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Title
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James Naylor (1692-1770)
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Publisher
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Moravian Lives Project
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Date
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1770
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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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James Naylor, born in Yorkshire in 1692, was a Moravian widower and faithful member of the congregation who spent much of his life working in the clothing trade and supporting the Moravian community through both practical service and spiritual devotion. After hearing the preaching of Mr. Ingham and later joining the Moravian Brethren in the 1740s, he became deeply committed to the congregation, participating in communion and serving in various roles with honesty, diligence, and humility. Widowed in 1762, he devoted his later years to a quiet and spiritually focused life, remaining active and useful as long as his health allowed. During his final illness in 1770, he spoke tenderly to his family about loving the Savior and one another, while peacefully longing to “go home” to Christ. Surrounded by hymns, blessings, and the care of his family and fellow believers, he died calmly and serenely at age 77, remembered as a faithful and beloved brother in the Moravian community.
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Subject
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Naylor, James, 1692-1770
Moravians--Biography
Biographies
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Identifier
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Ful/3/15
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Place
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Fulneck, England
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Language
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eng
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Extent
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3 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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1The course of Life of Br James Naylor, Widower.
who departed happily on April 30th 1770.
He was born October 23d 1692 at Scholes in the Parish of Birstal, Yorkshire
and came when a Child to live with his Grand Father Samuel Hillas at Bankhouse,
He served an apprenticeship with his Uncle Samuel Hillas in the Clothing Business, who lived
in Oaker Lane in this Neighbourhood. In the yr 1728, he was married to Martha Naylor
by whom He had one Son & two Daughters, of whom 1 Son our Br John Naylor in
the Choir House, & a Daughter are yet living. They lived 14 Years in Oaker Lane, after
their Marriage & then came to live at Bankhouse.
When Mr Ingham preached hereabouts in the Churches he used to attend constantly
& became concerned for his Salvation, & when the Brn came here & Societies were Settled
he became a Member thereof in the year 1741, & prospered in our Saviour’s Grace, October 6th
1744. He was received into the Congregation & December 20th of the same year, was partaker of
The Communion. He shewed that his Election of Grace was weighty to him by a faithful
concern for what belonged to our Saviour’s Kingdom & a readiness to be useful in his degree
to promote it. He Boarded with the Single Brethren at Lane End for some years. Afterward he & his late
Wife lived at the Hall for some time & then was employed in the Manufactory, & other matters suitable
for him, in all which He has Legitimated himself as a faithful Brother in the Congregation, belov’d
& Respected by the Brethren & Sisters & esteem’d by his acquaintance.
November 13th. 1759 He was made Acoluth. May 9th 1762 He became a Widower, in which
State he has spent his time in a Sabbatic enjoyment of his Choir grace, willingly employ-
ing his time in useful manner according to his active disposition in which he continued
till last February, until it was insisted upon that he declined everything & suffered himself
to be attended & cared for according as the Circumstances should require, which his son our Br.
Dr Naylor Dutifully engaged in. & going in to see him one Day, he found him on his
knees bending on his Chair which struck him with * a particular impression. His Disorder was
an extraordinary heat in his blood which teased him much & deprived him of Rest else had
no particular Sickness yet grew gradually Weaker from Day to Day, and In the beginning
He had Thoughts of Recovery as but he soon became sensible that his days of
2Sojourning here were drawing to the end, & would say with vettedness the sooner the better
& as he had not much Sickness & He thought sometimes he might continue a long time, but
a Fortnight ago he was obliged to take his Bed, although he was not inclined to
speak much, yet nor of the experience he had of our Saviour yet it was evident our Saviour
was his object & his heart lived in a Connection with him. His son observes, “I had
occasion to be ashamed of myself when I found how near a Connexion he had with our
Saviour & says farther I shall have many happy hours with him in his Sickness which
I shall never forget, especially in 2 or 3 of his last Days, when he wished that our
Saviour would come soon & fetch him home. His daughter & Grand Daughter came to see
him, & at taking leave of him, his Son being present & He looked at them & said
I have no other Council to give you but that ye Love our Saviour & one another,
which his son says melted my heart to hear that from Him. I thought it was something
like what the Apostle John said, viz little Children Love one another. He took tender leave
of one of another of his Family who came to see him, & chiefly was occupied in his
Thoughts of being soon at home with the Lord waiting for the happy moment.
On Sunday the 29th he spoke particularly with his son of his expectation of going soon
& called to mind that & said when his dear wife, thy mother went
home she gave one a Verse to Sing for
her, but I cannot sing none, I have heard often of Brethrens Joining with the singing
when they was blessd for going home with a strong voice but I cannot.
In the Evening Br Lyons Visited him again, & spoke with him once more of that happy
change which now drew near, then blessed him for his departure during the Singing. So go
then go dear heart & hide etc & some other Verses with a very happy Sensation of our
he offered & asked him if he had understood what was said & Sung, he said I feel it.
Saviour’s near presence. He asked him if he had understood what was said & sung. He said I feel it He afterwards said to his Son I shall soon be in a very happy
place, but continued in extreme pains all night till about 5 o’Clock Monday Morning
when his pains seemed to abate a little, & he could breathe easier. He lay composed with
an extraordinary clearness in his Countenance & Eyes then Slept quite calmly for
an hour, then opening his Eyes he looked very earnestly at his Son, but closed them
soon again in happy final Sleep breathing his last without the least.
His Son says It was a happy hour to one during his Sleep & departure tho
I never shall forget Our Saviour and so very near my heart that I cannot express
& am thankful to all the Brethren & Sisters for all their Love & faithfulness toward
him. Our venerable Br has thus closed the time of his abode below in
very blessed manner which has lasted 77 Years & 6 months.
The Watch Word. was “Thy Testimonies as are have I claim’d as mine heritage
forever, & why? they and the very Joy of my heart!”
Thy gospel & its saving power, is like pure Milk & honey.
