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FERGUSON, page 111.
DAVID HODGSON AND JONATHAN OSTELL

DAVID HODGSON was born in 1676, at Wormanby near Moorhouse in Cumberland. He was a nephew of Thomas Stordy of Moorhouse, and his parents were persons of good repute, who gave him a religious education. Little is put on record of his life. He first took to public ministry, as a Friend, in 1704, or, as the quaint old book from which we gather our information says 'came forth in public testimony to the Universality of the Love of God in Christ Jesus, and the effectual Operation of his Grace in the Hearts and Souls of Mankind, in order to their Salvation; and his Ministry was attended with a fervent engagement of Spirit for the Cause of Truth and the Prosperity thereof.' He attended several of the yearly meetings of the Society of Friends in London, and also travelled through Scotland and Ireland as a preacher. He died in 1755, of paralysis, by which his mental faculties were somewhat impaired, and was buried in the Friends' burying ground at Moorhouse.

David Hodgson is recorded in the annals of the Society as 'a loving Husband, a kind Friend, a peaceable Neighbour, and charitable to the Poor and Afflicted.'

With David Hodgson's name we have coupled that of his friend and neighbour, JONATHAN OSTELL, of Moorhouse. Jonathan was born one year later than David, namely in 1677. His parents were persons of good esteem among Friends, who gave him a sober and religious education. As he grew up, he found his mind strongly inclined to the customs and fashions of the world but he resisted and 'witnessed a happy change in himself,' and became an able minister of the Gospel, visting, on several occasions, the Friends' meetings in England, Scotland and Ireland.

Jonathan Ostell died in 1752, aged seventy-seven, and was buried at Moorhouse. For a few years before his death, he was very infirm and had lost his sight; but he travelled up to London in his seventy-fourth year, to attend the Annual Meeting of the Society, to which he and his friend Hodgson were often delegated together by the Friends in Cumberland, as their representatives. Their names also occur together in the journal of THOMAS STORY, who used to attend meetings at Moorhouse, and stay with one or other of the two.

Both Hodgson and Ostell demonstrated the sincerity of their conscientious scruples against tithes in the same manner as Thomas Story; not only did they object to pay them. Both were the owners of impropriate tithes, which during their lives they declined to receive payment of; and both, by their wills, devised the tithes of which they were impropriators to the owners of the estates out of which they were payable.

BESSE, Page 127
ANNO 1653

GEORGE FOX, for preaching the Truth in the great Worship-house at Carlisle, after the priest had ended his sermon, and for witnessing a good confession before the Magistrates and People there, was imprisoned for seven weeks, sometimes among Thieves and Murderers.

ROBERT WITHERS, for asking the priest of Aketon a religious Question after sermon, was imprisoned at Carlisle one month; as was GEORGE BEWLEY for accompanying him. ROBERT HUNTINGDON for preaching at Carlisle, was imprisoned three months and JAMES NOBLE, for the same cause, nine weeks.

ROBERT WITHERS, THOMAS RAWLINSON, JOHN STUBBS, and THOMAS GWIN, for declaring against false worship in the Steeple-house at Coldbeck, were inhumanly treated by the rude People, one of them being knocked down, and much of their blood spilled on the Place.

JOHN MARTIN, for testifying against the priest of Kirkbride, whom he met in the Fields, and calling him by his proper name, viz an Hireling, was committed to prison.

ANNO 1654

THOMAS STUBBS was concerned to go into the Steeple-house at Deane, where, when the priest had done, he said 'thou daubest the people up with untempered mortar'; whereupon the Priest bid his Hearers 'fight for the Gospel'; they fell violently upon Stubbs and some of his Friends, tore their clothes, and beat them cruelly. The Priest's son in particular sorely bruised the face of RICHARD RICHARDSON. After which two Justices sent Stubbs to prison but, conscious of the Wrong they did him, writ his Mittimus and Discharge both on one Paper; this furnished the Gaoler with a Claim for Fees, under pretence of which he kept him fourteen weeks in prison.

