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SidelightsontheHistoryandPersonalityoftheVenerableWilliamClowes

ChapterIII

TranscriptionofArticleinthePrimitiveMethodistMagazinebyJ.T.HorneFewthingsaremoreinterestingandmorerevealingthanthebirth-placesoffamousmen;forwecanreadinthemawholehistoryofthepastandaprophecyofthefuture.WhenwereconstructupontheoldsitethehouseinwhichCloweswasborn,ithasastrangestorytotell.Everythingbearsatell-talemarkofthegreatchangethathastakenplace.

Theplasteredwalls,theadjoiningale-house,theheapsofworn-outpotters’crates,thequantityofbrokenanddefectivepotsandware-indeed,everythingshowsthepresentruinousconditionofthelocality.Yetonehundredandtwenty-fiveyearsagoamanwasbornherewhohelpedtosaveournationfromhell.Nooneofthatdaysurmisedthepossibilitieswhichthatyounglifepossessed.ThemenofHuntingdonneverimaginedthatthedevoutfarmer,walkingalongtheshadybanksofthesleepingOuse,wouldonedaymakethenameofCromwellsofeared,hated,andadmired.Therudeandboisterouspotters,indulgingintheirroughsports,littlesuspectedthattheyoungchildwatchingthemwouldonedayplayanimportantroleinthedramaofEnglishhistory.Whatarevelationwouldcomeinourviewofhumanlifeifwebutdevelopedaneworganofperception!

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InoneofhisessaysEmersonwritesofthewayinwhichsocietyalmostautomaticallyadaptsitselftoitsvaryingsurroundings.CertainlyClowes,inasenseadaptedhimselftohisenvironment.Thepoisonousmoralatmospherecheckedthegrowthofthefinerinstinctofhisnatureandhinderedthedevelopmentofhissoul.

ThefirstPrimitiveMethodistChapelatBurslemisnowusedasanale-house,andduringoneofourvisitstothetown,wecalledatthisplacewiththehopeofgaininginformation.Itwillbeseenfromtheillustrationthatthenameof“Clowes”standsprominentlyinthefront,andwewishedtolearnwhetherthelandlordbelongedtothefamilyoftheEvangelist.Duringourinterviewweobtainedtheaddressofamemberofthelandlord’sfamily,uponwhomwecalled,andfromwhomwegatheredseveralinterestingincidents.Myesteemedcolleague,whoaccompaniedme,Rev.G.E.Wiles,succeededinobtainingaphotographofthismemberofthefamily.HernameisAnnClowes,andsheisseventy-eightyearsofage.Hergrandfather,DanielClowes,wasabrotherofthefatherofWilliamClowes.ForalongtimetheoldpeoplelivedinoneofthehousesonBall’sBank.Thegrandmother,RachelClowes,wasformanyyearsamemberoftheWesleyanChurchofBurslem.ItisinterestingtoknowthatthehymnbookofthisoldladycameintothehandsofMiss.Clowes,andcontainedseveralClassTickets,withotherevidencesofherMethodism.Allthechildrenoftheoldpeoplewereverymusical,andThomas,theeldestson,wasexceptionallyso,andforsometimeconductedabrassband.Thesecondson,Joshua,wasthefatherofMissClowes.Respectingherparentsshesays,(copyingfrommynotes):“MyfatherandmotherwerebothMethodists,andlivedinNavigationRoad,Burslem.ForupwardsofthirtyyearsaClassMeetingwasheldonceaweekintheirhouse.GrandfatherCloweshadnotmuchsympathywithMethodism,noranythingelsethatwasgood;butIneverheardofhis

