnesby people. Four letters extant (May July Sep Dec)
1761 [44] (Bengeworth)
1762 [45] (Warwick) Period of personal spiritual depression. Letter from Daniel Turner.
1763 [46] (Tewkesbury) Birth Boswell Brandon (d 1816). Chapel burial ground enlarged and gallery stairs put outside.

1764 [47] (Birmingham) Preaches with Ash at Midland Association. (Bourton) Church further enlarged.
1765 [48] Birth daughter Elizabeth (m Samuel Favell 1799 d 1830). Association meetings in Bourton (August). Writes association letter. Death son John Reynolds.
1766 [49] January Nathanael Rawlings (d 1809), member at Bourton, settled as pastor at Back Street Chapel, Trowbridge. (May 25 Death of Frances Hall nee Seward) Nov 9 Collection for fire Montreal, Canada

1767 [50] (Worcester) April Visit of Samson Occom and Eleazar Wheelock (June 4 William Snook remarries (Anne)) June (?) Preached at Association. (Death Thomas Flower Jr, 61).

1768 [51] (Bromsgrove) Snooke diary reveals many preaching texts, etc. (April Pub Reign of Grace; May d Richard Haynes)
1769 [52] (Upton) Feb 4 13 hymns ap­pear in the Bris­tol Bap­tist Col­lect­ion of Ash and Ev­ans. Birth son Richard (d 1794). June 3 Collection in Bourton for Joshua Andrews in Wales. Death son John. (Death Joseph Stennett, only 27). Oct-Dec Snooke's diary reveals some things

1770 [53] (Bewdley) Preaches at Midland Association. Receives honorary MA de­gree from Prov­i­dence Coll­ege, Rhode Is­land. June 3 Collection for Joshua Andrews Abergavenny (prompted by Joshua Thomas, Leominster)

1771 [54] (Alcester) Midland Association meetings. Moderator.

1772 [55] (Leominster) Nov Letter to H Keen extant
1773 [56] (Pershore) June (?) Preached at Association.
1774 [57] (-1788) ‘Double lecture’ established six months in every year with the churches at Abingdon, Cirencester, Coate, Fairford and Wantage. Snooke Diary available.
1775 [58] (Dudley) Snooke Diary available.
1776 [59] (Tewkesbury) Preaches at Association. Second ed of Exposition on the Baptist Catechism. Nov 13 Fast day (American War)

1777 [60] (Birmingham) William Wilkins becomes assistant to Beddome. (Death pastor Isaac Woodman, 62).
1778 [61] (Warwick) Sunday Jan 4 Death son Dr Benjamin in Edinburgh (Beddome did not hear until later but had the congregation sing his hymn "My times are in thy hands") June (?) Preaches at Association. (Nov 11 Death Anne Steele).
1779 [62] (Cirencester) Birth son Josephus (d 1835)
1780 [63] (Worcester) May (?) Preaches at Association. Gives Robert Hall an opportunity to preach.
1781 [64] (Upton) Dec 13 Wilkins angrily resigns. Son Samuel m Jane Wilkins.
1782 [65] (Bewdley). Birth grand daughter (by Samuel) Mary Ann.
1783 [66] (Bromsgrove) From the beginning of this year Beddome confined to his home by gout. Birth (by Samuel) grand daughter Elizabeth.
1784 [67] (Hook Norton) Jan 21 Death wife Elizabeth. Birth grandson (by Samuel) Benjamin. Preaches at Association in Hook Norton. Oct 20 Death of son Foskett, drowned at Deptford

1785 [68] (Bourton)
1786 [69] (Alcester) Preaches at Association. Son Boswell Brandon m Anne Wilkins. (d minister David Evans). Birth grand daughter (by Samuel) Jane (d 1788). Dec Letter from Reynolds.

