Susanna Wesley
This is the story of Susanna Wesley, 1669-1742 Mother of Charles and John Wesley, who were founders of the Methodist Church. Susanna and her husband, Samuel, had nineteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. Her son Charles became a well-known hymn writer and her son John became the found of Methodism. Susanna was brought up in a Puritan home as the youngest of twenty-five children. As a teenager, she became a member of the Church of England. She became the wife of a chronically debt-ridden parish rector in an English village. She said, "I have had a large experience of what the world calls adverse fortune." Nonetheless, Susanna managed to pass down to her children Christian principles that stayed with them.
This is the story of Susanna Wesley, 1669-1742 Mother of Charles and John Wesley, who were founders of the Methodist Church. Susanna and her husband, Samuel, had nineteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. Her son Charles became a well-known hymn writer and her son John became the found of Methodism.
Susanna was brought up in a Puritan home as the youngest of twenty-five children. As a teenager, she became a member of the Church of England. She became the wife of a chronically debt-ridden parish rector in an English village. She said, "I have had a large experience of what the world calls adverse fortune." Nonetheless, Susanna managed to pass down to her children Christian principles that stayed with them.
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vi<br />
PREFACE.<br />
of what they wrote, and the dates given being<br />
sometimes those of the actual documents, and sometimes<br />
those of the copies.<br />
More of general interest<br />
about Mrs. <strong>Wesley</strong> ought to have been preserved but,<br />
;<br />
unfortunately, she and her family have been regarded<br />
solely in connection with Methodism. She was nothing<br />
if not religious but she was a<br />
;<br />
lady of ancient lineage,<br />
a woman of intellect, a keen politician, and, had her<br />
ordinary correspondence been preserved, it<br />
would have<br />
given us an insight into the life of the period which<br />
would have been full of deep and world-wide interest.<br />
In the preparation of<br />
this work I have been greatly<br />
indebted to the Rev. J. G-. Stevenson, not only for<br />
the use of his valuable Memorials of the <strong>Wesley</strong><br />
Family, which have been collected from every possible<br />
source, but for the kind and patient manner in which<br />
he has answered endless questions, consulted authorities,<br />
supplied me with quotations, and lent me books<br />
and pamphlets.<br />
Mr. John <strong>Wesley</strong> also took an interest<br />
in my work, and repeatedly proffered me all the<br />
assistance in his power.<br />
ELIZA CLARKE.
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