Moravian Lives @ Moravian U

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Ful/3/25
The course of Life of our Dear Br. William Birkhead,
who departed this Life March the 13th 1771.

Our Dear Br. William Birkhead: was Born Sepr 29. 1703.
At Dighton, in the Parish of Huddersfield, where he was brought
up to the Church of England. He learn'd the Clothiers Trade;
But he did not Follow it long, before he Took wholly To
Husbandery, in which he continu'd for the Chief part of his
Life. but when his strength Fail'd him for that Imployment:
He Took to Carding, & spinning, where by he [inserted above line: got] his Bread at home
with his Dear Wife: prettily & Honestly till with in a few days
of His End. He left us nothing in Writing from under his own
Hand, concerning his Life, therefore: we must content ourselves
with The Following. In the year 1748. He was awaken'd
at Dighton, in which little Place, the Brn kept then Meetings, and
Settl'd a little Society. In the year 1758. he was receiv'd into the
Society here in Mirfield. April the 4th 1763. He was at Fulneck
receiv'd into the Congn went the first time to the Holy Comunion
at Fulneck in 1766. April 26. He was Married in 1722. To Hanah
Ainley the present Widow: their Marriage was Bless'd with
9 Children, 4 Boys, & 5 Girls. 3 are gone home; 2 Daughters
are in the Choir House at Fulneck; and one son is with
The Brn in North_Carolina. our Happily departed Br was
of a Still and Bashful Turn of Mind, and not apt to Push
Himself forward as some are: and left the Disposal of himself
quite to the Brn with regard to his Degrees in the Congn and on
the other hand: the Brn are also well known that they are not over
Hasty, with regard to reception into the Congn and admission to the
L.S. and thus between them both: the Time was Protrackted to an
unusual length, which appears from the Date of his awakening =
1748. To his reception into the Congn in 1763. however our Savr
knows best, how to lead those whom He will make his own; and
This is a sufficient reason for [inserted above line: us] to believe: that it was the right
way, & the best. our dear Br Birkhead Enjoy'd a pretty good
share of Health in General: but about 4 months ago, Symtoms
of a Dropsy appear'd, yet so Favourable, that he could do

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His Work, to the last. He was not confin'd to his Bed above 2. or 3 =
Days, which is a Wonder in such Disorders. He came to the
Chapel to the Holy Comunion: almost to the last; and had it but
once brought home to his House, where [inserted above line: he] Enjoy'd [inserted above line: it] with his dear Wife
with a believing, & Hungery Heart; and beg'd sincerely: that he
might Enjoy it the next with our Sav'r. He was an Honest, Simple,
and Childlike Br a Man of very few Words: but His unexceptionable
Walk and Conduct Spoke for him, and gain'd him the Esteem,
and Sincere love of all the Brn & Sisters in the Congn
Most commonly at speaking with him before the Com'ion; he was
Found in [inserted above line: a] State, & Situation of Heart [inserted above line: &] Mind: which was a joy to his
the Labourer. He thought of Himself as becometh a Sinner: that he
was unworthy, of the least of Savrs Mercies, & Favours. He often
Wonder'd at his call to the People, and Esteem'd it a particular
Lot of Grace, that he belong'd to the Church of God. He was a Meek
and Patient Heart during his Sickness. The 13th Instant after
the Meeting: I was told, that he was very Low, and would Probably
not over Live the Night, & that he desir'd to see me &c. it was
most violent weather, however: I went, and made Him my last
visit, and some very tender, & Hearty conversation with Him,
at the End of which: I Bless'd for his departure; gave Him a
a Kiss, & my leave of Him, and to Him: to Morrow I shall be
oblig'd to be from home, but that my Heart [inserted above line: &] Prayers should
Conduct him to the very Door of his Eternal rest. the
very same Night about 10. o'clock; He fell Softly & Happily
a Sleep, in the 68. year of His Age. &c 16. we went to His House
and Sung some verses with a Happy feeling: then the Corpse
was carried to Fulneck.