PETER HEAD, for testifying to the truth, in the same place, was imprisoned fourteen weeks in a close room among Felons in the Heat of Summer; and JOHN HEAD for delivering some Queries to the Priest of Deane at his own house was imprisoned fourteen weeks. JOHN SLEE, for reproving a priest at Grisdale, was kept a close prisoner among Felons for two months. Also KATHARINE FELL, for asking a priest, whether he did witness what he spake to the People, was kept in prison nineteen weeks, having a young child sucking at her breast.

THOMAS BEWLEY and HUGH STAMPER, standing at the Sessions in Carlisle with their hats on, were by the Justices committed to prison without any legal cause assigned. After a month's confinement they were discharged without paying fees: but Hugh Stamper was afterwards arrested for fees and again imprisoned and detained there one and twenty weeks.

BESSE, page 128
ANNO 1657

The following persons were imprisoned at Carlisle for reproving the Priests at several times and places, viz. JOHN GRAVE twenty-two weeks, GEORGE BEWLEY fourteen weeks, JOHN BURNYEAT twenty-three weeks, MATTHEW ROBINSON twenty-nine weeks, ANTHONY TICKLE twenty-seven weeks, and GEORGE WILSON.

BESSE, page 128
ANNO 1660

In this and the several foregoing years had been taken from persons in this county by distress for £156.8s.7d. demaned for Tithes, goods worth £515.1s.3d. And for demands of £3.12s.3d. for Steeple-house Rates and Clerk's wages, Goods to the value of £11.13s.10d.

In this year also FRANCIS HAYTON and WILLIAM ROWLAND were imprisoned for Tithes, thirty-two weeks.
JOHN ROBINSON, for refusing the oath at Carlisle Assizes, was fined 40s. and had goods taken from him for that value.
In the same year, THOMAS STORDY was imprisoned for nine weeks for refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance and, for the same cause, JAMES ADAMSON was kept close prisoner several weeks, during which time, his father of the same name, coming to visit him, was way-laid in his return home, and by a Justice of the Peace sent back to prison for refusing to swear. For the same cause also ELIZABETH HEATH, ANNE BEWLEY, ELIZABETH JACKSON, ELIZABETH HAZARD, WILLIAM OGLETHORP, ANN his wife, ISABEL OGLEHROP and ELIZABETH WATSON suffered twenty-two weeks imprisonment. Also THOMAS SUMMERS, WILLIAM SUMMERS, HUMPHRY TWIDDALE and THOMAS STORY were imprisoned furteen weeks and WILLIAM LOWTHWAITE* one and thirty weeks. THOMAS WATSON, RICHARD RIBTON, CHRISTOPHER MANSER, RICHARD BANKS and THOMAS LEATHES, nine days.  JOHN MATTHEW of Brough, several weeks, and ROBERT HUNTINGTON, JOHN ROBINSON, ROBERT MATTHEW and MARGARET MARTIN, twenty-two weeks, which last four were taken up in Carlisle market, being there on their lawful occasions, and sent to goal by the Mayor for refusing the oath.

FOOTNOTE: *W LOWTHAIT had offended a neighbouring Justice's servant by reproving him for profane swearing; whereupon the Justice, to avenge his man's quarrel, tendered William to oath and sent him to prison.

BESSE, page 128
ANNO 1661

JOHN NICHOLSON, THOMAS MARK, and JOHN PEACOCK, on an Attachment out of the Exchequer, were committed to Carlisle Goal in the month called April this year, and detained there about three years.

In this Year also GEORGE BIGLANDS and JOHN DOBINSON suffered eight weeks Imprisonment for refusing to Swear; and for the same Cause CHRISTOPHER MANSER had a Cow taken from him worth £2.4s. and CHRISTOPHER BIRKETT a Cow worth £3.

