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Title
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Crispin Taylor (1698-1752)
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Publisher
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Moravian Lives Project
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Date
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1752
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Type
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Text
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Format
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image/jpg
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Description
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This biographical memorial account describes the life and death of Crispin Taylor (1698–1749), a Yorkshire shoemaker and devoted Moravian husband and father of nine children. Deeply affected by the preaching of Benjamin Ingham, he and his wife joined the Moravian Brethren, where he became known for his simple faith, humility, cheerfulness, and strong devotion to Christ. Holy Communion was especially meaningful to him, bringing him profound spiritual joy and comfort throughout his life. In his final illness, despite severe pain, he remained calm, patient, and eager to “go to my dear Saviour,” repeatedly encouraging his family to “cleave to the Saviour.” Shortly before his death he tenderly blessed his wife and children, then died peacefully and quietly, described as resting safely in the “everlasting arms and pierced heart of Jesus.”
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Subject
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Taylor, Crispin, 1698-1752
Moravians--Biography
Biographies
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Identifier
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Ful/3/09
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Place
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Fulneck, England
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Language
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English
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Extent
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6 pages
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Rights Holder
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Fulneck Moravian Archives, Fulneck, UK
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transcript of
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Crispin Taylor was born in Wyke in the Parish of Birstall on April 26th, 1698, and lived with his father, who taught him the trade of a shoemaker, until April 1722, being then 24 years of age, he was married to Mary Wilkinson, who is his present wife, and had by her 9 children, four of which are left behind, the other five went home before him. In his married state, he approved himself a careful, loving father and a tender husband. When Mr. Ingham first began to preach hereabout, he soon went to hear him, and his heart was touched by the Holy Ghost in the first sermon he heard. From that time, he sought all opportunities to hear the Gospel of our dear Saviour’s death and atonement. After the societies were settled here in Yorkshire, and put under the care of the Brethren, he and his wife upon their request were also taken in amongst them, which was a great satisfaction to both, and proved a blessing to their hearts, which made them some time after very desirous to be taken into the congregation and to be in a closer connection with the Brethren. He therefore spoke with Brother Toltshig about it, expressing his heart’s desire to be wholly our Saviours on October 1st, 1748. He had after many earnest and repeated requests this favour granted him to the great joy of his heart, for it proved an extraordinary blessing to him, so that his wife and all about him saw a visible change, he being so cheerful, lively and happy, as they never had seen him before. This continued with him. He was a simple and upright heart, and when he heard any one reason about
(2) things, he used to say: What is this to us, the lamb will know it best; and again: Let us wait for our Saviours time, his time is always the best. Soon after this, his heart secretly longed to partake of the corpse and blood of Jesus in the sacrament, when unexpectedly he was sent for, and told by the Brethren that our dear Saviour, who knew his hunger, would soon accomplish his desire, and should therefore be confirmed and blessed, which made his heart very glad and more attached to the wounds of Jesus. On March 24th, 1749, he partook of the Holy Communion for the fist time when his soul and body was so affected and penetrated through and through with the martyred corpse and blood of Jesus, that he could not express it with words. He was so happy in his heart and felt such blessings that he scarcely knew what he ate or drank or how he walked or worked for many days, and this sound he felt ringing in his ears perpetually: My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. And indeed it proved itself to him to be real life, and meat and drink to his heart. When his wife was concerned, that she did not partake with him of the same privilege, he behaved very tender towards her, and comforted her, saying: Have a little patience, for the lamb’s time is the best. Several years ago, he had got a surfeit by heating himself with working over hard, which for three years past, has at times troubled him much with a severe costiveness and pain in his