Children of Elizabeth Foster and Henry Brown

WILLIAM H. BROWN,      68    24  12mo.  1907

Sibford Ferris.

An earnest Quaker propagandist has been lost to the Society by the death of William Henry Brown, of Sibford Ferris. All over the country his cheery face and voice, and his pony and trap have become known in recent years, for he was one who spared no pains to carry the Evangel of a free and spiritual religion wherever he could find or make an open door.

He was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Brown, of North Shields, where he was born on January 8th, 1839, thus having very nearly reached his sixty-ninth birthday. He was for some years in business as a chemist in North Shields, but feeling the need for the spread of good literature in out-of-the-way country districts, he decided to go round with books from place to place. He worked under the auspices of the Friends' Tract Association. Of late years he has been a familiar figure as he travelled with his sturdy pony and well-stocked cart from Land's End to John o' Groats. A correspondent writes: "He and his pony needed plenty of pluck and endurance, for they had to travel in all weathers and over every sort of road; sometimes going right up over the lonely, rugged moors in dense fog, meeting no human being for hours at a time. Then at the end of a long day, the heavy packages of books had to be unpacked and spread out for display next morning to the few Friends and village people who might come in. Then there was the tedious business of wrapping all up again, and the drive on to the next village. He certainly 'suffered hardship and did the work of an evangelist,' never losing an opportunity of speaking a word for his Master."

Our friend passed away at Sibford Ferris on Christmas Eve. The comment heard as Friends were separating after Meeting for Sufferings last week that "he was a godly man, and his work is much needed in the Society to-day," sums up the spirit of his life. He felt his service as agent for the Friends' Tract Association to be a work for God and for the Society, and he loved the opportunity thus afforded of getting into touch with all manner of people, and of sowing seed that might have untold consequences.

WILLIAM HENRY BROWN, of Sibford Ferris, near Banbury (scholar 1847–53), son of Henry and Elizabeth Foster Brown, was born at North Shields, January 8th, 1839. On leaving Ackworth he was apprenticed to his uncle, Octavius Corder, a chemist in North Shields, whose business he afterwards bought. In 1863, he married Margaret Ogilvie, and about this time he joined the "Plymouth Brethren." He took a great interest in the "Town Mission" in his native place, preaching in the streets himself, and visiting the sick and dying; and later on he started a Tract Depot in Tynemouth. In 1886, a breakdown in health necessitated his retiring from business, and he moved to the Midlands, first to Woodend, in Northamptonshire, then near to Shipston-on-Stour, and, in 1898, to Sibford, in Oxfordshire. Even at Ackworth, where he was known as "Hedgehog," botany was his great hobby, and many of his holidays from business had been spent in hunting for rare specimens, often in lonely boggy moors; he was much interested in archaeology, and he had, too, a special love for animals and delight in their companionship, so that quiet country life was to him enjoyable. He was always an omnivorous reader. In 1889 he rejoined the Society of Friends, and feeling the great need for the distribution of good literature in country districts, he offered his services to the Friends' Tract Association in 1896. For nearly twelve years he drove, with a pony and open trap, through all the counties of England and many in Wales carrying to country towns and villages samples of books on the Bible, on Quaker history and doctrine, and on Natural History, together with children's stories. Sometimes he was wet through day after day, and at length the exposure became too much for him. Last October he was obliged to give in and return home from Ackworth by train. Paralysis ensued, and the end came on Christmas Eve, 1907. He was buried at Sibford, the horse which had been his constant companion for ten years bearing his body to the graveyard on his own trap.

He found great joy in his life-work, and it was wonderful how the interests and experiences of his earlier years prepared him for it. His sense of humour and determination stood him in good stead in his travels, and he had the gift of being at home among all sorts of people. Specially happy times were his visits to the Friends' Schools, and many children will remember the rides on his pony and in his trap. A mystic in temperament, with an intense belief in guidance in the everyday life, he was not alone in his journeyings.

E.F.B.

Lot 10 was the family residence known as Belgrave View, in Zigzag-road, let on a repairing lease for five years from Lady-day last, to Mr. Edmund Evans, at the yearly rent of £50. There was not much competition for this lot, and at £750 it was withdrawn.