BESSE, page 128
ANNO 1662

In this year ADAM ROBINSON, WILLIAM BOND and JOHN RICHARDSON suffered about seven months imprisonment, having been arrested for Tithes and the suit of FRANCIS HOWARD of Corby, a Papist, who afterward at the Assizes obtained judgment against them for treble damages, upon which were taken from:

In this year also, for refusing to swear at the Mannour Courts, were taken from:

THOMAS STORDY, being at Carlisle Assizes, went to visit some of his Friends there in prison, but was illegally detained by the gaoler, and the next day he, with STEPHEN PEARSON, then a prisoner, was had to the Sessions-house where the oath of allegiance was tendered them which, they refusing, were sent back to jail among the felons. Next day they were indicted on the Statute of 3K James and had sentence of Premunire passed upon them; by which they were adjudged to forfeit all their lands, goods and chattels, to be out of the King's protection and suffer imprisonment for life. Soon after, the sheriff seized their cattle, corn and other goods and proclaimed a public sale of them, at which they were sold far beneath their value, in regard very few cared to buy them. However, they were at length disposed of and carried away without any regard to the prisoners or their families nor would the sheriff, though earnestly desired, allow anything for the poor labourers who had been employed in gathering the corn and whom the prisoners, thus plundered, were unable to pay. Under this hard sentence, Thomas Stordy and Stephen Pearson continued close prisoners several years, enduring their great sufferings with exemplary patience and constancy, being supported by the testimony of good conscience and their obedience to the precept of Christ: Swear not at all.

JOHN GRAVE of Turpenhow, THOMAS WATSON of Cockermouth and JOHN ROBINSON of Brigham, taken out of their own houses by soldiers, and carried to the Governour of Carlisle, were by him imprisoned, in the Depth of Winter, in a cold place over one of the City Gates, where they were denied the visits of their friends, and had their food frequently kept from them, nor were they permitted to go out to ease themselves. After about ten days confinement there, the Oath was tendered to them at a Meeting of the Justices, and they were removed to the County Goal, where they lay thirty-five weeks. In the same year, JOHN SLEE had two steers worth £9 taken from him for a fine of £5 for being at a meeting; and on the 7th of the month called August, RICHARD RIBTON, WILLIAM RIBTON and JOHN ASHLEY of Great Broughton, CHRISTOPHER SHEPHERD and JOHN SHEPHERD of Ribton, CHRISTOPHER PALMER and WILLIAM HALL of Little Broughton, JOHN PARKER of Papcastle and LAUNCELOT WILSON of Tallentire were summoned before the Justices on an Information against them for Meeting and sent to prison till the Assizes, where they were indicted and, having pleaded not guilty, were recommitted till another Assizes, before which LAUNCELOT WILSON died in the prison, being a weakly man, and unable to sustain the Hardship of his Confinement. At the following Assizes, the rest of them were discharged .

In this year also GEORGE FLETCHER, a Justice of the Peace, signalized himself by a violent Procedure at a meeting at Howhill in Sowerby Parish, into which he, with a retinue armed with Swords and Pistols, rushed in after an hostile manner and, finding a person on his knees, the Justice struck him over the head and, when he continued praying, ordered him to be pulled down backward and then caused him, together with JOHN SLEE, GEORGE BEWLEY, MUNGO BEWLEY, ANTHONY FELL, JOHN BANKS and others in the Assembly, to be dragged down the hill in a violent and cruel manner, and afterwards sent them to Carlisle Goal. At the next sessions, JOHN SLEE was fined £10 and the rest £5 each, for which fines were taken from JOHN SLEE, three Kine*, one bull and a heifer, worth £13 from GEORGE BEWLEY three kine* worth £8 and from Mungo Bewley two horses worth £5.2s.6d. At the time of making these Distresses GEORGE BEWLEY was remaining a prisoner for the same fine.

* Kine = an old plural form for Cow

BESSE, page 130
ANNO 1663

THOMAS BEWLEY, after frequent seizures of his goods for Tithes, was this year, on an Exchequer Process, committed to prison at Carlisle, where he lay near three years. Also in this year seizures were made on JAMES STANTON of Westdale to the value of £27 and upwards for a demand of but £3 for Tithes; and on THOMAS BEWLEY THE YOUNGER to the value of £11 for a claim of £2.18s. for Tithes. And in the same year for demands of £10.4s.2½d. for Tithes, several others had goods taken by distress to the value of £30.1s.11d. In this year also suffered by distress, for refusing to swear, RICHARD FAWCETT £1.12s., PHILIP BURNYEAT £1, HENRY ALLASON £2.10s. and WILLIAM MORRISON £2. Also THOMAS FELL, JOHN FELL, JAMES BARNES, and JOHN TIFFIN were suffers by Distress on the same account.

