Mary Horsman (1795-1855)
Item
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Publisher
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Moravian Lives Project
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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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Mary Horsman, born in Leeds in 1795, joined the Moravian Sisters’ House at Fulneck in 1820 and became active in the congregation and Sunday school work. After suffering a serious spinal injury from a fall in the Sisters’ House around 1826, she endured many years of pain, physical weakness, and financial hardship, relying heavily on the kindness and support of her companions and friends. Though her naturally independent spirit sometimes made her struggles difficult to bear, she often recognized her suffering as part of the Savior’s loving care and became known for her patience, cheerfulness, and kindness toward younger members of the community. Following another fall and a final illness brought on by influenza, her health rapidly declined, and she died peacefully in the arms of her Savior in the sixtieth year of her age.
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Identifier
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Ful/SS/52
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Language
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eng
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Extent
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4 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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our Late Sr Mary Horsman was so well known in Fulneck that very little of anything new can be related of her She was born of respectable Parents her Father being a tradesman in Leeds where Mary was born & baptized in the parish Church of St Johns Peter in the yr 1795. After the death of her Parents having thro’ a friend heard of the Srs House in Fulneck she in 1820 made application for admission and subsequently became a member of the Ch of the Brn & during the ministry of our late Br Ramftler was actively employed in the Sunday school. About the yr 1826 it pleased the Lord to effect her with disease of the 2
spine the consequence of a fall down a flight of steps in the Srs House her suffering was often very great & added to the loss of some little property left to her by her Father her circumstances were indeed to almost entire dependance on the kindness & affection of her companions & friends. nor did her Heavenly Father permit her to hope in vain but supplied her every need throughout her painful pigrimage tho’ her naturally lively and independant spirit often tempted him to believe his dealings hard with her yet at other times could she clearly perceive the loving kindness of
her Saviour in thus afflicting her — her patient bearing proved an edifi- cation to some who in later yrs visited her sick chamber. her kind & cheerfull temper endeared her to the more youthful members of the family & the remembrance of her will not soon be forgotten about 6 or 8 weeks ago being quite alone & walking across the room her strength gave way & she fell — from that time she evidently declined & many times express’d a desire to depart & be with her Saviour. yet several believed that Years could were still before her – a fortnight ago Influenza’s hold fastened on her tender frame & she was wholly confined to her bed, but no serious alarm
took place in the minds of her friends in general. tho’ her sufferings much pained those who so affectionately mind her. On tuesday the 27th she was comforted by the visit & prayers of her Minister to whom she was much Attach’d — in the afternoon a just change in her appearance & inability to swallow was perceived & at a 1/4 past six o’C. in the evening to the amazement of all around her her tourtured Soul took its flight to the arms of Jesus in the 60th year of her age.