1787 [70] (Leominister) 36 hymns appear in Rippon's Selection. No church meeting for 3 months due to hay and corn harvests. Aug 24 William Carey preaches at Bourton. Birth (by Benjamin Brandon) grandson John Reynolds.
1788 [71] (Pershore) Death grand daughter Jane. Birth (by Benjamin Brandon) grandson William Wilkins
1789 [72] (Evesham) June (?) Attends last Association meeting. Preaches Php 4:3. Other preacher Wm Dore. Letter available. (Death of Benjamin Vaughan who had become Sandemanian.) Birth (by Benjamin Brandon) grand daughter Anne.
1790 [73] (Tewkesbury)
1791 [74] (Ross) Wilkins resigns. (Death John Poynting, minister at Worcester, 72). Birth grandson and grand daughter (by Samuel) Samuel Archdale and Sarah. Birth (by Boswell Brandon) grandson Samuel.
1792 [75] (Upton) (Death J C Ryland). Final visit to London. Oct 25 Amends will. Birth (by Boswell Brandon) grand daughter Jane.
1793 [76] (Bond St, Birmingham) Beddome expresses doubts as to wisdom of mounting an overseas mission. (Death Joshua Andrews in Wales). Birth (by Samuel) grand daughter Jane Reynolds
1794 [77] (Coseley) Death of brother Joseph in America and son Richard. Birth (by Boswell Brandon) grandson Boswell Brandon.
1795 [78] (Shiffnal) Aug 23 preaches last sermon at Bourton (Hos 5:6); Sep 23 Death in Bourton. Buried in the Baptist meeting-house graveyard. Also death son Richard.
(1797 [Wolverhampton] Bourton call a Mr Uppadene; 1799 Death William Snooke; 1800 [Worcester] Bourton call Thomas Coles; 1805 Publication of first volume of sermons; 1807-1820 As many as eight volumes published; 1815 Death son Samuel; 1816 Death son Boswell Brandon; 1817 Posthu­mous col­lect­ion of his hymns pub­lished, Hymns Adapted to Pub­lic Wor­ship or Family Devotion, con­tain­ing 830 piec­es. Several posthumous volumes of his sermons were also printed; 1825 New editions of sermons still coming out; 1835 Collection of 67 unpublished sermons with memoir published)

Family Tree

A family tree featuring Benjamin Beddome can be found here online.
Here we learn that
1. John Beddome was born 1675 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire and died 1757 in Pithay, Bristol. He married Rachel Brandon in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire, England.

Their children were:
i. Martha Beddome, born in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire.

ii. John Beddome, born 1716 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire.
iii. Benjamin Brandon Beddome, born 1717 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire; died 1795 in Bourton on Water, Gloucestershire. He married Elizabeth Boswell 1749 in Bourton on Water.
iv. Joseph Beddome, born 1718 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire.
v. Rachel Beddome, born 1719 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire.
vi. Mary Beddome, born 1720 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire.
vii. Bernard Beddome, born 1721 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire.
viii. Sarah Beddome, born 1727 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire.
ix. Caleb Beddome, born 1729 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire.

2. John Beddome (1675-1757) had a father, probably called Benjamin and his mother was Mary Tibbetts. This Benjamin was born 1655 in Stratford on Avon and died 1682 in Stratford on Avon. A note in a family tree at Bristol Baptist College suggests that he was a shoemaker who lived at 3 Sheep Street, Stratford. He married in 1675. Besides John Beddome (1675-1757) they had Mary Beddome (d 1677 in Stratford on Avon) and Mary Tibbetts Beddome.

3. This Benjamin, father of John, was the son of another probably Benjamin and a Susannah (nee Barnard, I discover elsewhere). This Benjamin was born 1620 in Stratford on Avon and died 1680 in Stratford on Avon. The Bristol family tree suggest he was a joiner at the same address. He married Susannah 1643 in Stratford on Avon.
Their children were:
i. Charles Beddome, born in Stratford on Avon.

ii. John Beddome, born 1647 in Stratford on Avon.
iii. Elizabeth Beddome, born 1656 in Stratford on Avon.
iv. Susanna Beddome, born 1659 in Stratford on Avon.
v. Katharin Beddome, born 1665 in Stratford on Avon.
vi. Emmet Beddome, born 1650.
vii. Benjamin? Beddome, born 1655 in Stratford on Avon; died 1682 in Stratford on Avon.
viii. John Beddome, died 1646 in Stratford on Avon.
ix. Benjamin Beddome, died 1650.

