John Clough (1706-1764)

Name:
John Clough
First name:
John
Last name:
Clough (birth)
Birth date:
1706-05-31
Birth place:

Cleckheaton Parish of Birstall

Death date:
1764-03-18
Death place:

Cleckheaton Parish of Birstall

Gender:
Male
ML ID:

mlper000600

Relations (family):

  • John Clough, parent
  • Michael Clough, sibling
  • William Clough, sibling
  • Grace (Brook) Clough, spouse
  • Mary (Taylor), child
  • Grace Clough, child
  • John Clough, child
  • William Clough, child
  • Samuel Clough, child
  • Henry Clough, child
  • Joseph Clough, child
  • Benjamin Clough, child
  • James Clough, child

Memoir:

  • Archive: Fulneck Archives
  • Shelfmark: Ful/3/97

John Clough was born in 1706 at Cleckheaton, the son of a blacksmith who trained him in the trade but also indulged his youthful wildness, and though first registered as a Society member by Mr. Ingham at Ossett around 1740, he soon grew indifferent before eventually being received into the congregation and admitted to communion. A reserved and deaf man, he was widely respected by his neighbors as honest and helpful, but his natural disposition made him shy toward his spiritual laborers, and he struggled openly with resentment toward the Savior following the death of his wife — a grief he reconsidered only after witnessing a neighbor's family left destitute by similar loss, prompting him to acknowledge he had been mercifully dealt with. He died on March 18, 1764, having fathered ten children, two of whom remained under the care of the Brethren in the Great Boys' Choir.

View Transcription of Memoir

Our Br. John Clough was born at Cleckheaton in the Year 176 1706. his Father who was a Blacksmith taught him his Trade when Young he was very Wild. & through the His Impradeney of his Father who let him learn to Dance &c & delighted in such things & took pleasure in seeing him make Proficency in such things while young he was very Wild. He Married in his Thirteth Year, & had by his Wife who departed this Life in July last 10 Children 8 Boys & two Girles of whom two sons are under the Care of the Brn & in the Great Boys Choir, & the two Younger sons are with, their Br, who carries on his Business all the rest are in the World. he was at the first Genl. Meetg by Mr. Ingham at Ossel abt. the Year 1740 & who took down his name as a Society Member at Cleckheaton; but he soon become very Indifferent abt the Matter, till he heard the Brn & was Recd into the Society. he was Recd into the Congn & admitted to the Communion he was a Man of a Reservd turn of Mind, and if shd. Judge according to the Expression out of the fullness of the Heart the Mouth speak them. he was to Indifferent & therefore had little to say abt. the Inward Connection of his Heart with the Man of Sorrows He was very much Respected by his Neighbors who lookd upon him as a very Honest Man & shewd a willingness on all occasions to help him in any time of Distress, he was very deft which added to his Natural Disposition was the Reason of his being shy towards his Labourers. He repind at the Calling to me his Wife & thought our Savr had dell hardly, but upon the Death of a Neighbour his Wife & one Child and some small Children being left as Orphons, he began to Reflect upon his Own Situation become a Sinner on acct of his hard thoughts of our Savr & acknowledged he had been Mercyfully dealt with he departed March 18, 1764.