October 1736

OCTOBER  1736

October 1736 

Wesley's Warming Journey

By Brenda Rees (written in The Colony, TX Oct. 13,14, 2010)

Reminder that between September 20 and October 12, 1736 is blank in John Wesley's Journal.  Notes from diaries.

Friday, Oct. 1, 1736 – Studied German and visited. The Brownfield's were on his sick list. [See my book on early Frederica Settlers - blue]

Saturday, Oct. 2, 1736 – The weather is colder and Wesley says he is "very lively."  He studied French and German, visited for five hours and probably sang Passion hymns for his communicants class.  Curnock stated that Wesley resumed more precise methods for his diaries.

Sunday, Oct. 3, 1736 -- Prayers and singing.  Ingham preached early.  Wesley, Ingham and Delamotte walked.  Read Canons and verses on Death at night.

Monday, Oct. 4, 1736 – "Fell" trees.

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1736 -- Wesley read Hebrew with Delamotte.  He read German and later 'Coteterri' which Curnock said "(i.e. John B. Cotelerius, a seventeenth-century King's Greek Professor, and writer on the early Fathers)."

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1736 -- Wesley is sick again so fasts until about 9 p.m..  Kept busy all day with German studies, pastoral visitation, French lessons, "a religious meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Causton" and a few others.

Thursday, Oct. 7, 1736 – More "tree-felling."

Friday, Oct. 8, 1736 – Wesley's German work was interrupted by work for Ingham and Delamotte.  Wesley also visited with a Spaniard, probably Haselfo.  He fasted until 6 p.m. which was usual for his Friday fast.

Saturday, Oct. 9, 1736 – [An interesting pattern for this 2010 year of my writing Wesley's Warming Journal is the days are the same as 1736.  Today is my birthday.]

John Wesley is preparing for his fourth visit to Frederica

Wesley visits with Mrs. Causton about her niece, Miss Sophy.  He will leave Ingham in charge of Savannah with assistance from Delamotte.  Wesley sorted books and packed.

Wesley wrote and read extensively.  Photograph by Brenda Rees (c).

Sunday, Oct. 10, 1736 – He preached today based on his reading of Ephrem Syrus.

Monday, Oct. 11, 1736 -- People are anxious that Wesley is leaving.  He visits Mr. Neimer who is sick and writes for Miss Bovey. [Sophy] A 'Dr. Nun'  comes. [This could be Nunez who taught him Spanish.]   His diary indicates it is his last day in Savannah for some time.

[Wesley ultimately makes five trips to Frederica even though a present day monument only says four.]

 Frederica monument describing "four" trips when there were actually five trips by John Wesley to Frederica.  Photograph and research by Brenda Rees

p. 279

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1736 – In his Journal: "We considered if anything could yet be done for the poor people of Frederica; and I submitted to the judgement of my friends, which was that I should take another journey thither; ....

 [Important conversation between Wesley and Mr. Causton about Miss Sophy.]

About five in the evening, being set out for Frederica the next day, I asked Mr. Causton what commands he had to Miss Sophy.  Some of his words were as follows: 'The girl will never be easy till she is married.'  I answered, 'Sir, she is too much afflicted to have a thought of it.'  He replied, 'I'll trust a woman for that.  There is no other way.'  I said, 'But, there are few here who you would think fit for her.'  He answered, 'Let him be but an honest man -- an honest, good man; I don't care whether he has a groat.  I can give them a maintenance.'  I asked, 'Sir, what directions do you give me with regard to her:'  He said, 'I give her up to you.  Do what you will with her.  Take her into your own hands.  Promise her what you will.  I will make it good.'"

Causton notes pp. 280 - 281 -- Wesley's diaries show his constant practice of neatness and orderliness.  Wesley, while in America [Spanish Florida and the developing Colony of Georgia] laid aside some classics and plays.  However, Curnock said, "The one prominent idiosyncrasy of his former life that survived was his fondness of the companionship of women, who, however, must be religious and intellectual, like his sisters and lady comrades and correspondents of earlier days...."  "...From the Easter of 1725, under the influence of Thomas a' Kempis, Jeremy Taylor, and 'Varanese' he began to build up his life of rigid subjection to law, rule, and methodical habit...."  "John Clayton to a great extent took the place of 'Varanese' but led him back to the ideals of the early Church, whilst Gambold encouraged his leaning towards Mysticism."

FOURTH FREDERICA JOURNAL

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1736 – Wesley's Journal:  "I set out for Frederica, and] came thither early on Saturday morning, and found few things better than I expected.

Thursday, Oct. 14, 1736 -- The wind is fair and Wesley traveled past Mrs. Clark's Bluff.

Friday, Oct. 15, 1736 -- While he traveled by boat and between going to shore, Wesley read Rogers On the Thirty-nine Articles and Bishop Patrick's County Ministers Advice.

Saturday, Oct. 16, 1736 -- Wesley meets Mark Hird on the Bluff.  Things are bad.  Morning and evening prayers had stopped.  Wesley's Journal:  "Even poor Miss Sophy was scarce a shadow of what she was when I left her.  Harmless company had stole away all her strength.  Most of her good resolutions were vanished away; and to complete her destruction, she was resolved to return to England...."

Monday, Oct. 18, 1736 -- He invited several Germans at Frederica to his house for services as they did not understand English.

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1736 – Wesley's religious reasons for Miss Sophy not returning to England make no impression.  However, when he invokes friendship, Wesley wrote in his Journal:  "Upon which she burst into tears, and said, 'Now my resolution begins to stagger';"...