BESSE, page 130
ANNO 1664

RICHARD FAWCETT, JOHN GILL, WILLIAM RICHARDSON, and JOHN FEARON were prosecuted in the Exchequer by GEORGE FLETCHER for Tithes; the claim he made from some of them was but 6d. and from none of them above 1s. for which trifles some of them were obliged by the prosecutor to appear several times in London, two hundred miles from their habitations: His purpose being not so much to recover any thing, as to perplex and and harass the poor men, who at length were imprisoned in Carlisle for refusing to swear to the answers they gave into court. For the same reason also WILLIAM BOWMAN, WILLIAM MORRISON and JOHN FELL were sent to prison. In this year likewise were imprisoned upon Writs de Excommunicato capiendo, after prosecution in the Ecclesiastical Court for Tithes, HUGH TICKELL, ANTHONY TICKELL, JOHN WILSON, ANTHONY WOOD, CHRISTOPHER SCOTT, WILLIAM LONGSTAKE, THOMAS STAMPER, THOMAS PORTER, JOHN PATTINSON, THOMAS FELL, THOMAS CARLETON, JOHN GIBSON, WILLIAM ADCOCK, LEONARD WHITBURN, and JOHN HETHRINGTON.

In this and the foregoing year, the generality of the Quakers in this county, Men, Women and Children were fined for Nonconformity to the established Worship, which Fines were rigorously exacted by Distresses made on parents for their children, Masters for the Servants, and even on such as being themselves Conformists, had servants or others in their families who were not. The sums of money levied for this cause in these two years, amounted to £87.17s.7d. We also find that within the last four years, for demands made for Steeple- house Rates and Clerk's wages, amounting to £6.13s. Distresses were made to the value of £18.18s.3d.

BESSE, pages 131-132
ANNO 1670

In this year, for meetings held at Brough in this County, Distress of Goods was made on several persons to the amount of £90.14s.6d. Among these was ROBERT HUNTINGTON, from whom four cows and twenty-five sheep were taken and sold: A Concurrence of Disasters, which soon after happend to the buyers of them was much observed: One SIMSON of Sowerby, who bought two of those cows, died in a little time, leaving the cows to his father, who also died soon after him. One WHITE of Caldbeck, bought another of them through the persuasion of his wife, who said, they might as well have her as another. In a short time after, she and her child were found drowned in a pond, where the water was scarce deep enough to cover her as she lay. We think it but just to lay before our Readers the Fact of such remarkable Incidents, and leave them to form such a Judgment thereof, ss from the Nature of the Case, when maturely considered, shall result.

Remarkable also in this year was the case of Thomas Stordy, against whom a Warrant was granted distraining his Goods and Chattels for £20.10s for a meeting at Moorhouse, though himself was still in Prison and had been for near eight years under Sentence of Premunire for not Swearing, and all his Estate had been seized by the King. But it pleased God to release him from so long captivity, by means of CHARLES HOWARD, Earl of Chester, through whose intercession also the King granted his Estate back again to his Children.

In the same year, for meetings at Settura, Goods were taken by Distress, to the value of £8.7s. including the wearing apparel and bedclothes which were taken from JOHN GUARDHOUSE, a very poor labouring man. About the same time, JOHN GILL of Greysouthen, being with others at the Burying-place, read a paper of Chrisian Advice, written by WILLIAM DEWSBURY. For this he was fined twenty shillings, and being unable to pay it, the same was partly levied on RICHARD FAWCETT and JOHN FEARON, from whom, and others, for Meetings at Pardsay were taken Corn, Cattle, and other goods to the value of £35.11s.