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activelyopposingit.Youknowhewasadrunkard.Hisdrinkingwasasoretrialtomyfather,whooncesoldhishousetosavegrandfatherfromgoingtoprison.”“Howdidthatcomeabout?”“Whyinthisway.Grandfatherwasashoemaker,andheonceboughtalargequantityofleather.Themoneywithwhichheshouldhavepaidthisdebt,wasspentindrinkingwithhistipplingcompanions,andtosavehimfromruinfathersoldhishouse.”Inreplytofurtherenquiriessheadded:“Myparentsweregood.Fatherdiedin1841.Inhislastillnesshewasvisitedbymanypeople,foreveryonerespectedhim.SomeofhisMethodistfriendsaskediftheycoulddoanythingforhim,andhesaid,‘PraythatGodmaygivemesupportinggraceduringmyaffliction,andthentakemetoheaven.’”Thisinterviewwasofaninterestingandrevealingcharacter.Althoughinveryfeeblehealth,attimesMissClowesbrightened,andthenwewereparticularlyimpressedwiththemagneticpowerofhereyes.WespoketoMr.GriffinandMr.Wiles,whowerewithus,ofthecloseresemblancebetweenhereyesandthoseshowninthepublishedportraitsofWilliamClowes.ThisconversationgaveaninterestingglimpseofthesurroundingsofthechildhoodofWilliamClowes.WewereshownaMethodistauntlivingnearhimatBall’sBank,anditiscertainthatshehelpedtoshapehischaracter.WealsoknowthatsheheardJohnWesleypreachduringoneofhisvisitstoBurslem.WassheinthatlargecongregationonSunday,March28th,1790,ofwhichhewrote:“AtBurslem,also,Iwasobligedtopreachabroad,suchwasthemultitudeofthepeople”?MissClowescouldnotsay;butfromanothersourcewelearnthatatthisperiodWesleywasgreatlyinfluencingthetown,forBurslemhadbecometheheadofaCircuitnumbering1,327adherents.OneofClowes’biographerstellsusthathereceived“earlycultureofthathumblekindwhichaSundayandCommonDaySchoolcouldsupply.”Wheredidheobtainthiseducation?Thewritersgivenoinformationthatwillhelptoanswersuchaquestion.InthosedaysthereexistedatBursleman“endowedschool”whichwasopenedin1749,andaccordingtothelocalhistoriesit“wasanEnglishDaySchool,andthirty-fourboysandtengirlswereinstructedinreading,writing,andaccounts,andsuchaswereoftheChurchofEnglandweretoattenddivineworshipandlearntheChurchCatechism.”NowinallprobabilityyoungClowesbecameascholarinthis“AncientFreeSchool.”TherecouldbenogreatdifficultyinsecuringadmissionforthepoorgrandsonofAaronWedgwood,whomweknowtohavebeenasubscribertoitsfunds.Theapplicationofthemotheronbehalfofhersoncouldnotfailofsuccess.TheSundaySchool,towhichreferenceismade,wasthe“BurslemSundaySchool.”Thisimportantinstitutionwasopenedin1787,andveryrapidlyacquiredgreatpopularityandsupport.Itsscholarswere“instructedinreading,writing,andliteraryexercises”;andas“themanagersdisclaimedforitanysectariancharacterthechildrenrapidlyincreased,anditreceivedfromthemanufacturersveryliberalsupport,becauseitwasameansofwithdrawingtheyouthfulpopulationfromvagrantandvicioushabitsontheSabbath

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Day”(Ward).NowasMissClowes’fatherandunclelivedatBall’sBank,andwereamongstthefirstscholarsinthisschool,whichwastheonlyoneavailable,weknowthatWilliamaccompaniedhiscousins;anditwasthereandintheAncientFreeSchoolthatheobtainedthelittleeducationofhischildhood.Buthisschooldayswerefew,forattheearlyageoftenyearshewasapprenticedtohisfather’stradeofpotter,withhisuncle,JosephWedgwood,thethirdsonofAaron.Itwasinthe“ChurchyardWorks”thatthisapprenticeshipwasserved.Theseworksweredemolishedin1893-4,andonthesitethenewNationalSchoolswerebuilt.Atthattimeapotter’sapprenticeslivedahardlife,andhisserviceswerepoorlypaid.Inthebiographyofthe“RoyalPotter”itisstatedthatanapprenticereceivedforthefirstthreeyearsofhistermoneshillingperweek,thenextthreeyearsoneshillingandsixpenceperweek,andtheseventhyearfourshillingsweekly.Butinadditiontohiswagesheannuallyreceivedanewpairofboots.AdmittingthattheconditionofthelabourerhadslightlyimprovedbythetimeofClowes’apprenticeship,everythingpointstoalowwage,andthedegradingnatureofthepotter’semploymentatthebeginningoftheNineteenthCentury.Thefollowingpicturedrawnfromlife,byonewhohadhimselfexperiencedthehardshipsofwhichhewrites,showsthelifeofClowesduringhisapprenticeship.“Wedgingclayforaboywasascommonasitwascruel.Whatisnowdonehydraulicpressurewasthendonebytheboneandmuscleof,perhaps,a

