Martha Adkinson (1743-1768)

Title

Martha Adkinson (1743-1768)

Alternative Title

Martha Atkeson (1743-1768)

Publisher

Moravian Lives Project

Date

1768

Type

Text

Format

image/jpg

Description

Written in English, this document is a biographical memoir of Martha Adkinson (1743–1768), a member of the Moravian Single Sisters’ community. Compiled from the recollections of her band and class sisters after her sudden death from an apoplectic fit, the narrative recounts her childhood connection to the Moravian Church, periods of spiritual struggle and estrangement, and her eventual deepening faith and commitment to communal religious life. The memoir describes her residence in the Choir House, participation in the congregation and Holy Communion, service as a cook in the Economy at Littlemore, and her growing cheerfulness, humility, and devotion to Christ in the final years of her life. The account emphasizes themes of grace, repentance, fellowship, spiritual transformation, and peaceful preparation for death common to Moravian memorial literature.

Subject

Adkinson, Martha, 1743-1768
Moravians--Biography
Women--Biography

Source

Fulneck Archives

Identifier

Ful/SS/38

Place

Littlemoor, England

Yorkshire, England

Temporal Coverage

1743-06-27 - 1768-06-29

Language

English

Extent

5 pages

Relation

James Atkinson , parent

Elizabeth (Mortimer) Atkinson , parent

Thomas Atkinson , sibling

Grace Atkinson , sibling

Sarah (Webster) , sibling

John Atkinson , sibling

Elizabeth Atkinson , sibling

Rights

Fulneck Moravian Archives, Fulneck, UK

transcript of

The Single Sister Martha Adkinson who departed this life through the means of an apoplectic fit has left nothing in writing, neither communicated herself further than what can be gathered by the relation of her band and class Sisters. She was born Scols in the Parish of Birstol, June 18, 1743, and has been in connection with the Brethren’s Church from her childhood as her parents belonged thereto, and it was perceptible that she had drawing of grace in her heart when she belonged to the Great Girls’ choir. Therefore, [she] had the privileges of all the opportunities belonging to that choir, yet she drew no particular connection nor discovered any real concern for the prosperity of her heart till about the year 60, having been at her class in which the spoke of some particular happiness she enjoy and her course was very (illegible) and (illegible) through her (illegible) at that time through her years was very (illegible) and of life and also situation of abode made (illegible) had not the approbation she expected. Therefore she was greatly affronted and made a resolution never to come more amongst the Brethren’s people, but turn to the world and make the best she could to her advantage. But this lasted not long for such strong conviction seized her that utter ruin would infect and mislead of putting her worldly resolution into practice she was obliged through the necessity of her own heart to declare to her parent, that she must go to live in the Choirhouse, or she could have no rest. They were surprised to hear such a declaration and told her perhaps the Choirhouse Sisters would not have her. But she took the resolution to speak with her Aunt Rose Mortimer about it who according to her desire communicated her intentions to the labourers, and in a little time she got her desire granted and November 1761 she came to live in the Choirhouse and was received into the congregation the following spring 1762. She did not seem to give any real testimony of a cheerful course amongst us till the beginning of the reading of the word of our dear Saviour relative to the general Synod, these brought her to a strict examination of herself seeing many of her choir companions go to the Holy Communion from time to time, and she still left behind, it was a real trial to her and when the accounts belonging the general Synod was communicated, our deceased Sister came under a strict examination in her own heart and by the occasion of the feeling which then persisted in the Congregation. She thought she also stood in need of our dear Saviour’s gracious absolution. This conviction seized her more and more and obliged her to retire into the wood, by a real drawing in her heart that our Saviour would absolve her there for she had never felt before such need of grace and pardon. What she enjoyed here with her soul’s lover was a comfortable and abiding blessing to her heart. January 30, 1767 she became a participant of the holy sacrament and on November following, she was appointed by our Lord’s directions to serve as cook in the Economy at Littlemore. Her leaving the Choirhouse became a great trial to her not understanding House business Till within some month before her departure having through grace got to see that the whole perplexity was her own making and became more cheerful, clear and comforted and like a child sung verses when she was about her business to everyone’s edification. On the 28th she had her birthday and came in the Choir House to celebrate it with the Sisters; [she] was extraordinarily cheerful and happy for her election of grace, expressed herself very sinnerlike and thankful, sensible of her great unworthiness and that she had the favour to cleave poor and needy to our Saviour — and felt herself with Soul and body devoted to Him who hath so much forgiven her. On the 30th she breakfasted with her Sisters, was quite well and extraordinarily cheerful with them, after which she went about her usual business, had scarce time to call one of the Sisters before she was taken in a fit and soon after had the favour to kiss those dear hands and feet who have absolved her here, with the blessing of her choir – the Sudden unexpected departure left the most affecting tears impression of those present – and in the Choir she was the first.

Martha Adkinson (inserted page)
In November last she was by our Lord’s direction appointed to move with to Littlemore to serve as Cook in that Economy, which was for some time a great trial to her, particularly as she was not used to House business to leave the Choir House. Within this few months she came more clear in her heart that it had proved a real blessing to her heart and happy school in which she had learned to know herself, and the patience our dearest Saviour has shown which she with a melted and thankful heart told her labouress – she was naturally of a closed disposition which made her; but through the grace of our Saviour she became openhearted and had a tender connection with her wounded friend. This made her much beloved among the Sisters. It was perceived that she particularly was had hold of by within this few months which she in a sinnerlike band confessed with a melted and a thankful heart told her labouress that now it was all turned to grace and blessing, and she would not but remain by her lot of grace for all she could she naturally was of a close disposition but through the connection which our dear Saviour had brought her into with himself she became more open-hearted which made her much beloved amongst her sisters. Within these few months past she became so cheerful and delight herself amidst all her business to sing to her loved one. On the 28th she had her birthday and came to celebrate it in the Choirhouse and was childishly thankful for her election of grace that she could as a poor and needy one cleave to our dearest Saviour to whom she would devote soul and body eternally to be his for he had forgiven her much. On the 30th she breakfasted with her Sisters was extraordinary cheerful well and occupied herself immediately in her usual business keeping and doing what was necessary to be done she had scarce time to call one of the Sisters to tell them she was not well but was directly in a fit and speechless and though all possible means was used for her relieve without any effect for she soon had the favour to kiss those hands and feet which had absolved her, thus with the blessing of her Choir during an effecting impression to all present she happily went over into health’s happy bound in the 25th year of her age.