BESSE, Pages 132-133
ANNO 1679

In this year sixteen persons were taken by a Sessions Warrant, and committed to prison, for Absence from National Worship, viz. JOHN JACKSON, WILLIAM GRAHAM, CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR, CHRISTOPHER JACKSON, HUMPHRY TWEEDAL, FERGUS WATSON, ANDREW TAYLOR, FRANCIS GILLESPY, THOMAS VOWE, GEORGE GRAHAM of Rigg, ANDREW HETHRINGTON, SIMON ARMSTRONG, JAMES CLARK, HENRY GRAHAM, GEORGE GRAHAM of Blackhouse and JOHN SCOTT. And in the same year WILLIAM LANCAKE, THOMAS OSTELL, WILLIAM SAUL and JOHN WAITE, were imprisoned for Thithes at the Suit of WILLIAM DALSTON.

ANNO 1680

The Amount for the Tithes, taken in kind from this People in this County in this and the four Years next foregoing is £777.5s.3d.

In this year also, for meetings in their respective houses, were taken from THOMAS DREWRY of Newlands Row, Goods worth £11. from HENRY SCOLLICK of Newbiggen, Horses and Cattle worth £26. and from EDWARD TYSON of Bickerthwaite, Goods worth 19s. 7d.

In this same year JOHN SAUL, THOMAS SPLATT, JOHN OSTELL and JOHN BARNE, suffered Distress of Goods for refusing to swear when summoned to serve on Juries at the Mannour Courts: Also JOHN GRAHAM and JOHN BELL were fined for the same cause. Several others, dwelling at Scotby, were returned into the Exchequer for refusing to swear, upon conviction for Recusancy, on Statutes made against Papists, and suffered Distress of Goods on that Account, viz.

Some of those Goods were sold at low Rates in Carlisle Market, but when the People understood that they were the Spoils of Conscience, they refused to buy any more of them.

BESSE, Page 133
ANNO 1682

On the 20th of the month called April this year, the following persons were continuing prisoners for tithes at the suit of ARTHUR SAVAGE, Priest of Caldbeck, viz: THOMAS BEWLEY and ALICE NICHOLSON who had then been prisoners five years and three months. WILLIAM SCOTT, five years and four months. GEORGE STALKER, four years and four months and GRACE STALKER, five years and ten months. Also JOHN SOWERBY, who had been prisoner three years and seven months at the suit of ALAN SMALLWOOD, Priest of Greystock and JOHN TODHUNTER, who had been been imprisoned three years and two months at the suit of the same priest. Also WILLIAM LANGCAKE, WILLIAM SAUL and JOHN WAITE, imprisoned three years and three weeks at the suit of WILLIAM DALSTON, Tithe-farmer. Likewise WILLIAM HOLME, imprisoned above a year on a writ de excommunicato capiendo, at the suit of WILLIAM STANLEY of Dalegarth, impropriator, died a prisoner on the 2nd of September this year. HUGH TICKELL and THOMAS BIRKHEAD were prisoners by attachments out of the exchequer, at the suit of RICHARD LOWRY, priest of Crossthwaite.

In this year were discharged out of prison RANDOLPH BULMAN, committed on a writ de excommunicato capiendo, at the suit of THOMAS BLEMER, farmer of the Bishop's tithe. Also JOHN SLEE, who had been committed at the suit of ALAN SMALLWOOD; and GEORGE BEWLEY, who had lain in prison more than five years, at the suit of ARTHUR SAVAGE, priest of Caldbeck.

In November this year, JOHN HOLME was committed to prison at the suit of LANCELOT SIMPSON, Impropriator. Also THOMAS ROBINSON, MATTHEW STORDY, and THOMAS BONE were imprisoned after excommunication, at the suit of JEREMY NELSON, Priest. ARTHUR CORDELL was also imprisoned six weeks at the suit of ROWLAND NICHOLS, a priest.

BESSE, pages 133-134
ANNO 1683

On the 13th of the Month called February, this year, several informers came to a meeting at Pardsey Cragg and found PETER FEARON preaching. They applied to JUSTICE FLETCHER who fined him £20 and ordered the same to be levied on himself and several others present, although the said Peter desired him to charge the whole on himself, he being of sufficent ability, but the Justice would not. In a short time after were taken by Distress for the said Fine,

When the goods were exposed to sale, and buyers of them could not be found, the Justice ordered his own servants to purchase some of them, which they did at a very low price, and the officers, to supply the defect, made another seizure on some of the persons concerned

For a meeting at Crossfield in the Parish of Cleater, was taken from JOHN NICHOLSON, two oxen worth £8 and from THOMAS SHARP of St Bee's Parish, two oxen worth £6.6s.