bowels. About ten weeks ago he was taken with it again but continued cheerful and quite resigned to our Saviour; Brother Oxlee went to see him, and when he looked at him, he found him so solid and grounded, and with such a sinnerlike shame, as he never before had observed in him, so that coming home he said to his wife: Crispin Taylor ripens fast for Eternity. On October 28th, he grew worse and could work no more but soon after was obliged to keep to his bed. Brother Oxlee visited him, and asked him, whether he thought he should be soon well again? He answered softly (for he feared his wife would hear him and be grieved at it) but yet very cheerfully, and said: No, I shall go to my dear Saviour, and further being asked: Whether he should like to go home, he answered Oh yes, with all my heart and soul; I would go this night, if it pleased Him, but yet I’ll wait till he calls me, for his time is the best. Brother Hauptmann soon after came to Scholar to speak with the communion Brethren and Sisters and called on to see him, of which he was exceedingly glad and spoke of it with great joy. Some days after, Brother Oxlee came to see him again and found him asleep, and as he had had no sleep for many nights because of his extreme pain, he would not have him disturbed. But after he got wake his wife told him of it. O said he: Why didn’t you wake me, for I love the Brethren and am very glad of their visits, especially him, who lives so near me, and I am always better after I have seen any of them. On November 12th, Brother Oxlee visited him again, and being asked to pray for him, he asked Crispin, what his heart desired most, at which he looked up, smiled and said: my heart’s desire is, to be with my dear Saviour. He spoke but low, but one could understand and feel, what he said and according to his earnest request
(3) Br Oxlee recommended him to the lamb’s outstreched arms and bleeding heart with an inexpressible feeling. On November 19th he grew weaker and weaker and being asked: If he would not take any of the doctors’ medicines and he hereupon answered quite loud, saying: It signifies nothing, what I take, and you may give me what you will, I shall go nevertheless go to my dear Saviour. Brother Hauptmann has been to see me, and he has given me some thing, which is better then all the doctors’ stuff in the world, meaning the Sacrament of the corpse and blood of our Saviour. After that, his pains increased more and more, so that he could talk no more, but yet was sensible at the time. On November 29th, notwithstanding his being exceeding weak with his disorder, he was quite changed from a severe costiveness to a real purging, so that there seemed to be some hope of his recovery. They begged much that Brother Hurlock might come and see him, which he soon after did, but found him in such circumstances, that he rather despaired of his recovery. But he and the rest of the family were much pleased, that he came and saw him. Brother Oxlee, who came to see him, asked how he found himself, he said: my Brother, perhaps I shall not go yet, although I should like it, if my dear lamb would call me this night, for I sometimes think it long before he fetches me, but he knows best. He was very resigned and notwithstanding his violent pain, he suffered, yet he bore it patiently and scarcely ever complained. On December 12th, Brother Oxlee visited him again and found him exceedingly cheerful. He laid hold of his hand, and pulled him down to him to kiss him. He told him that he took it very kind that he came so often to see him and thanked him many times for it. He was then a little easier. He was told that next Sunday would be the communion at Grace Hall, of which he was very much rejoiced and glad. Brother Hauptmann came to see him few days after, and spoke with him about the ensuing feast of the corpse and blood of our husband. He found him very cheerful and happy and very hungry after the participation of the blessed communion with the congregation, December 15th being Friday at night, he altered very much for the worse in an instant. His wife perceiving it, asked him, if she should call his children; he said yes. When they came in, he was in great pain, notwithstanding that he called them to him, and began to speak tenderly to them, as well as his painful body and faltering tongue would admit of. He prayed them and even charged them each of them with dying words and weeping eyes, that they should give themselves and cleave to the crucified Saviour, and then reached out his trembling hand to bless and assure them, that if they should cleave to their Saviour, he would bless them and bring them through, and you Betty, with all your children, meaning his daughter, who is married. His poor weeping wife, feeling and seeing that he was going, said: Will you go and leave me behind? Oh says he, cleave to the Saviour, cleave to the Savoiur, and I will soon see you again. What, when I come to him? Ay, ay, cleave to the Saviour and he will bring you through. He gave her his hand to confirm it with
(4) his pains growing stronger, he seemed as if he would tire, to stretch himself, which was into the everlasting arms and pierced heart of Jesus, where he now rests sweetly and safely, secure and free from sin and earthly misery. He asked his wife to assist him, which she willingly did: He afterwards seemed as if he would go to sleep. His wife, not hearing him breathe, took a candle to look at him, and found that he was really gone without the least sighs or struggle, looking exceeding sweet and smiling, and thus he happily departed.
