John Richardson (Quaker)
Encyclopedia
John Richardson was an English Quaker
minister and autobiographer.
, East Riding of Yorkshire
, where his father, William Richardson (1614-1679), a shepherd, had been converted to Quakerism by William Dewsberry or Dewsbury
in about 1652. He was twelve when his father died, leaving his mother with a livestock farm to run and five children. John had one older sister (who died about 1682) and three younger brothers, of whom the youngest was born about 1676.
, who tried to prevent him from attending Quaker meetings, turned him out of the house, and eventually left him just five shillings in his will." Richardson became a weaver's apprentice, and then took to clock and watch mending from a shop in Bridlington
. He began preaching regularly, despite a stammer, and made a preaching tour of the Midlands, during which he met William Dewsberry in Warwick
. Four more tours of England and Wales followed in 1687-95. In about 1695, he married Priscilla Canaby (c. 1672-c. 1700), a baker's daughter, who also began preaching about 1698. Further tours of Southern England and of Scotland followed. He was left with three children under the age of five when his wife died, but the youngest also died less than a year later.
in 1701 after a 16-week crossing. He spent more than two years there, ceaselessly touring and disputing with Quakers and non-Quakers, on one occasion accompanying William Penn
to treat with some American Indians, who made a favourable impression on him. He also visited Bermuda
and Barbados
.
. She too took part in the Quaker ministry, but she died on 18 December 1711 at the age of 33. Richardson wrote a poignant memorial to her as an exemplary wife and Quaker.
The urge to travel and preach continued with Richardson for the rest of his life. He toured Ireland in 1717 and had criticisms to make of the local Quakers on grounds of slackness. This he attributed "first by being brought by custom to be in love with strong-drink, and keeping loose company." He paid a second visit to America in 1731.
John Richardson died at Hutton-le-Hole in 1753, at the age of 87, and was buried at the Quaker burial ground of Kirkbymoorside
. His Life was published in 1757 and went into several editions over the next century. There are abundant print on demand
editions available today, but there has been no modern scholarly edition.
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
minister and autobiographer.
Early life
John Richardson was born in 1667, probably in the village of North CaveNorth Cave
North Cave is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated to the west of Hull city centre on the B1230 road. South Cave is approximately to the south east....
, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, where his father, William Richardson (1614-1679), a shepherd, had been converted to Quakerism by William Dewsberry or Dewsbury
William Dewsbury
William Dewsbury was Quaker minister in the early period of the movement. He was born in Allerthorpe, Yorkshire, around 1621. Little is known about his parents and education, apart from the fact that his father died when he was eight years old. Deswbury studied both scripture and other religious...
in about 1652. He was twelve when his father died, leaving his mother with a livestock farm to run and five children. John had one older sister (who died about 1682) and three younger brothers, of whom the youngest was born about 1676.
British tours
Richardson records in his Life an initial "aversion in me to the people called in scorn Quakers, and also to their strict living, and demeanour, plainness of habit, and language, so none of these I learned from them." He became converted at the age of sixteen, which entailed being "weaned from all my companions and lovers." Richardson disapproved of his mother's remarriage in about 1785 to an unnamed PresbyterianPresbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
, who tried to prevent him from attending Quaker meetings, turned him out of the house, and eventually left him just five shillings in his will." Richardson became a weaver's apprentice, and then took to clock and watch mending from a shop in Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
. He began preaching regularly, despite a stammer, and made a preaching tour of the Midlands, during which he met William Dewsberry in Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
. Four more tours of England and Wales followed in 1687-95. In about 1695, he married Priscilla Canaby (c. 1672-c. 1700), a baker's daughter, who also began preaching about 1698. Further tours of Southern England and of Scotland followed. He was left with three children under the age of five when his wife died, but the youngest also died less than a year later.
American tour
Leaving his two surviving children with foster parents, Richardson set out for America as an evangelist, arriving in MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 1701 after a 16-week crossing. He spent more than two years there, ceaselessly touring and disputing with Quakers and non-Quakers, on one occasion accompanying William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
to treat with some American Indians, who made a favourable impression on him. He also visited Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
and Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
.
Later life
Richardson reached home on 18 April 1703 "and found my children well." In the same year he remarried, to Anne Robinson of Hutton-le-HoleHutton-le-Hole
Hutton-le-Hole is a very small village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, about seven miles north west of Pickering. Hutton-le-Hole is a honeypot village...
. She too took part in the Quaker ministry, but she died on 18 December 1711 at the age of 33. Richardson wrote a poignant memorial to her as an exemplary wife and Quaker.
The urge to travel and preach continued with Richardson for the rest of his life. He toured Ireland in 1717 and had criticisms to make of the local Quakers on grounds of slackness. This he attributed "first by being brought by custom to be in love with strong-drink, and keeping loose company." He paid a second visit to America in 1731.
John Richardson died at Hutton-le-Hole in 1753, at the age of 87, and was buried at the Quaker burial ground of Kirkbymoorside
Kirkbymoorside
Kirkbymoorside is a small market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England which lies approximately 25 miles north of York midway between Pickering and Helmsley, and has a population of approximately 3,000.-History:...
. His Life was published in 1757 and went into several editions over the next century. There are abundant print on demand
Print on demand
Print on demand , sometimes called, in error, publish on demand, is a printing technology and business process in which new copies of a book are not printed until an order has been received...
editions available today, but there has been no modern scholarly edition.