4. Going back further again, this Benjamin was the son of a John and Emme. This John was born about 1600 in Stratford on Avon and died 1646 in Stratford on Avon. The Bristol document suggests that among other things he was a schoolteacher. he had also been town clerk. He married Emme in 1617 in Stratford on Avon.

5. The online document also states that the children of our Benjamin Beddome (1717-1795) were:

i. John Reynolds Beddome, born 1750. He died 1769 (Bristol document)
ii. Samuel Beddome, born 1756. He married Jane Wilkins of Cirencester in Clapham in 1781 (Bristol document). He died 1815.
iii. Foskett Beddome, born 1758. This is the one who drowned at Deptford in 1784.
iv. Boswell Brandon Beddome, born 1763.
v. Elizabeth Beddome, born 1765.
vi. Richard Beddome, born 1769.

vii. Josephus Beddome, born 1779. He married Sophie Petrie (in Clapham 1804 says the Bristol document).
(There is also viii. Benjamin (1753-1778) who became a medical doctor according to the Bristol manuscript. He is the one died young from a "putrid fever" in Edinburgh).

Also a Joseph was born in 1768. He appears to ahve died from whooping coughon OCtober 17, 1775, aged seven. Another child was born in 1775 (a tenth Snooke calls him).

6. As for Beddome's grandchildren we know (from the Bristol manuscript) that Samuel and Jane had six children (Mary Ann who married William Binnings, Elizabeth who married Rev J W Charlesworth of a long line of Anglican clerics, Benjamin, Samuel Archdale, Jane and Richard) and Josephus and Sophia had seven (John Reynolds, William Wilkins, Anne whose second marriage was to Olinthus Gilbert Gregory [1774-1841] the author of a brief memoir affixed to an edition of Beddome's sermons, Boswell Brandon, Samuel, Jane and Sophia).

7. The son of Elizabeth and Rev Charlesworth was Samuel Beddome Charlesworth, Rector of Limpsfield. He married his first cousin Maria Beddome daughter of wealthy barrister Richard (1818). They had three daughters. The youngest Maud Elizabeth (1865-1948) was married to the leading Salvationist Ballington Booth, son of William Booth.

Acknowledgement and hymns

Among the items found in Bristol are a note that reads as follows

Dec 26 1758

Acknowledge the receipt of two

Book (viz:) of Benjamin Beddome

Anti: his of Rome}

Family Instructor}

Mary Bright

Mary was Beddome's sister. Mr Bright was her second husband.

On the reverse of this paper are five hymns not known from elsewhere

Earth's vanities farewell

How greatly honourable Israel was

Nor dark nor clear nor Night nor Day

How excellent thy drawings are

I'm tired of living here below

The book references appear to be to Antiquities of Rome by Basil Kennett first published in 1690 and Daniel Defoe's enormously popular Family Instructor first published in 1715.

Parental Letter

Perhaps one of the most interesting things in Bristol is what appears to be a letter from Beddome's parents when he was studying in London. It is quoted in part in Olinthus Gregory's memoir but the whole contains first words from the father then words from the mother. Some of the father's handwriting is not entirely clear. I've done my best.

To Mr Benjamin Beddome
at Mr Wards
Bookseller at the Kings Arms
in Little Brittain

