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SidelightsontheHistoryandPersonalityoftheVenerableWilliamClowes

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TranscriptionofArticleinthePrimitiveMethodistMagazinebyJ.T.HorneItiswelltorememberwhenwecometothestudyofanypersonality,thattoobtainaclearconceptionofthecharacter,twomethodsmustbepursued.Weneedfirsttoascertaintheancestry,historyandpsychologicalsignificanceofthepersonality;inotherwordswemustgettoknowwhatmadehimthemanhewas.Thensecond,beinghere,wemustfindouthowhelivedhislife;whathisinnerexperienceswere;howhepassedthroughhisgreatcrises;howfardidhesucceedincarryingouthispurposes,andrealisinghisplans.Thesequestionsmustbefirstansweredseparately,andthentheanswerstotheseparatequestionsmustbecombinedtoreachacorrectconclusion.IntheClowesliterature,inourjudgment,sufficientattentionhasnotbeengiventothefirstgroupofquestions,withtheresultthatahazineshassurroundedhispersonality.Wehopetogivealittlelightuponhisancestryandfamily,andpossiblyfindtherootfromwhichthemanhassprung.Everyknownincidentwillbeused,whichhasnotyetbeenpublished,toincreasethelight.Storywillbecomparedwithstory,traditionwithtradition,thatoutofthewholewemaycometoseehimashewas.

Inthosememorabledays,ofwhatwemaycallasecondReformation,whenasaduty,yearafteryear,JohnWesleyregularlymadehistourofthecountry,Burslemwasincludedinhisitinerancy.WereadinhisJournalunderMarch8th,1760,“wentontoBurslem,nearNewcastle-under-Lyne,ascatteredtownonthetopofahill,inhabitedalmostentirelybypotters,amultitudeofwhomassembledatfiveintheevening.Deepattentionsatoneveryface,thoughasyetaccompaniedby

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deepignorance.”ThefollowingentryshowsthattwelvemonthslaterheagainvisitedBurslem,andpreachedonthesamespot.“March19th,1761.IrodeontoBurslemandpreachedathalf-pastfiveinanopenplaceonthetopofthehilltoalargeandattentivecongregation,thoughitrainedalmostallthetime,andtheairwasextremelycold.”WhileWesleywasthuslabouringforthespiritualwelfareofthispeople,AaronandRichardWedgwoodwereputtingforththeirpowerstointroducenewandbettermethodsformanufacturingpotteryatBurslem.Theyhadsucceededtothebusinessoftheirfather,whodiedin1743,andtheybecamethefirstmanufacturersofchina-wareinEngland.Thesebrothersweremenofgreatwealth,and“erectedthefirstbrick-builtmanufactoryatBurslem,roofedwithtiles.”Theyalsobuiltahandsomehouse,calledfromitssuperiorsizeandelevation,“TheBigHouse.”Mr.WesleydescribesBurslemas“ascatteredtown,”butweshouldhavepreferredtocallitapoorstrugglingvillage,foritwascomposedofonlytwohundredandtenbuildings,ofwhichtwenty-twowerePotWorksandnineteenalehouses.Withtheexceptionofthe"BigHouse"andtheadjacentfactoryallthesebuildingswereroofedwiththatch.ThefollowingpictureisgivenintheBurslemdialectofthetime:"Fawmal]y,itwereafearfulruffishspot.AWth’hahesenwurnthatchtloikethisheer’n;anaforetherdurs,e’erybodyhadabreadoonan’essmidden’;an’th’tahenstreetherewurawfullo’cley-pits...bu’th’Big-hahiswurthoughtawonderfu’bildinatthatteyme.Therwurnoutloikeitaneywhereabat.”Itwasinthis“BigHouse”thatAnnWedgwoodwasbornandfromwhichshewasmarriedtoSamuelClowes.ThemannersandmoralsoftheBurslemPottershavebeenoftendescribedas“coarse,brutalandvicious.”Theworkmenheldtheirsportsonthe“HillTop”whereWesleypreached,andeveryPotteryhaditsown“wake”whichwasatimeofdebauchery.ThehonoursofthePot-bankrequiredthatits“wake”shouldequal,ifnotexcel,thatofitsneighbours’,incoarseamusements.Themethodsoftradingwereofsuchanorderthattheycontributedtothedemoralisationofthework-people.Thewarewassoldattheale-housesto“Pot-peddlers,”whocarriedtheirloadofpotsonthebacksofhorsesormules,goingfromtowntotowntodisposeoftheircommodities.Apeculiarfeatureofthepeddlers’visittoBurslemwasthataboxingcontestinvariablyoccurredbetweenthepeddlersandthepotters;forasaclassthepackmenwereexpertboxers,andmanypridedthemselvesintheirproficiency.Itsometimeshappenedthatthepeddlers,intheirwanderings,engagedaprofessionalboxer,andbroughthimtothepotterytown,inordertomakemoneybyawager-battle.Theyarrangedfortheirmantointroducehimselfinsomedisguise,andthenwarilycreateadisputewiththepotters,tobefollowedbyaboxingmatch.Thesesavagesportsalwaysdrewtogetheranumberofspectators.InlaterdaysWilliamClowestookaprominentpartinthesewagercontests,andsometimesreceivedpersonalinjury.Hetellsinhis“Journal”that“ThroughfightingmybodyhasoftenbeensobeatenthatIhavebeennearlycoveredwithbruises.OnoneoccasionIwascarriedoutfromtheroomapparentlydead,andmedicalhelpobtained.”Thecontestinwhichhereceivedthisdangerousblowarosefromtheacceptanceofthechallengeofapeddler.Itappearsfromwhatwehavebeentoldthathiscompetitorwasaprofessionalboxerwhohadbeenbroughtforawager-battle,andheinflictedsuchablowthatCloweswascarriedoutoftheroom,apparentlydead;andamedicalmanwashastilycalledtodeterminewhetheranysymptomsofliferemained.Itistothisboxingthatthelocalpoetrefersinhislinestothehonourofthepot-pugilist:-

