Reference to Beddome's Father by Benjamin Francis

Beddome's contemporary Benjamin Francis wrote many elegies. In 1791 he wrote one cclebrating Caleb Evans. Near the beginning he speaks of the muse and one who ...

… 'Midst kindred graves she spends her cloudy days;
The Father's first, the Son's she next surveys:
Down, down she gazes on the dear remains,
That sweetly sleep where lasting silence reigns.
Near by their side, her worthy NEWTON lies,
NEWTON the meek, the amiable, the wise,
With learned FOSKETT, humble, grave, and kind,
And gifted BEDDOME of a pious mind.
The Sire and Son the muse had long enjoy'd
As bosom friends, in friendly deeds employ'd: ...

The references are to Bristol College teachers Hugh Evans (1712-1781), Caleb Evans (1737-1791), James Newton (1733-1790), Bernard Foskett (1685-1758) and John Beddome (1674-1757).

Reference to Beddome by William Steele in 1777

In a letter written from William Steele 1715-1785, brother of Anne, to his 24 year old niece Mary Steele 1753-1813 (who married Thomas Dunscombe 1748-1811 but only in 1797) on Tuesday, September 9, 1777, Steele refers to a smallpox epidemic in Bristol that necessitates his returning to Broughton via Amesbury, He hopes to “see Stonehenge”. He mentions a rumour that Beddome's protege Mr [Nathaniel] Rawlin(g)s has been asked by Trowbridge Baptists to leave Bristol [or Broughton?] and return to Trowbridge as their preacher, working in the clothing trade with his wife's relations. He says that he met Mr and Mrs Bedome [sic] at Mr Norton's on September 8 and Beddome (by then over 60) preached at Broadmead on the Sunday morning (presumably September 7). He also describes Henry Kent who “has become so great a beau” in second mourning. The letter includes a postscript from “Amanda” [Miss Amanda Froud] to “Sylvia” [Mary Steele].

Robert Norton 1744-1808, was a Bristol clothier, married to Hannah Evans (1746-1807), daughter of Hugh and Sarah Evans. He was also brother-in-law to Thomas Mullett (1745-1818). Like Mullett who removed to London he would leave Bristol and the Broadmead Church for Nailsea to become a successful clothier and tobacconist. He was in business with John Heskins (1778-1838), who was married to a daughter of Benjamin Francis, and a son of Beddome's. His daughter Sarah Evans Norton Biggs (1768-1834) would become a friend of the poet Mary Steele and an acquaintance of the diarist Henry Crabb Robinson (1775-1867).

Funeral Sarah Evans 1751

Sarah Evans (nee Browne) 1714-1751 was the first wife of Hugh Evans and mother of Caleb. Born in 1714, she died on July 8, 1751, en route to Pershore. She was buried in Pershore and Beddome (who Caleb calls her most intimate and esteemed friend in a sermon for his father's second wife, Ann) took the funeral, preaching from Matthew 3:12. The sermon was not printed. 

Beddome also wrote these words for her headstone:

Graceful her person, beautiful her mind,

Good-sense and virtue, true religion join'd:

But few excell'd, in every part of life,

As daughter, sister, parent, friend and wife.

Lo! In this silent tomb her ashes lie!

Then learn of her to live, O learn to die!

Hayden 08

On page 112 Hayden relates how in 1775 Thomas Purdy, then at Chipping Norton and a friend of John Sutcliff, visited Beddome, seriously incapacitated with gout, at Bourton. He encouraged Beddome to take on Sutcliff as his assistant. However, with Hugh Evans due at Bourton soon, he fears that his plan will fail and so urges Sutcliff to go and preach in Bourton. Sutcliff refuses to play ball.