May 26 1740 Munday

I wish yr letter had come a post sooner for then yr cloth
might have been sent up wt lidyarde Cox. I am sorry Mr
Willson is in such a hurry to call you to ye ministry it
would have been time enough just before you came Away
but seeing it must be so I think you must not preach in public
above once or twice at most at your own place & no where
else except Mr Stennet or his people ask you & if ye
latter do it you may serve them as offt as their necessity
requiairs you may get Mr Rogers in Bartholomew Close
to make it up for you give my hearty services to him
& his good wife & tell him I would desire him to put
it into one of his best hands to make up for you & put
a good Button upon it wh it is made Is not God in ye Ruin
wills it wills or God yunto ys countrary wills it if you go
to ye places I have mentioned in my last which perhaps
you have not yet Rcvd ye lord I hope will help you to
make a solemn dedication of yr self to God & enter
on ye work of ye lord with holy awe & trembling
I hope to get sundry of yr friends in ys place to beg
assistance for you & a blessing on thursday next
I have no time to add I leave ye Rest to yr mother
farewell
my dear Child I can't Inlarge now by Reason
your fathers hand & mine is so different that it will make
you pay double postage so I shall only add that I Received
ye wig paid Carriage 1s 6d your father don't know but it
came in the Box I have sent the paper parcel of cloth
this day by Mr Biddell att the kings arms Holborn Bridge
about two o'Clock I hope my dear the lord will be with
you & help you in the ensuing work Mr Foskett is gone
to the assosiasion at Birmingham designs to be at home
a friday come sevennight mr moor is better mrs Beers is
still seemingly at ye poynt of death mr Poynting of
Woster is dead John Trotman the Glazer is in a consumtion
we all fear is gone home being able to do nothing
but I must add no more but conclude with kind Love
to yourself & service to all enquiring friends
your truly affectionate mother Rachel
Beddome
the carriage of the parcel is paid

Sources - what's where

I have now been able to visit both the Angus Library, Oxford, and the Bristol Baptist College Library, where most of the primary source materials for Beddome are housed. Both have printed copies of his catechism.

The main things the Angus Library has are

1. Beddome's printed sermons in several volumes

2. The relevant Bourton on the Water Baptist Church books

3. A copy of Beddome's will (and perhaps the will itself)

4. A letter from Beddome to Richard Hall

5. Beddome's Library of 600 or more volumes

6. Manuscript hymns

7. Notes to an unpublished sermon

8. Memorabilia belonging to and compiled by grandson Samuel Beddome in an informative notebook

9. Letters by Beddome (?)

10. A copy of his son Benjamin's thesis in Latin

11. Minutes of the Midland Association for the appropriate period

 

In Bristol the main things are

1. A letter from Beddome's parents when he was studying in London

2. Three volumes of manuscript hymns plus some others loose

3. Three books of lecture notes donated to the library by him in 1794

4. A family tree

Bristol also has two letters to John Beddome and Bernard Foskett and what looks to be a fascinating 1755-1790 diary by Mary Jackson nee Ludlow (1738-1807) a member of John Beddome's congregation in Bristol.

A copy of Brooks' history of the Bourton Church can be found in the Dr Williams Library here in London. This is also now available online through Google Books.

At the Gloucestershire Record Office transcripts of four diaries of William Snooke can be found with several references to Beddome.
There are also some few letters by Beddome in the National Library of Wales Mann collection.

Bristol Baptist College

I made me a long promised trip to Bristol Baptist College yesterday. I set out nice and early in the sunshine and headed along the familiar route west. My grandmother (nee Hazleton) was born in Bristol and I still have relatives there but I don't know the city at all and have rarely been there. My AA directions were fine and I found the way across to the college easily enough. It is in leafy Clifton near Clifton College. This is not the building that I visited as a teenager on a "Greek class outing" to see the Tyndale Testament. The Bible was sold to the British Library (1994) and they are now in premises new to them. Not an over large building, it has lecture rooms, offices, library, chapel, etc, but no accommodation (I think). The students are down now but some youth ministry students were still around.
The purpose of my visit was to consult the Benjamin Beddome materials they have (see my Beddome blog for more on that). The librarian Shirley Shire was very helpful. It was good too to meet honorary archivist Roger Hayden, author of several items on Baptist history including his book Continuity and Change: Evangelical Calvinism among 18th century Baptist Ministers trained at Bristol Baptist Academy, 1690-1791. I was glad to meet him and chat a little and buy a signed copy.

I had to pay for the privilege but given what I was getting plus lunch, free parking and what I saved on the postage with the Hayden book I was quids in except for the petrol to get there. I'll probably need to go again but it was good to see what is actually there.