half-fedboy.Hehadtotakealumpofrawclayuponaplasterblock,cutitintwowithapieceofwire,liftonehalfabovehishead,thenbringitdownuponthelowerhalftomixthemwithwhateverforcehecouldcommand.Thishadtoberepeatedtilltheclaywasbroughttotheconsistencyofsomethinglikeputty.Doingsuchworkasthiswas‘rest’fromthemouldrunning.Imagineamereboyrunninginandoutofthestoveroom,winterandsummer,withitsblazingironstove,hisspeeddeterminedbyhismaster’sspeedatthework.Coarseoathsandthreats,andbrutalblowsinmanycasesfollowinganyfailuretobeatthebenchattherequiredmoment.ThankGod,thereisnomouldrunningorwedgingnow....Mywagewastobeashillingperweek.ForthislargesumIhadtoworkfrombetweenfiveandsixo’clockinthemorningtillsix,seven,oreighto’clockatnight.”(WhenIwasaChild).

Therewasnotmuchfitnessinthisworkforaladofhistenderyears,andnoconsiderationwouldbeshownhimbecauseofhisrelationshiptothemaster.Stillhequicklyprovedhimselfasharpactiveboywithanaptitudewhichgaveearlypromiseofanexpertcraftsman.Ancestrysoonshoweditself.Hehadinheritedgreatphysicalstrength,andpossessedsuchanabindanceofanimalspiritsthatheseemedtobelargelyacompoundoflifeandfire.

