John Morgan (1743-1761)

Title

John Morgan (1743-1761)

Publisher

Moravian Lives Project

Date

1761

Type

Text

Format

image/jpg

Description

John Morgan, born near London in 1743, was raised from early childhood in Moravian educational communities at Buttermeer, Smith House, and Lambshill, where he was recognized as intelligent, diligent, and gifted in learning. Although he was often reserved and struggled with openness and emotional warmth in his spiritual life, he gradually became more sincere and connected to the Savior as he matured. He faithfully worked in the choir house learning shoemaking and was respected for his obedience, careful work, and desire to improve despite poor eyesight and recurring inner anxieties. During a serious illness in 1761, John reflected deeply on his spiritual condition, expressing both humility about his shortcomings and confidence that Christ would receive him. Near the end of his life he peacefully accepted death as his Savior’s call “home,” and he died tenderly and calmly at age 17 while the congregation was celebrating Holy Communion.

Subject

Morgan, John, 1743-1761
Moravians--Biography
Biographies

Identifier

Ful/3/54

Place

Fulneck, England

Language

eng

Extent

3 pages

Rights Holder

Fulneck Moravian Archives, Fulneck, UK

transcript of

DepartedMay the 9th 1761
The Youth John Morgan was born at Kensington near London
May the 26th 1743. He came to the Childns Oeconomy at Buttermeer
when he was about 3 Years old, and came from thence with the
whole Oeconomy to Smith house in 1749. During his childhood he
had a promising Genius and Capacity for learning, and in his
disposition had something pretty and taking, but with regard to
his heart there always appeard a tendency to being close, and re-
serv’d, which often made his Brnsigh, least in futurity the same
should continue and consequently prove detrimental to his Boys and
Youths course in the Congn

About the time of the Oeconomies removing from Smith house
to Lambshill in 1753 there often appeared something of the dear Mo-
thers Labour upon his Heart, particularly when his curiosity of which
he had a great share led him upon searching into things which he was
afterwards shy in speaking about. In this course he went on, and
his Brn were often very much distressed on his Account, and full of
fears lest his want of uprightness and openness would make his course
heavy to himself and painful to our Saviour & this Brn he had how-
ever Intervals betwixt, sometimes dear and promising & then again
dark and gloomy, particularly if any thing manifestly appeared against
him on account of which he should become a Sinner. However he
applied himself with exemplary Diligence to writing Congn Accounts,
and showed a certain pleasure in doing whatsoever was committed to
him with great faithfulness and punctuallity.

He was receiv’d into the great Boys choirJany 9, 1797 by Br Renatus
which seemingly had a blessed effect upon him for a long time af-
ter, but his close disposition of Mind caused him many anxious
moments, when he heard he should be spoke with separately, and he sel-
dom returned from it but with red and wet Eyes on Account thereof.
He came to live in the Choir-house and learn the shoema-
kers businessAugust the 21st 1758, His diligence at his Work and
desire to learn the business thoroughly was pleasing to every

one who had to do with him but he laboured under an impedi-
ment in his Eyesight which often pain’d him and made him dis-
pair sometimes of ever learning to work as he should do

In Novr 1759 he was one of those Youths whom our dear Johannes
regulated during his visit here, since which time he has been more
clear and unreserved than ever before. In general his course outwardly
has been very orderly ever since he came into the choirhouse,
always showing Obedience to his Brn and esteeming that as highly
necessary both in himself and others. Those 3 or 4 Months past
he has been much more concern’d for a livelyHeart, and spoke
of it with more feeling than formerly, was also more clear and open
& had a more real connexion with our Savr. In the begining of his
Sickness which was towards the latter end of April, he did not think
much of going home, nor did he desire it much because his heart
was not in so tender to situation towards our Savr as it could &
should be. Several serious bands were kept with him, whereby
he discovered a sensibility not observed in him before. The
5th Instant he altered, told a Labourer he knew he was much
concern’d on his Account, and not without Reason, for said he
my heart has not been so lively as it should, but be not distress’d
or troubled about me, perhaps you may think it would not be agre-
able to me to go home, but I can ease you on that Account, and
assure you my concern comes not from that Corner, whenever he calls
me he will take one to himself, I am his & shall certainly go to
him, this is a clear and made out matter to me, but my concern
is that my heart is not more lively and warm & that I have not
enjoy’d his precious nearness as I could and should have done.
This Conversation was sattisfactory. He also spoke with our Savr
from that time in a more Sinnerlike but confident manner
as long as he was able to speak, & also told his Labourers and other
Brnhe now knew he should go home this time express’d also
a desire after it. At last it was very difficult for him to speak
but when visited did all in his power to render himself intelligible

and particularly to express himself about going home. The 7th
in the Morning he expressed again his desire to go home so as to
be understood, & about 11 at Night his Sickness took such a turn
that it was thought he would go directly.

From this time he took very little notice of any person or thing
about him but lay quite still seemingly without pain till the 9th
(that ever memorable day) in the evening while the Congn was
enjoying the holy Communion, about 1/2 an hour before his de-
parture he came quite to himself, was very sensible of his pain,
but not able to speak, & 3/4 past 9 while the Congn prostrated
he was deliverd into the hands of his Redeemer in a peculiar
tender manner, to whom he breathed out his spirit with the bles-
sing of his Choir, & during the singing of several Verses in
his 18th Year