“HowStoukerUnwinbeatthepedlar,Andmadethepackmenstare;

UntiltheirlooksweredullandflatAscrackedandcrazedware.”

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ButthiswasnottheonlypartwhichthetavernplayedintheindustriallifeofBurslem;foritwasalsothemeetingplaceofthepottersduringthefiringoftheware.Assoonasthearticleshadbeenplacedintheovensthepottersproceededtothetavern,andmanyofthemcontinuedtheircarousaluntiltheywerecompelledtoreturntoattendtothekilns.Wehadbettergiveoneortwoincidentswhichhavebeentoldusillustrativeofthecustomsofthattime;asWilliamClowesandhisfatherwerespectators,ifnotactorsinsimilaraffairs.Mr.Wedgwoodwritesus:“IfearthatWilliaminhisunregeneratedays,andhisfatheralso,weretoofrequentcustomersofthe‘Turk’sHead’publichouse.”This“Turk’sHead,”whichoccupiessuchalargeplaceinthelifeofBurslematthecloseoftheEighteenthCentury,wasahalfbrickandhalfwoodstructure,verypopularasapublicresort.Italmostadjoinedthe“IvyHouse”andtheChurchyardWorksoftheBrothersWedgwood.The“Turk’sHead”andthe“BlueBell,”anotheroldthatchedtenement,hadoneyardincommon,theextremesofbothplacesmeeting,andtherewasnokindoffencebetween.Thelandlordsofthetwoinnswereneverknowntoquarrelabouttheboundary.Thepottersusedbothplacesindiscriminately,astheywerebothneartheirworks.Averyrudebuteffectivemethodwasadoptedinthosedaysfordealingwithadrunkanddisorderlycustomer.Whenherefusedtocomplywiththeexpressedwishofthecompanyhewassummarilyejectedfromthetavernandtiedtothesignpostofthehouse,andthereallowedtoremainuntilhehadbecomebothcivilandsober.Thisroughtreatmentcontinuedformanyyears,butwasultimatelyabolishedthroughtheinfluenceofMadamEgerton,wifeofaleadingpotteratBurslem.Clowesmentionsdancingasoneofhisattainments.Eachoftheprincipaltavernsprovidedfordancingparties,andthepassionseemstohaveaffectedallgradesoflife,fordancingcompaniesexistedeverywhere.Thesecompanies,withtheirfiddler,visitedneighbouringtownsandvillagesforcompetitivedances.ThereisastorytoldofacompanyofBurslemdancersvisitingEndon,andtheycommencedthedanceaboutseveno’clockontheeveningofSeptember2nd,anddidnotstopuntildaylightonthe14th.ButitisonlyrighttoaddthatthisreferstothetimeofthealterationoftheCalendarwhenelevendaysweredroppedbyActofParliament.

