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 1805 - 1874 (69 years)
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| Name |
Elizabeth WOOLDRIDGE |
| Born |
1805 |
Northlew, Devon, England  |
| Gender |
Female |
| Died |
14 Mar 1874 |
Inwardleigh, Devon, England |
| Buried |
18 Mar 1874 |
Northlew, Devon, England [1] |
| Person ID |
I15545 |
Young Kent Ancestors |
| Last Modified |
24 Oct 2017 |
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| Sources |
- [S109] Obituary, The Bible Christian Magazine, 1874, pp. 401-404, 1874.
Connexional Department.
MEMOIRS AND OBITUARIES.
MRS. ELIZABETH SQUIRE.
Biography contains many elements of beauty and usefulness. It has a rich and almost an endless variety. The noble patriot, the indefatigable philanthropist, the faithful minister, and the devoted Christian have each characteristic features of sublimity and tenderness. By biographical guides we are brought into close contact with the noblest spirits that have lived. But for those useful guides a large number of eminent persons, whose names we greatly venerate and whose memories we fondly cherish, would be to us as if they had never existed. The grand objects of biography are to preserve the memory of the sainted dead, present noble examples to the living, and magnify "the grace of God." As holy men depart this life the world becomes richer in the means of spiritual improvement. The holy dead have left more than a tomb behind; we inherit from them a goodly heritage of noble thoughts and heroic deeds. Whilst "the name of the wicked shall rot," "the memory of the just is blessed." "The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." The saints of all generations, "though dead, yet speak." But it is very desirable, and in many instances largely useful, to delineate some of the principal features of their moral character, and retain in some permanent form that grace which made them spiritually good in life, and perfectly peaceful in death.
Mrs. Squire was the daughter of Benjamin and Susanna Wooldridge, and was born at Widdon, Northlew, Devon, in the year 1805. Of her early life we know but little. It appears, however, that at the age of twelve or fourteen she attended the Bible Christian ministry in a cottage at Patchacott, Beaworthy, and received some religious impressions under the earnest labours of "the ambassadors for Christ." How deep and lasting those impressions were we are unprepared to state, but probably they exerted an influence on her future history. The light of eternity only will reveal the large amount of good accomplished in cottages, barns, and in the open air by the earnest preaching and fervent prayers of the honoured ministers of the denomination before chapels could be erected. At the age of nineteen our friend removed with her parents from Widdon to Lower Westacott farm, Inwardleigh. In 1827, she was united in marriage to Mr. Jonas Squire, of the same parish, by whom she had a large family. The/ lived together in happy union for forty-seven years; they were one in aim and effort, and the Lord blessed their united labours. Her husband and five children survive her, but six passed away before her (four when young) to the land of eternal felicity. At their marriage they went to reside at Lower Gorhuish farm, Northlew, and remained there twenty-one years. In the year 1835 she received a note of admittance on trial for membership in the old chapel at Northlew (her husband received one at the same time) from Mr. W. Harris, and continued a consistent and useful member until the termination of her earthly life.
Her conversion, as far as we can ascertain, was gradual and gentle, not sudden and by violent means, but not the less real. It was probably effected without much, if any, noise, and perhaps without even observation. She passed from death unto life, "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God" by almost imperceptible degrees. This glorious change in her case resembled the growth of corn under the genial influences of sun and showers; it was very visible when effected, though scarcely observable while in its gentle stages of accomplishment; "beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord," she was "changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." That her conversion was a blessed reality her future life fully demonstrated; she possessed to a large extent "the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Righteousness of life is the only unquestionable evidence of righteousness of heart. "He that doeth righteousness is righteous;" "everyone that doth righteousness is born of God."
At the request of Mrs. Squire religious services were conducted for some time in their house at Gorhuish. Mr. J. Prior, Mr. J. Major, and Mrs. Kinsman (then Mrs. H. Major) were among those who preached "the glorious gospel of Christ" to the family and a few neighbours who came to hear. About the year 1840 the chapel at Waytown, Inwardleigh, was built, largely through the influence and aid of Mr. and Mrs. Squire. She was useful in different ways in connexion with the young cause, but more especially as a Sabbath-school teacher.
