Mary Horsman (1795-1855)

Name:: Mary Horsman

First name:: Mary

Last name:: Horsman (birth)

Birth date:: 1795-04-22
Birth place:: Leeds
Death date:: 1855-02-27
Death place:: Fulneck

Gender:: Female
ML ID:: mlper000251

Memoir:

Archive: Fulneck Archives
Shelfmark: Ful/SS/52

Mary Horsman was born on April 22, 1795, in Leeds, the daughter of a tradesman, and came to the Sisters' House at Fulneck in 1820 following the death of her parents, where she became an active member of the congregation and served in the Sunday school. From around 1826, a spinal injury sustained in a fall left her in chronic pain and near-total financial dependence on the community, a condition her naturally independent spirit struggled to accept, though she came to recognize the Savior's hand in her suffering and her patient endurance became an example to those who visited her. She died on February 27, 1855, at Fulneck, in her sixtieth year, following a sudden decline brought on by influenza, departing unexpectedly in the early evening to the astonishment of those around her.

View Transcription of Memoir

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.