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Fromtheyear1770,orthereabouts–thetimeofthecompletionoftheGrandTrunkCanal-maybedatedthecommencementofthegreatcommercialprosperityofBurslemandthedistrict.Itwasthebeginningofthemultiplicationoffactories;townsandvillagessprangintoexistence;inhabitantsflockedinfromeveryside;andtradeincreasedwithamazingrapidity.JohnWesley’s“Journal”givesananimatedpictureofthealteredappearanceofthedistrictduringtheperiodcoveredbetween1760and1790.Butthisrapidgrowthofwealthwasaccompaniedbyawildbarbarity.Thepeoplebecameintoxicatedwiththeirmaterialprosperity,anddomesticdecencyandcommonmoralitywereevenmoreflagrantlyignoredandoutraged.Itwasaperiodofbrilliantmaterialdevelopment,butifwecanfairlyjudgefromthereportswhichhavecomedowntousthemoralsandmannersofthepeoplewerehoneycombedwithvices.Theirincreasedwealthonlyservedtogivegreaterfacilitiesforthedevelopmentoftheanimalpassionsatthesacrificeoftheirhigherpowers.Butinfairnessitshouldhesaidthattheconditionofthepeoplewasverylargelytheoutcomeoftheirsocialandindustrialsurroundings;theirvicesanddissipationsweregeneratedin,andrecruitedfrom,andencouragedbytheconditionsinwhichtheywerecompelledtolive.Wecouldnomoreimaginegrapeswithoutavine,thantobelievethatsuchvicescouldexistwithoutdependingverylargelyuponthenutrimentsuppliedbysuchanindustrialcondition.Thevicesweretheexpressionofunregeneratedhumanitylivingitslifeinsuchapoisonousatmosphere.

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Weshallhepardonedfordwellingatsuchlengthupontheseindustrialchanges,whenitisrememberedthatthestreamsofinfluencewhichtheyproducedpowerfullyaffectedthecharactersofbothparentsofWilliamClowes.Indeed,everyperson,man,woman,andchild,whetherinthe“Big‘House”orthecottage,wouldhavetobreathethemorallytaintedatmosphere.Livinginthat“BigHouse”AnnWedgwoodhadherdreams,andSamuelClowes,bysomemeansunknowntous,gainedherearandwonheraffection.Possibly,withthepassionofyouth,itmayhavebeenaromanceplayedoutinherfather’sfactory-the“ChurchyardWorks”-butifsoitwasaromancewhichhadforherasomewhattragicending;forshefoundthatlifeisnotanidealbutanactual.WeknowverylittleoftheimmediateancestryofSamuelCloweswhowooedandwonAnnWedgwood.HeisoftendescribedasanativeofBurslem,butonwhatauthoritywedonotknow...AtthattimemanypersonsnamedCloweswerelivingatBirslem,butuptothepresentwehavefailedtotraceanyimmediaterelationshipbetweenthemandSamuelClowes.Inanoldbook,keptintheBurslemParishChurch,whichwewerepermittedtosearch,wefoundinmanyplacesthenameofClowes.Ononepagethereisanentryshowingthaton“22nddayofApril,1794,”ameetingwasheldandmanysignatureswereattachedincludingthatof“WilliamClowes.”ButthereisnoevidenceofanyimmediaterelationshipbetweentheseBurslemresidentsandSamuelClowes.Ontheotherhand,thereisatraditionthatSamuelClowes-thehusbandofAnnWedgwood-belongedtoacountryfamily,andhadtemporarilyremovedtoBurslemforthepurposeoflearningthepottingbusiness.Wehavetriedtogetfullerinformationonthissubject,butunfortunatelyweweretoolateinourenquiries.TheRev.JosephAstontowhomwewrotereplied,“AmsorryIcannothelpyoureClowesandWhitmore.IhaveadistinctrecollectionofoldMr.Miilwardtellingmesomethingaboutit,butheisdead,andIfindhisfamilyareunabletosayanythingonthesubject;itisquitestrangetothem.Icannotrememberwithanydegreeofcertaintywhathesaid.”Thistradition,however,findssupportintheentryintheMarriageRegisterofBurslemParishChurch,foritshowsthatthebannsofthemarriagewerepublishedintheChurchatWhitmoreaswellasBurslem.Nowwhatdoesthisduelpublicationmean?AtthatperiodtheparishesofWhitmoreandBurslemwerebothmembersofStokeparish,buttheyweresubsequentlyseveredfromitbytheStokeRectoryDivisionAct,1807.Wehavesubmittedthequestiontotwolegalauthoritiesinthedistrict,andtheyareagreedthattheonlyconclusionthatcanbesafelydrawnfromsuchanentryisthatthebridegroombelongedtoWhitmoreparishandthebridetoBurslem.ItiseverywayprobablethatSamuelCloweswasamemberofaWhitmorefamily,butservedanapprenticeshipatBurslem,wherehewooedandwonAnnWedgwood.TheentryintheRegistershowsthatthemarriagebetweenthemwascelebratedatBurslemonMay31st,1773,andreadsasfollows:-“BannsofMarriagebetweenSamuelClowesandAnnWedgwoodwerepublishedMarch21st,28th,andApril4th,inWhitmoreChurch.