Reading version:
Page 1
Crispin Taylor, was born in Wyke in the Parish
of BirstallApril ye 26, 1698, and lived with
his Father, who learnd him the Trade of a Shoemaker,
till April 1722, being then 24 years of Age he was
married to Mary Wilkinson, who is his present Wife,
and had by her 9 Children, four of which are left
behind, the other five went home before him. In his
married State he approved himself a carefull, lo-
ving father and a tender Husband.
When Mr. Ingham first began to preach here about,
he soon went to hear him, and his heart was touchd
by the holy Ghost in the first Sermon he heard.
From that time, he sought all Opportunities to hear
the Gospel of our DrSaviours Death and Attonement
After the Societies were settled here in Yorkshire,
and put under the Care of the Brethren, he and
his Wife upon their Request were also taken in
amongst them, which was a great Satisfaction to
both, and proved a Blessingto their hearts, which
made them some time after very desirous to be ta-
ken into the Congregation and to be in a closer Con-
nexion with the Brn. He therefore spoke with
Br Toltshig about it, expressing his heartsdesire
to be wholy our SavioursOct the 1st 1748. he had
after many earnest and repeated Requests this
favour granted him& his Wife to the great Joyof his
heart, for it proved an extraordinary Blessing
to him, so that his Wife and all about him
saw a visible Change, he being so chearfull, lively
and happy, as they never had seen him before.
This continued with him. He was a simple and up-
right heart, and when he heard any one reason about
Pages 2 and 3
things, he used to say: What is this to us, the Lamb will
know it best; and again: Let us wait for our Savi-
ours time, his time is allways the best. Soon af-
ter this his heart secretly longed to partake of The
Corpse and Blood of Jesus in the Sacrament, when
unexpectedly he was sent for, and told by the Brn that
our drSaviour; who knew his hunger would soon
accomplish his desire, and should therefo be confirmd
and blessed, which made his heartvery glad and
more attached to the Wounds of Jesus. March the 24
1749. he partook of the holy Communion for the 1st
time when his Soul and Body was so afected and pe-
netrated thro & thro with the martyrd Corpse &
blood of Jesus, as he could not express it with Words.
He was so happyin his heart and felt such Blessings
that he scarce knew, what he eat or drank, or how
he walkd or workd for many days, and at this sound
he felt ringing in his ears perpetually: My flesh
is meat indeed, and my Blood is Drink indeed.
And indeed it proved itself to him real Life, and
Meat and Drink to his Heart. When his Wife was
concernd, that she did not partake with him of the
same Priviledge, he behaved very tender towards
her, and comforted her, saying: Have a little Pa-
tience, for the Lambs time is the best.
Several years ago he had got a Surfeit by heating
himself with working over hard, which for three years
past, has at times troubled him much with a
severe Costiveness and Pain in his Bowels.
About 10 weeks ago he was taken with it again
but continued chearfull and quite resigned to our Sa-
viour; Br Oxlee went to see him, and when he
looked at him, he found him so solid and groun-
ded, and with such a Sinnerlike Shame, as he never be-
fore had observed in him, So that coming home he said
to his Wife: Crispin Taylor ripens fast for Eternity.
Oct The 28. He grew worse and could work no more.