CHRISTOPHER STORY of Righead, for permitting a Meeting at his house, had taken from him by a warrent granted by JUSTICE AGLIONBY, two horses worth £5.10s.

BESSE, page 134
ANNO 1684

In the month called May this year, THOMAS STORDY, WILLIAM JOHNSON, JOHN ROBINSON, JAPHET ALLASON, JOSEPH STEEL, JOHN BANKS and JOHN BEWLEY of Gateskail were prisoners in Carlisle Goal; and in the same year RICHARD RIBTON, JONATHAN BEWMAN and THOMAS HALL all of Broughton, were imprisoned for refusing to pay small tithes, at the suit of RICHARD TICKEL, Priest of Bridekirk. Also in the month called January this year, CHRISTOPHER FEARON, RICHARD HEAD, JOHN ROBINSON, THOMAS ROBINSON and ANN STEEL, Widow, all of Messer and LUKE STEEL of Mersgill were committed to Carlisle Goal by an Exchequer Writ for Tithes, at the suit of GEORGE FLETCHER of Hutton. About the latter end of the month of December, THOMAS STORDY died a prisoner, having continued steadfast through manifold sufferings to the end of his pilgrimage

Taken this year for Fines on the Conventicle Act:

On the 17th of the month called February this year, was a meeting of women at Pardsey Cragg, to which three Justices came and demanded of them what they met there for? One of the women answered, to take care of the poor, which was indeed the occasion of their meeting. One of the justices asked whether there were no beggars among them? To which they answered No. He replied That is well. Nevertheless the Justices turned them out of the house, and fined some of them as being at an unlawful assembly: For which fines, ELIZABETH TAYLOR and MARY WILSON suffered Distress of Goods to the value of 12 shillings.

THOMAS SCOTT of Ousebridge End, for refusing to take an oath at the Manor Court, suffered Distress of Brass and Pewter to the value of £4.8s. and JOHN ROGER of Water End, had for the same cause his Pewter taken away to the value of 8s. Also JOHN CAIPE of Uldall, for not procuring a person to swear that his wife was buried in Woolen, though divers were ready to attest it, had his goods taken by Distress to the value of £2.10s.

BESSE, Page 134
ANNO 1685

WILLIAM ADCOCK of Sunderland was fined at Mannour Court for refusing to swear, and had taken from him goods worth 15s. CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR, ANDREW TAYLOR, WILLIAM GRAHAM, HENRY GRAHAM, GEORGE BLAIR, ANDREW GRAHAM, PHILIP HASSARD, RICHARD LATIMER, ANDREW HETHRINGTON, SIMON ARMSTRONG and CHRISTOPHER STORY for being at a Meeting, were indicted at the Assizes as Rioters, and for not traversing that Indictment, sent to Prison.

BESSE, Page 135
ANNO 1687

On the 8th of the month called March this year, ELIZABETH WATSON of Highmore, Widow, died a prisoner for tithes, at the suit of GEORGE FLETCHER, Impropriator

BESSE, Page 135
ANNO 1688

In this Year were remaining Prisoners in Carlisle Goal, at the Suit of GEORGE FLETCHER, Impropriator, JAPHET ALLASON, LUKE STEEL, JOHN SENHOUSE Sen., JOHN SENHOUSE Jun., JOSEPH STEEL, CHRISTOPHER FEARON, ANNE STEEL, JOHN BANKS, and WILLIAM WRIGHT; and at the Suit of JOHN LOWTHER of Lowther, Impropriator, THOMAS OSTELL, MARY SAUL, Widow, WILLIAM GLAISTER, THOMAS DRAPP, ANTHONY SKELTON, WILLIAM BOUCH, ARTHUR SKELTON, JOHN BIGLANDS, and THOMAS WILKINSON.

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