Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel | Page 3

after with social and religious visits. In the intervals of the Monthly
Meetings, when not engaged on more distant service, it was his practice
to appoint meetings for worship in the villages around Highflatts, and
very frequently to visit those places where individuals were "under
convincement," particularly Barnsley and Dewsbury, where at that time
many were added to the Society. On his return home from these
services he would spend the day in an upper room, without a fire, even
in the severest weather, writing a minute account of all that had
happened.
It was in 1803 that Joseph Wood first had intercourse with Joel
Yeardley's family. Under date of the 19th of the Fourth Month, he says,
speaking of himself and some other concerned Friends:--
We felt an inclination to visit Joel Yeardley's family, who are under
convincement, and who have lately removed from near Handsworth
Woodhouse. We went to breakfast. He and Frances his wife, with
Thomas and John their sons, the former about nineteen, the latter
seventeen years of age, received us in a very kind and affectionate
manner, expressing their satisfaction at our coming to see them. They
appeared quite open, and gave us a particular account of the manner of
their convincement and beginning to attend Friends' meetings, which
was about four years ago. I believe there is a good degree of sincerity in
the man and his wife, and the two sons appear to be tender and hopeful.
The next month Joseph Wood repeated his visit, and gives an account
of the interview in the following words:--
5 mo., 1803.--Having ever since I was at Joel Yeardley's the last month,
felt my mind drawn to sit with the family, and this appearing to me to
be the right time, I set out from home the 14th of the Fifth Month, in
company with John Bottomley. Got to Joel Yeardley's betwixt four and
five o'clock. After tea, Thomas Dixon Walton and Samuel Coward of

Barnsley came to meet us there. In the evening we had a precious
opportunity together, in which caution, counsel, advice, and
encouragement flowed plentifully, suited to the varied states of the
family. I had a long time therein first, from 1 Cor. xv. 58; John
Bottomley next. Afterwards I had a pretty long time, after which J.B.
was concerned in prayer. At the breaking up of the opportunity I had
something very encouraging to communicate to their son Thomas, who,
I believe, is an exercised youth, to whom my spirit felt very nearly
united.
Joel Yeardley unhappily did not long remain faithful to his convictions.
He not only himself drew back from intercourse with Friends, but was
unwilling his sons should leave their work to attend week-day meetings,
and did all in his power to prevent them. This is shown by the
following narrative from Joseph Wood's memoranda:--
As William Wass and I were going to attend a Committee at Highflatts,
on our Monthly Meeting day, in the morning, we met with Thomas
Yeardley of Blacker, near Worsbro', a young man who is under
convincement. I was a little surprised to see him having on a green
singlet and smock frock. He burst out into tears; I inquired the matter,
and if something was amiss at home; he only replied, "Not much;" and
we not having time to atop, proceeded, and he went forward to my
house. This was on the 19th of the Ninth Month, 1803.
After the Monthly Meeting was over, I had an opportunity to inquire
into the cause of his appearance and trouble, and found that he was
religiously concerned to attend weekday meetings, which his father was
much averse to; and in order to procure his liberty he had worked
almost beyond his ability; but all would not do, his father plainly telling
him that he should quit the house. The evening before, he applied to
him for leave to come to the meeting at Highflatts to-day; but he
refused, and treated him with very rough language. However, as the
concern remained with him, he rose early in the morning and got
himself ready; but his father came and violently pulled the clothes off
his back, and his shirt also, and took all his other clothes from him but
those we met him in, telling him to get a place immediately, for he

should not stop in his house. Being thus stripped, he went to his work
in the stable; but, not feeling easy without coming to meeting, he set
out as he was, not minding his dress, so that he might but be favored to
get to the meeting.
This evening we had an opportunity with him in my parlor, much to our
satisfaction. The language of encouragement and consolation flowed
freely and plentifully towards him through