Children of Margaret and Thomas Thomasson

ISABEL ASHWORTH,         81    11mo  19  1852

Bertinshaw, Turton near Bolton. Wife of John Ashworth.

Being naturally of a very diffident and retiring mind, the hidden worth of this dear friend was best known to those who came within the sphere of her daily influence. Her piety was unobtrusive, sincere, and practical. Through a long life, it was her concern to maintain a humble and prayerful walk with God, and she might be truly said to be an upright and single-hearted Christian, strongly attached, from conviction, to the religious principles and testimonies of the Society of Friends. As the female head of a large family, her conduct was exemplary, being to her husband and children, a faithful and judicious counsellor, as well as a kind and affectionate wife and mother. The poor and the destitute were especially the objects of her care and solicitude. Her acts of benevolence were accompanied by sound practical advice to those who claimed her notice, and she was not unfrequently cheered by seeing the good effect of her counsel. Her forgetfulness of self, and her consideration for the feelings as well as the wants of others, were distinguishing features in her character; whilst the quiet firmness, and the calm and even spirit with which she passed through the duties and trials of her long life, gave evidence that her naturally clear and sound judgment was under the control and guidance of that "wisdom which is from above". During the gradual and gentle decline of her bodily powers, she was graciously sustained in patient and quiet confidence in her God and Saviour, and enabled, to the last, instructively to shew forth the power of that grace, which was not bestowed on her in vain.

When in the Sixth month, 1852, in her 81st year, symptoms of increased weakness became more decided, she was preserved in quietness and peace. "I trust," she said, "when the end comes, I may be found with my lamp burning; my confidence is in God my saviour." At another time, she remarked, "I am not anxious about anything; the world feels as nothing to me,---no, nothing. I may recover for a short time, but it cannot be for long, the poor frame is nearly worn out;"---and on describing some of her feelings, she added, "We are indeed curiously and wonderfully made, and may well say, 'What is man that thou are mindful of him?' The smallest insect proves the power of God; and we look from nature up to nature's God."

Her heart was deeply impressed with the duty and privilege of prayer; and, on one occasion, she observed in referent to it, "O, what should we do without prayer, the prayer of faith! We shall have what we ask, if we ask aright, in the Lord's own time. I have often been closely tried, when there seemed no way for me, and my poor heart was very full; but I could always find relief in prayer; and the Lord has heard and answered me, to my wonder and admiration. How often have I used Hagar's words, 'Thou, God, seest me!' and my cry, like hers, has been heard, and deliverance sent. O, that men would praise the Lord! I have nothing to trust to but my God."

Being very feeble in getting up one morning, she said in reference to the time occupied in rising and dressing, "Before I leave my room I like a time of silence, my little meeting alone;" and often she was heard, on these occasions, pouring out her soul in prayer.

After an attack of difficulty of breathing, she told her daughter how earnestly she had craved in the night, that "if there was anything for her to do it might be shewn to her; and that all her sins might be washed away in the blood of the Lamb---forgiven for Jesus sake;" but remarked, that "all was peace and quiet;" adding, "The Lord hath led me all the days of my life. I could not have cared for the lambs He has committed to me, if He had not been with me. Goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life; and if this is His time to call me, I hope He will be with me in passing through the valley of the shadow of death"

Again dwelling on the efficacy of prayer, she said, "How good it is to trace the Lord's hand in everything! This increases our gratitude. Always carry your burdens to the Lord. He can sustain you as he has done me. When things seemed impossible, hedged in on every side by difficulties, again and again way was made, to my humbling admiration." Speaking of her physical inability to help herself, she remarked that it was the same in regard to "best things,"---"we can do nothing of ourselves; it must be given by Him who giveth all things,---yea, liberally to all who ask Him. But we must ask, and feel our need, before we can ask aright. In His strength we can do all things;" and in reference to her own weakness, she added, "My strength is in the Lord."

After giving directions about relieving some poor families, she said, in grateful allusion to her ability thus to care for others, "How many mercies have been mine! But I could do nothing acceptably without seeking the Lord's direction. I can call nothing my own, not even the small dust on the balance. No work is acceptable in the Divine sight when done with a view to exalt the creature. Self must be kept down; we must not seek the world's applause, and desire thereby to be great. If we do good, it must be in humility, and having reference to the promotion of the Lord's work upon earth---not to our own righteousness."

Expressing her gratitude to those around her, on the 27th of Seventh month, she added, "How wonderfully I am cared for by Him who forgetteth not the sparrow, and considereth the ravens who have neither storehouse nor barn; yet He feedeth them." Speaking of suffering, she remarked, "How great were the sufferings of Christ for me! that I and all might be saved." After passing a restless night, in which she had nevertheless been comforted, she said, "I now feel that I can leave the event in the Lord's hands, for, this night, I have been enabled fully and entirely to say, 'not my will, but thine, O Lord! be done.'"

