Martha Watson (1743-1810)

Name:: Martha Watson

First name:: Martha

Last name:: Watson (birth)

Birth date:: 1743-07-11
Birth place:: Pudsey, Yorkshire, England
Death date:: 1810-06-21
Death place:: Fulneck, Yorkshire, England

Gender:: Female
ML ID:: mlper000285

Memoir:

Archive: Fulneck Archives
Shelfmark: MemFul Ful/SS/3

Martha Watson was born on July 11, 1743, in Pudsey, and despite a childhood longing to live at Fulneck was prevented by her father's opposition until his death freed her to enter the Sisters' House at Gumersal in 1772, after which she served faithfully for twenty-nine years managing the school kitchen. Though her self-righteous temperament and strong attachment to her work made her transition to a quieter life in the Sisters' House in 1802 a genuine trial, she bore the rheumatism and eventual dropsy of her final years with growing patience and resignation. She died on June 21, 1810, in her sixty-seventh year, having prayed to appear before the Savior as a pardoned sinner cleansed in his blood.

View Transcription of Memoir

The S Sr Martha Watson who departed this life June 21st 1810. was born July, 11. the 1743 in Pudsey & bap. in Presbitirian Church. As a Child she came often errands to Fulnek & used to say she would like to live here, but her Father being not inclined towards the Brns Congn she met with no incouragement, when she was 15 years her father departed this this life, & she was now obliged to go to service, she went to several places and at last to Hallifax, where she met with a very good Mrs, still it always dwelt on her mind, & she felt a Call in her heart to the Brn Congn not being able to withstand it any longer she made application and March 12th 1772 she obtained leave to live in the Srs House at Gumersal, she stayed here a little above a year, and was then removed to Ful nek and placed in the School Kitshen as to have management of it. Oct 6th 1773 she was rec’d into the Congn and Nov 9th 1776 she partook

the first line of the H Comn, She often used to relate that this period from her reception till she had the favour to injoy the H Comn was the most remarkable in her life, it was the time when she learned to know herself, and as a poor undone Sinner Saviors found grace in our sight. In the before mentioned situation she served 29 years with great faithfulness on which account she was respected, she had many difficulties to struggle it with, and had very hard in the beginning, but she looked to our Saviour for help, and often expressed her gratitude for what he had done for her. Being rather of a selfrighteous turn & not the best temper, it was at times troublesome for those who where connected with her, but knowing her intentions were good, every allowence were made. In 1802 she came to live in the Srs House here, being troubled with the Rheumatism; and feeling her self not able to continue in her past, this was however a great trial

to her, being used to an actife life, she could not compose mind to have to do an nothing besides she felt such atachment to her School & the Children, that she hartly ever got over it, we had often to shear & comfort her on that account. The few years she spent in in our house she was very weak & infirm, in spring 1809 it appeared as if she was going in a decline, but she recovered a little again, & it since terminated in a dropsy, from the beginning of this year she labored under much pain & sufferings, some long times the time would appear to her before our Saviour would release her, but upon the whole she bore her pains with patience & resignation to our Saviours will, to him & prayed often to claanee her in his precious blood form every stain, that she may as a pardoned sinner appear him. This favour was granted to her June 21, when she happily fell asleep in Jesus. Aged nearly 67 years.