But soon after was obliged to keep his Bed. Br Oxlee
visited him, and asked him, whether he thought he
should be soon well again? He answered softly (for
he feard his Wife would hear him and be grieved at it)
but yet very chearfully, and said: No, I shall go to my
DrSaviour, and further being asked: Whether he should
like to go home, he answered O yes, with all my heart
and Soul; I would go this night, if it pleased him, but
yet I’ll wait till he calls me, for his time is the
best.Br& Sr Hauptmanns soon after came to Scholar to
speak with the Communion Brn & Srs: and calld on
to see him, of which he was exceeding glad and
spoke of it with great Joy. Some days after Br
Oxlee came to see him again, and found him asleep,
and as he had had no Sleep for many nights,
because of his extreme pain, he would not
have him disturbd. But after he got wake his
wife told him of it. O sayd he: Why didnt you
wake me, for I love the Brethrenwith my whole heart
and am very glad of their Visits, especially him, who lives
so near me, and I am allways better after I have
Seen any of them. Nov: the 12Br Oxlee visited
him again; and being asked to pray for him, he
asked Crispin, what his heartdesired most, at
which he looked up, smiled and sayd: my hearts
Desire is, to be with my drSaviour. He spoke
but low, but one could understand and feel, what
he said and according to his earnest Request
Pages 4 and 5
BrOxlee recommended him to the Lambs outstrechd
arms and bleeding heart with an inexpressible
feeling. Nov: 19he grew weaker and weaker and
being asked: If he would not take any of the Do-
ctors Medicines & he hereupon answered quite
loud, saying: It signifies nothing, what I take,
and you may give me, what ye will, I shall go
nevertheless go to my drSavr. Br Hauptmann
has been to see me, and he has give me some-
thing, which is better, then all the Doctors Stuff
in the World, meaning the Sacrament of the Corpse
and Blood of our Savr. After that his pains in-
creased more and more, so that he could talk no
more, but yet was sensible at the time. Nov.
the 29. notwithstanding his being exceeding weak,
yet his Disorder, was quite changd from a Severe
Costiveness to a real Purging, so that there seemd
to be some hope of his Recovery. They begd much
that BrHurlock might come and see him, which
he soon after did, but found him in such Cir-
cumstances, that he rather despaired of his Re-
covery, But he and the rest of the family were
much pleased, that he came and saw him. Br
Oxlee, who came to see him, asked, how he found
himself, he said: my Brother, perhaps I shall
not go yet, alltho I should like it, if my dear
Lamb would call me this night, for I sometimes
think it long, before he fetches me, but he knows
best. He was very resignd and notwithstanding
his violent pain, he sufferd, yet he bore it pa-
tiently and Scarce ever complaind. Dec. 12, Br
Oxlee visited him again and found him excee-
ding chearfull. He laid hold of his hand, and
pulld him down to him to kiss him. He told him
that he took it very kind that he came so often
to see him and thankd him many times for it.
He was then a little easier. He was told that
next Sunday would be the Communion at Grace-
Hall, of which he was very much rejoiced and glad.
BrHauptmann came to see him few days after, and
spoke with him about the insuing feast of the Corpse
and Blood of our Husband. He found him very
chearfull & happy and very hungry after the Par-
ticipation of the blessedCom-
munion with the Congregation, The 15. Dec. being Fryday at night
he alterd very much for the worse in an instant.
His Wife perceiving it, asked him, if she Should
call his Children; he said: Yes. When they came
in, he was in great pain, notwithstanding that he
calld them to him, and began to speak tenderly
to them, as well as his painfull Body and faulte-
ring tongue would admit of. He prayd them and
even charged them each of them with dying Words
and weeping Eyes, that they should give themselves
and cleave to the crucified Saviour, and then rea-
ched out his trembling hand to bless and assure
them, that if they should cleave to their Saviour
he would bless them and bring them through, and
You Betty with all your Children, meaning his
Daughter, who is married. His poor weeping
Wife, feeling & seeing that he was going, said:
Will you go & leave me behind? O says he, cleave to
the Saviour, cleave to the Saviour, and I will Soon
See you again. What, when I come to him? Ay, ay,
cleave to the Saviour and he will bring You thro.
He gave her his Hand to confirm it with His
Page 6
His Pains growing stronger, he Seemd as if he would
Turn, to stretch himself [insertion] which was into the ever-
lasting Arms and pierced heart of Jesus, where
he now rests Sweetly and safely, secure and free
from Sin and earthly Misery.
[insertion] and askd his Wife to assist him, which she willingly
did: He afterwards seemd as if he would go to Sleep
His Wife not hearing him breath took, a Candle to
look at him, and found, that he was really gone
without the least Sighs or Struggle, looking ex-
ceeding sweet and Smiling, and thus he happily
departed.
