Children of Eleanor and Richard Shaw

MARY TATE, wife of John Tate, of East Cottingwith, in Yorkshire, was daughter of Richard and Ellen Shaw, of Newton in Bolland, in the same county, both members of our religious society. From her youth she was of an orderly conduct; but as she grew in years, her serious concern for her most important interest, the well-being of her soul and her acceptance with the Lord, increased also. At length it led her into a lively exercise for the support of our religious testimonies, and for the welfare of others; and she gave up to the apprehended requirings of duty, to appear in public ministry, about the thirty-fifth year of her age. In the course of about eighteen years more, she finished a life of trial: for as her constitution was peculiarly feeble, she was often subject to illness; and she bore such allotments with Christian patience. In that which proved to be her last, she uttered several expressions which indicated the resignation and hope of her mind.

At one time, she had been speaking respecting some outward things, to a person who had expressed a hope that Mary would live to enjoy them herself. She replied, 'I have neither hope nor fear; but am quite easy which way it may be.' At another time, her husband expressing his fear that she was going to leave him, she said, 'If it be so, I shall go to a better place.' About two days before her decease, she broke out in the words of those mentioned in the Revelations: "Great and marvellous are thy works. Just and true are all thy ways, thou King of saints." Adding more of similar import.

'Thus,' say the Friends of her monthly meeting, in their testimony, 'was the spirit of this our exercised Friend released from a very afflicted Tabernacle; and we trust is gathered to the just of all generations, where sorrow and pain shall be no more.'

Her departure occurred the eleventh of the Eighth month, 1804.