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OliverWendellHolmeswasonceasked,“Atwhatageshouldthetrainingofachildcommence?”andthe“Autocrut”replied,“Twohundredyearsbeforeitisborn.”ThetrainingofClowes,asapotter,hadbeeninprogressformanygenerations,andwhenhewasputtotheactualworkherapidlyreachedahighdegreeofproficiency.Aswewatchhimproducinghistaleofworkwecantracetheevolutionofhisdeftness,directness,andthoroughknowledgeofthecraft,tothoseinventorsandmanufacturersfromwhomhehadinheritedsuchwonderfulskill.Everyarticlecomingfromhishandboreinitsshapeandqualitythethoughtsandexperiencesoftheprecedinggenerationsofpotterswhoweredirectinghisthoughtsandguidinghisfingers.Itisnotsurprisingthatsuchanapprenticequicklytookfirstplaceinthefactory.Theproficiencyofhisworkgavesuchsatisfactiontohissuperiorsthat,quotingfromhis“Journal”:“FormyencouragementIwaspaidforalltheworkextratothatwhichwasduetomymaster.Thisplacedalittlemoneyatmydisposal.”Thisextramoneyheusedtoimprovehiseducationandsoughtthehelpofanight-school;forhehadaspirationswhichneitherhishomelife,norhispot-banksurroundingscouldwhollystifle.Breathingsafterahigherposition,yearningsforsomethingbetterthanthebenchofacommonworkman,werestirringwithin,andthisthirstforknowledgewasahopefulindicationwhichweshalldowelltoheed.Proficiencyinthecraftrequiredaknowledgeofitsvariousbranches,andwhenCloweshadcompletedhistermwithhisuncleheturnedhisattention“tothatbranchofpotterybusinesscalledturning,”andapprenticedhimselftoa“Mr.Mear.”Cloweshasmadesomemistakeinthespellinghere,forthereisnotraceofsuchanameatBurslem.ButaboutthecloseoftheeighteenthcenturythereexistedinWaterlooRoadapottingfactorybelongingto“MayerandCo.”;anditwascertainlyintheseworksthatClowescompletedhistrainingasapotter.ThisMr.MayerwasinhisdayaprominentMethodist.HejoinedtheChurchinhisfourteenthyear,in1780,anddiedin1832,whenhisremainswerefollowedtothegravebyaboutsixthousandpersons.AtthecompletionofhisapprenticeshipCloweswasabletoearnahighwage,andwithcarecouldhavesecuredagoodincome.Butthequantityofhisworkwasoftentimesseriouslyrestrictedbytheerrorsandexcessesintowhichheplunged,largelyasaresultofthetemptationsfromhissurroundingsandtheextravagantcharacterofhispassions.Wemustrememberthathewasathoroughathlete,andbulkedlargelyinthepopularmindasthelocalchampion.Veryfewcouldequalhiminfoot-racing,jumping,boxing,dancing,andallsuchsports;andheindulgedhispassionstoinfatuation.Proficiencyinthesesportspointstoaphysiqueapproachingperfection.LfasEmersonsays,“everyefficientmanisfirstafineanimal,andacertaindegreeofrefinementaddedtosuchavivaciousnaturewillmakethatmanaformidableantagonist,”thenWilliamCloweswasnomeanantagonist.Amassivebrow,hold,piercingeyes,voicerichandmelodious,withmuscletoughandsupple,possessedofmarvellousmagneticpower,withavariedandpracticalknowledgeoflifeandmen-theseallshowedthathewasnoordinaryman.Powerandaudacity,impellingfacultyandfruitfulendeavour,amanwithstrongpassionsandmarvellousendurance-thesemarkedhiskinshipwiththemenwhohavehelpedtomakehistory.Hewasorganisedtobesomethingmorethananordinarypotter,andwheninafterdaystheDivineSpiritresteduponhim,HeacteduponanorganisationalreadypresentfortheworkofapioneerintheEvangelisticfield.

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Asoneoftheleadingspiritsinthelocalathleticgrouphewouldberequiredtoparticipateinthepreparationsforcontests.Thesearrangementsweregenerallymadeatthetaverns,andthe“TurksHead”wasthepopularcentreforthispurpose.Everymeetingwasincompletewithoutthe“flowingbowl”anditsaccompanyingsong.Cloweswasafamousvocalistinthesegatherings,andafavouritesongofhisbegan:

“Come,pushthegrogabout,Strongbeerdrownsalloursorrows.”

Hisconscienceusedtolashhimwhenhesangthesewords,andhetellsusinhis“Journal,”that“withpowerandforcetheScripturewasoccasionallyappliedtohissoul,‘ForallthesethingsGodwillbringtheeintojudgment.’”Thedescriptionwhichtheoldpeoplehavegivenusofthesefoot-racesagreesinbroadoutlinewiththatleftbyClowes.Ashefiguredsolargelyinsuchexhibitionsitmaybeinterestingtogiveadescriptionofthepreparationforawager-contestasithasbeentoldtous.Theprospectivecompetitorwasfirstdrenchedwithanaperient,andthenplaceduponafeatherbed.Asecondbedwasthenplacedabovehimandhelddownsecurelyoneitherside;andheavilyweightedtoproduceprofuseperspiration.Hewasthentakenfromthebedandrubbedviolentlyfromheadtofoot,afterwhichhewasdressedinflannel.Forthenextmonthorsixweekshewasfedonhalfcookedslicescutfromtheprimejointsofbeeformutton,andmadetodrinkstrongoldale.Eachdayafterfeedinghewasputtobedforatleastanhour,afterwhichhewastakentothegroundforexercise,carryingheavyweightsinthepocketsofhisgarments.Arrivingonthefieldallclothingwasthrownaside,exceptapairofdrawersandlightshoes;andtheathletetookhisplaceattheheadofthemarkedcourse,andrantherequireddistance,(Tobecontinued.)__________________________________________________________________________________ReferencesPrimitive Methodist Magazine 1906/223