A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org

When age and infirmity obliged him to be supernumerary, he made Leeds his residence, on
account of superior advantages from the means of grace in which his soul delighted, which he
expected to enjoy there. He lived but a few months after he made Leeds his home: he died suddenly
in 1826, in his eighty-first year. His Christian simplicity, pious conversation, his fervency and
diligence in prayer, were highly observable and exemplary: for some time previous to his death,
nearly one-third of his time appeared to be spent in prayer.
Mr. Richard Whatcoat, son of Charles and Mary Whatcoat, was born in the parish of Quinton,
Gloucestershire, England, February 2, 1736. The Rev Samuel Taylor, the parish minister, was a
converted man; and under his ministry the Whatcoat family became pious: the parents left the
children, at death, a hope that they had gone to rest with Jesus. The children were all brought under
a wonderful work of grace about the same time of life. Mr. Whatcoat had so much of the fear of God
before him from the days of his childhood; as to keep him from gross sin. In 1758 he began to attend
Methodist preaching regularly. He was soon convinced that he needed the witness of the Spirit to
make him a scriptural Christian. In the light of truth he soon became so miserable, that he scarcely
had an hour's sound sleep in a night. As he was reading the Scriptures, he read, "The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God." In a moment his darkness was
removed, and he was filled with peace and joy; and the Spirit did bear witness with his spirit that he
was a child of God. In 1761, he was filled with perfect love, "rejoicing evermore, and in everything
giving thanks." For about eight years he was a class leader, band leader, and steward of the society
in Wednesbury. This was the mother society of Staffordshire -- and it was a model society -- the
original society had been purified in the fire of persecution. In 1767 he began to hold religious
meetings. The encouragement he met with in this exercise, led him. To give himself up wholly to
the work of the ministry; and in 1769, he was received as a traveling preacher.
For fifteen years he continued in this work under the eye of Mr. Wesley. In some of the circuits
his labor and sufferings were great. While traveling the Inniskillen Circuit, in Ireland, it took him
eight weeks to go round it, preaching two and three times a day, besides meeting the societies, and
visiting the sick. This year's labor greatly exhausted him, but he was cheered by a blessed revival,
in which about three hundred were added to the societies. The following year, while traveling
through Armagh Circuit, he was brought to the gate of death, by bleeding at the nose, night-sweats,
and loss of appetite. His flesh consumed away, his sight failed him, and in this condition he lay
twelve weeks. When sent to travel the Lynn Circuit, in England, he sold his horse and walked the
circuit. His last year in England he had the Rev. Adam Clarke for a colleague.
In 1784, Mr. Shadford expressed a desire that he should come to America. While he was
meditating on the matter, the power of God came upon him, and his heart was melted with love to
God and man. He was ordained deacon and elder at the same time with Mr. Vasey, and by the same
presbytery, namely, Messrs. Wesley, Coke, and Creighton. Embarking at Bristol, Eng., after a
passage of six weeks, he landed in New York, but hastened on to Philadelphia, which he pronounced
one of the best constructed cities he ever saw. On a borrowed horse he rode to Wilmington, thence
to Duck Creek Cross Roads, now Smyrna, housing with John Cole. From here to Dover, where he
received a hearty welcome from Mr. Bassett. His next stage brought him to Barratt's.