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No.189.SamuelClowesoftheParishofBurslem,Potter,andAnnWedgwoodoftheparishaforesaid,singlewomanweremarriedinthisChurchbypublicationofBanns,thisthirtyfirstdayofMay,onethousandsevenhundredandseventy-three,bymeR.Bentley,Minr.DeBurslem.Thismarriagewassolemnisetdbetweenus,SamuelClowes,AnnWedgwood.InthepresenceofusAaronWedgwood,JamesLowe.”Itisnotknownwheretheylivedduringthefirstyearsoftheirmarriedlife.IthasbeensuggestedthattheywentintoahouseatBall’sBank,butitishardlylikelythatthebridegroomwouldtakehisnewlyweddedwifefromthe“BigHouse”toresideinsuchadistrict.MissWedgwoodissaidbythosewhoknewher,“tohavebeennaturallyamiable,ofgreatmentalvigour,ofunblemishedmorals,andashavingbeeneducatedinthedoctrinesandceremoniesoftheChurchofEngland.”ToimaginethatAaronWedgwoodwouldconsentforhisfirstborntogotosuchaplaceforahome,oreventhathisdaughterwillinglywenttosuchaplace,istosupposethatshehadnotonlygivenuphername,buthadalsorecklesslythrownasideallhersocialinstincts.Itwouldcertainlynotbewhatweshouldexpectfromawomanof“greatmentalvigour."Withthepassingyears,andthechangeswhichtheybrought;withthehumiliationattendantonherhusband’sconduct,andthepovertyresultingfromhisindolence;andpossiblytheisolationfromherfamilyandearlyassociates,andtheshameathersocialdescent,shemayhavebeendriventohideherselfinsuchadistrict,withitsstrangesurroundings,andfoulandunsanitaryconditions.Itwassurelyafter,atleast,afewyearsthatwefindherinthecottageatBall’sBank.AccordingtothetestimonyofoldresidentsthecottageinwhichtheCloweslivedwhenWilliamwasborn,wasdemolishedin1893,anditssiteisnowpartofaroadleadingtoaslaughterhouse.In1780,andformanysubsequentyears,itwastheendhouseofarowofsixworkmen’scottagesformingonesideofarudesquare,theotherendcottagejoiningarowofsimilarbuildingsatrightangles,forminganotherside.Thefrontdoors,whichweretheonlyentrancestothehouses,openedtothebank,whichwascalled“Ball’sBank”fromthecustomofthepottersgatheringuponittoplayball.Anoldpotterwhoshowedustheplacesaidthatwhenhewasaboyhehadmanytimesseentheplay,andhedescribeditasconsistingofkickingabailagainstanadjoiningwall.Themanwasdeclaredthewinnerwhokickedtheballthehighest,andthegreatestnumberoftimes,withoutallowingittotouchtheground.

(Tobecontinued)__________________________________________________________________________________ReferencesPrimitive Methodist Magazine 1906/139