Yet she was again permitted to pass through some mental conflict, and on the 6th of Ninth month, she remarked, "I had supposed that nothing stood in my way---that my sins were forgiven me, for Jesus' sake. But now I have been continued up to this time, a poor, feeble, and increasingly dependent creature. I sometimes fear that I am not prepared, that all is not accomplished, that something yet remains to be done, that the poor vessel is not clean, that it must go again and again to the washing pool to become pure in the Divine sight." She wept much, and said, "I pray that while I have a little strength, all may be brought to the light." After this season of heart-searching, she was enabled, with a little renewed faith, to look to Jesus, and was comforted. She said, "we are poor creatures,---nothing to trust in but a Saviour,---no help but in Him."

On her daughter retiring, one evening, and remarking that she was sorry to leave her alone, she quickly said, "I am not alone, the Father is with me; His arm is underneath. Although I am awake the greater part of the night, and sit up for hours, yet I do not feel it either long or lonely. I am a poor creature, nearly worn out; but the Lord comforteth me, and those who put their trust in Him."

Though her bodily powers were evidently giving way, her soul was kept alive to God, and was often poured forth in prayer and thanksgiving to Him. She said, "The Lord hath been with me from childhood to youth, and from youth to old age. I have no anxiety, no cares; all seems removed from me that could in any way trouble me. I wish you all to know how good the Lord is. If it was not for his goodness at a time like this, when the world and all that is in it no longer delights the eye, we should be poor creatures. O serve the Lord all the days of your lives. The more we love God, the greater will be our happiness, and the greater our gratitude. How can I be sufficiently thankful for all the Lord's mercies, showered down upon a poor unworthy creature! My heart is so filled with thanksgiving, that I could continually praise the Lord."

Tenth month, 12th. Much of the night was spent in prayer. In the morning she very earnestly desired again to be searched, that if there was the least jot or tittle of sin unrepented of, it might be made manifest. "I desire to be so broken, contrited, humbled in the very dust before the Lord." ----------"It is a great pleasure to see my children and grandchildren, they are very dear to me. I feel their visits to me are in love." She pressed the need of cherishing love and interest in one another, and remarked, that cultivating the affections increased our love to God; and was calculated to make the short time allotted to us on earth, happier, according to the design of a kind Providence. In the evening, she said, "Another day is closing, and we know not that the morrow may be ours:" and afterwards, "I desire to have patience---the Lord's time will be the right time."

Eleventh month, 4th. After retiring to bed, she said, "Oh let us unite in praising and blessing Him who is King of kings, and Lord of lords, for his goodness and mercy. A Saviour has been given me, in whose blood my transgressions, which were many, have been washed away, for his mercy's sake."

She afterwards dwelt upon her short-comings, and utter unworthiness, and on how little she had done to promote the Lord's cause on earth; adding, "the consideration has, at times, distressed me;" but encouraged to trust in her Saviour, her spirit again appeared joyful.

Eleventh month, 6th. The dear invalid said, "I am very comfortable, I have a comfortable hope that the Lord will be with me to the end."

Another morning, on the window blind being drawn up, she said, "Daylight comes again, and another day to praise the Lord in." Indeed, not a day passed in which she did not acknowledge His goodness and mercy to her.

Eleventh month, 17th, was the first day she was confined to bed. She was very quiet and patient, and said, notwithstanding her weariness, "it is all of mercy."

On the 18th, she took little notice, but was heard to say, "Thy will be done." On her husband going to her in the evening, she said, "Farewell, all is well." During the night, the name of Jesus was on her lips; and a short time before the close, she said, "Amen," and thus peacefully departed.

The image of Isabel (Thomasson) Ashworth is reproduced by the kind permission of Jason Wright, www.silvershadows.co.

Destructive Fire.—On Wednesday evening the 21st inst. the cotton factory belonging to Mr. John Thomasson, at Mill-hill, Little Bolton, was discovered to be on fire. Four engines were promptly brought to the spot, and every exertion made to save the premises. The whole of the machinery in that end of the mill where the fire commenced was destroyed, only part of the walls and the chimney-pipe being left standing. At the other end of the building, the efforts of the firemen and others were more successful, and by extraordinary exertion, and the circumstance of there being a strong partition wall where the two buildings adjoined, that part containing six mules, was saved; seventeen mules and twenty-four carding engines, nearly new, were destroyed. The fire originated in the card room, and the person who locks up the building left all safe at twenty minutes to eight o'clock. The damage is estimated at £7000, and the amount insured is £5000. No accident of a serious nature happened, although one man fell from an adjoining building, but was not materially hurt. At one period, the premises of Mr. S. Blair, bleacher, which are contiguous, were in imminent danger, but they were preserved by the exertions of the firemen.

Mary Hustler, wife of John Hustler, who had a right of membership among us the religious Society of Friends, for want of submission to the humbling influence of Divine Grace which would have preserved her in the unity of the one spirit and in the bond of peace has departed from the order of our religious Society by adhering to and attending meeting held in violation of our discipline, on which account we were concerned to labour with her in order to convince her of her error, but our endeavours not proving effectual, it becomes our duty to testify that she has separated herself from us and is no longer a member of the religious Society of Friends. Yet feeling a tender concern for her welfare we desire that through holy help she may experience a qualification to see and condemn her transgression and be prepared to united with us in Christian fellowship.

The committee also report that Mary Hustler has been visited & that they united in proposing that her case is deferred for the present. Which is accordingly united with.