In 1848 the family removed to Cruft. Mrs. Squire, however still continued to attend the public and private means of grace, and also her labours in connection with the Sunday-school, though living between two and three miles from the chapel. Being so far from a place of worship was a source of sorrow to her. She would frequently say to her husband, "I wish we had a chapel nearer." Her ardent love for the house of God enabled her to overcome difficulties which were insurmountable to many, in order to be found there. She could say with the writer of the eighty-fourth Psalm, "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts, my soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God." She strongly desired to be found "in the house of the Lord" more frequently than the distance and her numerous domestic duties would permit. But at length the former difficulty was removed. One day Mr. Squire received an idea (no doubt from heaven) that he might build a chapel on his own estate ; he made known the idea to his excellent wife, and it at once received her unqualified approbation. Consequently, in 1850, the little sanctuary was built at their own expense, in which there has been preaching ever since. In its erection Mrs. Squire took a very active part. It was opened by the sainted James Thome. Shortly after a revival took place, and several persons were converted under the earnest ministry of Mr. S. Crocker, then pastor of the circuit. A Sabbath-school was soon established, in which Mrs. Squire took a lively interest. She was useful in prayermeetings and special services held for the salvation of sinners, as well as in the Sabbath-school, and ever ready to promote every department of the cause of God. Her intellect was above mediocrity, her zeal was greater, her faith stronger, her love intenser, her sympathies were purer, her aims were higher, and her acts of benevolence larger than most of her contemporaries. She was "given to hospitality." No house, perhaps, in the circuit was visited by more preachers, both itinerant and local, than hers, and to her table she always gave them a hearty welcome. The ministers of the circuit found in her a true friend, and at her residence a comfortable home. She was an excellent wifs, a kind mother, a good neighbour, and a devoted Christian. "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praiseth her." Her son William, who has been for many years an acceptable local preacher in the circuit, says, "My dear mother was concerned about my spiritual welfare from my earliest recollections; she cautioned me against sin, and endeavoured to lead me to Christ." Her husband says, "She was a kind wife, and a tender mother to her children was very liberal to the cause of God, and also to the poor." Her affliction was of long duration, and of a distressing nature. In February, 1862, her son Jonas died, at the age of thirty. His affliction and death greatly affected her health, and for about two years she suffered greatly from hypochondriacism, but after that time she was very much better for a few years, though never, perhaps, wholly free from the complaint. In November, 1871, her son Thomas died, aged twenty-three. That event, no doubt, was too much for her nervous system to bear, and the complaint returned with greater severity, and from it she never again recovered. Medical men could do but little or nothing for her. During the last few months she required much care and attention, which were cheerfuly given by the affectionate members of the family. The nature of her affliction was the sole cause of this. Her end Was, however, peaceful; the storm subsided, and a holy calm was enjoyed.
"No earthly clinging,
No lingering gaze;
No strife at parting,
No sore amaze;
But sweetly, gently
She passed away
From the world's dim twilight
To endless day,
on the 14th of March, 1874, in the 69th year of her age, and tbe thirty-ninth of her membership in connexion with our church. On the following Wednesday her precious remains were interred in the graveyard of Northlew church, by the side of her deceased children, and in the presence of a large number of sympathizing friends, in "the full and certain hope of a glorious resurrection."
"Thou art gone to the grave, but 'twere vain to deplore thee,
When God was thy ransom, thy guardian and guide;
He gave thee, He took thee, and He will restore thee.
And death hath no sting since the Saviour hath died."
On the resurrection morning she, with all the faithful dead, will rise from her death-slumbers with a glorified frame, endowed with immortal vigour, invested with imperishable beauty, and
"Seraph-like, soar on radiant wing.
And quaff delight 'mid heaven's unclouded skies."
"Ye sorrow not as those who have no hope." The labourer has retired from the vineyard—the racer has reached the goal, and received the unfading crown—the soldier has fought the last battle and won immortal victory—the mariner has crossed the dangerous sea and gained the port of eternal safety—the pilgrim has arrived at the end of the journey, and entered the "mansions" of the infinitely loving " Father's house." "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth .... that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." A funeral sermon was preached by the writer in Cruft chapel, on Sunday, March 29th, from Psa. xl. 6, 7. That her aged husband and all the children may at last meet her in heaven is the sincere prayer of
R. Grose.
Available on Google Books:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=L_kDAAAAQAAJ&lpg=PA401&ots=4Vl1ZgPsdP&dq=benjamin%20wooldridge%20northlew%20devon&pg=PA401#v=onepage&q=benjamin%20wooldridge%20northlew%20devon&f=false
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