Children of William and Isabel Burton

became a minister, at first with just a few words, but her gift grew: "though she had not much human learning, she was frequently furnished with copious expressions well adapted to the matter she had to deliver, deep and weighty in her delivery, and enabled to speak feelingly to the state of meetings and individuals"

ALICE ALDERSON, wife of Ralph Alderson, of Ravenstondale, in the county of Westmoreland, was convinced of the truth in her young years, and carefully abiding under its divine teachings consistent to the advice of the wise king Solomon, "Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not to thy own understanding," she came to receive a gift in the ministry, and though for a considerable time in a few words, yet greatly to the edification of the church. Being faithful in a little, she witnessed an increase therein, and, clothed with the comeliness of the gospel, became valuable in the Lord's house, devoting the prime and flower of her youth, her middle age and decline of life, to his service; labouring diligently in the cause of truth, both in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and once in America; in all which, her labours of lover were well received, and tended much to the edification of the church. In her ministry, though she had not much human learning, she was frequently furnished with copious expressions well adapted to the matter she had to deliver, deep and weighty in her delivery, and enabled to speak feelingly to the state of meetings and individuals. She was remarkably diligent in attending meetings when at home, even to old age, often signifying that she believed none would be injured thereby in their outward circumstances, as the blessing of Divine Providence upon the honest endeavours of the faithful would be ample recompense for all their labour and seeming loss of time. When old age had so far weakened her constitution that she could no longer attend meetings, she retained the diving anointing which had been her support through the various stages of life.

The last meeting she was at, being the day she took to her bed, she had to revive the encouraging invitation of the prophet Hosea, "Come and let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn and he will heal us; he hat smitten and he will bind us up; after two days will he revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea vi. 1, 2, 3.

A few days before her departure, when some friends were sitting by her, she was remarkably favoured with the overshadowing of divine goodness, wherein she had weightily to caution ministers and elders to be exceedingly watchful over their own spirits, strongly advising them to live in the bond of love and unity, signifying she clearly saw the subtle enemy of man's happiness endeavouring to draw them aside, in order to mar or deface that work which Divine Providence allotted them to be engaged in, saying that the Lord had permitted her to be buffetted and brought low, even to the gates of hell, and had again in great mercy lifted up her head and given her the glorious earnest of eternal happiness; concluding in fervent prayer for the small meeting she was a member of, and for all the small gatherings of the Lord's people the world over.

In the time of her illness she was afflicted with exceedingly sharp pain, which she bore with great resignation, often praying for patience to bear what might be permitted to be laid on her. A divine serenity and sweetness accompanied her last moments, that indeed it might be said her sun went down in brightness.

She departed this live on the 15th of the Eighth month, 1766, and was honourably interred in Friends' burial-ground the 18th of the same, at Ravenstondale, accompanied by many Friends and others; aged eighty-eight, and a minister sixty years.

The intended settlement of Josiah and wife was in Philadelphia, and at the Monthly Meeting in this place, held in the Fourth month, 1723, the following minute was made:—"A certificate from Bridlington Monthly Meeting, at Skipsea, in Great Britain, and one from the Quarterly Meeting, held in the city of York, for our friend, Josiah Langdale, Margaret his wife, and two children, who were upon removing to America, with intention to settle among us, was read and well accepted, and though our dear friend, Josiah, did not live to reach us, yet his widow and children being here,—[the certificates] are ordered to be recorded."

Margaret Langdale was soon engaged in gospel labour. In the epistle to London from the Yearly Meeting, held at Philadelphia, in the Seventh mo., 1723, is the following passage:—"We have been comforted in the visit of our worthy Friends from Great Britain, Benjamin Kidd and Margaret Langdale, whose labours of love and fervent engagement in the work to which the Lord hath called them, we hope, will be attended with a blessing."

In the following Fifth month, she was married to Samuel Preston, a valuable Friend, as well as a useful citizen of Philadelphia. Of the meeting at which this marriage was consummated, Thomas Chalkley says, "The meeting was large, and the parable of the virgins and the bridegroom coming at midnight, was opened with an exhortation to the people to be ready against that hour, and they they should take care to have the holy oil of Divine grace in their heart."

Margaret Preston, wife of our dear Friend Samuel Preston, was endued with an excellent Gift in the Ministry, and travelled much in the Service of Truth, through this and the adjacent provinces, here Testimony being lively, sound, and edifying, was well received among Friends, being likewise well qualified for the maintenance of our Discipline. She became a serviceable and useful Instrument for the promotion & support of hour Christian Testimony. She departed this life the 23^d. of the 6^th. Month, 1752, In the 58^th Year of her age.