Note:  Miss Sophy does not appear to be of the same social and intellectual status of his earlier lady friends such as Betty Kirkham and the Granville sisters.

In his diary, Wesley noted Miss Sophy "in her hut."  Frederica was only about one year into its establishment as a British Colony in the debated land area of Spanish Florida.  Many homes were still primitive palmetto huts.

Palmetto plants from my Frederica collection -- from walk, pathway on St. Simons Island.  Photograph by Brenda Rees

Wesley is also showing some signs of weariness by not waking until 5 a.m. and falling asleep again after 30 minutes of prayer.

Friday, Oct. 22, 1736 -- Wesley returned to his earlier routine.  He woke at 3 a.m., slept at 4 a.m., and prayed at 5 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 23, 1736 -- Oglethorpe returned "from the southward' and was "cold and strange."  Wesley shared this with Miss Sophy and they continue to discuss her returning to England.  Miss Sophy said of Oglethorpe, 'Let him be pleased or displeased.  I care not'; and then turning to me with the upmost earnestness, she said, 'Sir, you encouraged me in my greatest trials.  Be not discouraged in your own.  Fear nothing.  If Mr. Oglethorpe will not, God will help you.'

Sunday, Oct. 24, 1736 – Wesley's Journal: "I had a long conversation with Oglethorpe, in consequence of which I told her: 'Miss Sophy, Mr. Oglethorpe thinks it best that you should return to Savannah immediately.'  She fell into a great passion of tears, and said she could not bear the thoughts of it.  I talked with her near an hour, told her Mr. Causton's engagement to make good whatever I should promise her, so that she had only to make her own terms; and I left her a little more composed."

Curnock added in his footnotes here his interpretation of this situation.  That Oglethorpe would like John Wesley to marry Miss Sophy as it would keep Wesley in America [or at this time the developing Colony of Georgia also Spanish Florida] and be of assistance to him.  Miss Sophy's Uncle Causton also saw the marriage to the intellectual and increasingly influential Rev. Wesley as a benefit to him.  Miss Sophy was very concerned about returning to Savannah as an earlier, dangerous suitor, Mr. Mellichamp, might murder her.  Mellichamp was well connected in England.

Monday, Oct. 25, 1736 -- Here is some personal intrigue caused by Oglethorpe perhaps conspiring to have Miss Sophy ride back to Savannah on Wesley's boat.  That morning, Wesley had married Mr. Weston and Miss Sophy's friend, Miss Fosset.  Wesley is clearly concerned about this close travel situation:  "I asked Mr. Oglethorpe in what boat she should go.  He said, 'she can go in none but yours, and indeed there is none so proper.  I saw the danger to myself, but yet had a good hope I should be delivered out of it...."

Wesley wrote of this trip in his Journal a year later back at Oxford with an entry date of March 12, 1738.  Curnock adds other details surround this Journal entry of Wesley's experience with Miss Sophy.  Back in England, Wesley had just visited his aged mother and suppposed near death of his brother, Charles.

FIFTH SAVANNAH JOURNAL

Perhaps put in map of Wesley's journeys in Spanish Florida and the developing Colony of Georgia.

Wesley wrote clearly, perhaps so his aged mother could easily read.  John Wesley and Miss Sophy Sophy set out by boat from Frederica to Savannah.

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1736 – (some question on this date)  "We set out about noon ....  ... reading the first volume of Fleury's History of the Church, ....  In the evening we landed on an uninhabited island, made a fire, supped, went to prayers together, and then spread our sail over us on four stakes, to keep off the night dews.  Under this on one side were Miss Sophy, myself and one of our boys who came with me from Savannah; on the other, our boat's crew ....  The next morning, as we crossed Doboy Sound, the wind being high and the sea rough, I asked her, 'Miss Sophy, are not you afraid to die?' She answered calmly, 'No, I don't desire to live any longer ....'  In the evening ... we landed on St. Katherine's Island.  And here we were obliged to stay till Friday; ...."

Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1736 – "In the afternoon, we fell into a conversation on 'Lying in order to do good.'  She owned she used to think there was no harm in it....."

Thursday, Oct. 28, 1736 -- Walking and sitting near thicket.  "Here we entered upon a close conversation on Christian holiness."

Portrait of Miss Sophy at Epworth by The Sea Museum.  Photograph by Brenda Rees

This is a very important conversation.

Friday, Oct. 29, 1736 -- Wind was very high.  Wesley asked " 'Miss Sophy, how far are you engaged to Mr. Mellichamp?'  She answered, 'I have promised him either to marry him or to marry no one at all.'  I said ... 'Miss Sophy, I should think myself happy if I was to spend my life with you.'  She burst into tears and said, 'I am every way unhappy.  I won't have Tommy; for he is a bad man.  And I can have none else.'  She added, 'Sir, you don't know the danger you are in ...."  She then asked Wesley not to talk about that anymore.  [This reminds me about 10 years later of Grace saying she would rather die than be without him, and him not immediately asking her to marry him]

Saturday, Oct. 30, 1736 -- Bear Island.  Miss Sophy again expressed aversion to living with Mr. Causton.

Sunday, Oct. 31, 1736 – Thunderbolt.  Wesley agreed to walk from here and meet her at the landing in Savannah.  They agreed to 1) meet daily at his house  2) her company should be of her own choosing and 3) not to mention Mellichamp again.