Dronfield in Derbyshire. On this occasion, the family at Walling-wells, as a token of their esteem for him, and his long services, made him a very handsome present. He appears to to have continued his connection with this family, after his marriage, two or three years. His first child, called Oliver, was born March 8th, 1701, but lived only six or seven days.* About this time he commenced housekeeping at Carlton, near Walling-wells. He removed to Dronfield, in 1703, or 1704, and preached there to a small congregation till within a short period of his death. He was the father of eight children, some of whom died in infancy. He buried his wife August 26, 1712, having followed to the grave his eldest daughter, only five weeks before. He remained a widower the rest of his days. Mr. E. Heywood died at Dronfield, June 12, 1730, aged seventy-three. The following is a copy of the inscription on a tablet in Dronfield church ::

ELIEZER HEYWOOD, A. M.
Fide et Vitâ Theologus

(Oliveri Fil: et Johan: Fra: A. M.
Utriusq: ex paternâ et maternâ Gente
Vere Evangelici:)

Moribus sanctis, et pari Modestiâ Imitandus
Ardentissimoq: Docendi Studio Suspiciendus
Hic Jacet Reconditus.

Obiit A. XII Cal: Junii A. D. MDCCXXX,
Etat: Suæ LXXIII.

Non ita procul hinc Occubat Helen Uxor
Sui dilectissima VIII. liberorum Mater
Ex eodem Conjugio, ex quibus filius
Unicus et Duæ filiæ superstites.

Mr. Eliezer Heywood was succeeded at Dronfield as pastor of the dissenting congregation there, by the Rev. Samuel Shaw, who afterwards removed to Mansfield and died there in 1748. Eliezer Heywood, (the grandson of O. Heywood,) son of the above, was born at Dronfield, Oct. 8, 1710, and educated by Mr. Wadsworth, dissenting minister at Sheffield. In 1729, he went to London, and was under the tuition of Dr. Ridgley. His father's declining health caused him to leave London in March 1730; he married the daughter of Mr. Shaw, the successor of his father at Dronfield, and succeeded him at Mansfield. He died much respected, July 22, 1783, aged seventythree, having been minister at Mansfield thirty-three years.

Mr. Samuel Heywood, son of the above, town clerk of Nottingham, died greatly lamented, July 25, 1789, aged thirtyfour. Some of the family still survive, and remain at Mansfield justly esteemed.

See Letters, IV. and V.

CONCLUSION.

In the Pedigree of the Heywood family, it is stated, that Mr. Richard Heywood, son of the Rev. Nathaniel Heywood, of Ormskirk, was of Liverpool, but since that part of the volume went through the Press, the Editor has ascertained that Mr. Richard Heywood removed from Liverpool, and settled at Drogheda in Ireland. During his residence there, he solicited his brother Nathaniel, that he would send over his son Benjamin when he had finished his education, and place him under his care; accordingly he was sent, and became very successful in business; though he was cut off in the prime of life, being only thirty years of age when he died, he left his family in affluent circumstances.

When Mr. Heywood, the ejected minister of Ormskirk, had been arrested by the disease which brought him to the grave, and was on his death bed, he seems to have had no little concern for his beloved partner and their children, exposed to the rigours of persecution, (see page 498,) but he was enabled to commit them to the care of Him, who is the father of the fatherless, and the husband of the widow, and was encouraged to hope that the guardianship of heaven would not fail them. And his anticipations appear to have been realized, for the smiles of Providence singularly distinguished his descendants.

For the following Letter the Writer is indebted to J. P. Heywood, of Wakefield, Esq. to whom he takes this opportunity of making grateful acknowledgments for his patronage, and the original documents he has kindly furnished to mature this Publication.

Transcript of a Letter from Mr. Richard Heywood, of Drogheda, to his brother Nathaniel. DEAREST BROTHER,

Drogheda, the 1st Feb. 1699.

I received yours of the 27th November; it lay a great while at Liverpool, the wind proving contrary; but it was very welcome when it did come. I make no question but the account of my safety was very grateful to you. I do wish, and am encouraged to hope, that patience under your grievances, accompanied with serious diligence in the performance of your

duty-in that great work wherein it hath pleased God to give you some success, (which you ought not to be unthankful for,) will in the event meet with God's favourable acceptance, and occasion your present and everlasting joy. So, dear brother, go on, maugre all the temptations of the Seducer of mankind, or the doubts of your own mind, which is the frailty of your constitution, and the God of heaven bless you, and all yours in the Lord Jesus Christ. I do desire your favourable construction of my deportment whilst in England, for if I did not express that heartiness of respect, of which I am sure I am truly possessed, (as also being well assured of yours,) the occasion was the sad circumstances of sister Park; but now in our letters to each other, and especially in our prayers for each other, let our mutual affection be expressed-and let us still hope in God.

I thank Sister for her kind remembrance, to whom pray make my respects and service acceptable-remember me also to little Benjamin and Natty; I know I need not urge your care about Benjamin, to prepare him with writing a good hand, and learning to cast up accounts well, and improvement in his Latin during his stay with you-nor do I need to mention that which is your chief concern, and which indeed is most requisite, that you endeavour to instil such principles of true religion into his mind, as may be of happy consequence to him in the conduct of temporal affairs, and such as taking early possession of his thoughts, affections and practice, may prevent the vanity of the world, the corruptions of nature, or subtle suggestions of Satan from assaulting him—or prevailing over him-that so, by the grace of God, they may be of important use in reference to his everlasting comfort and salvation. When I would have him come over, I will write; I suppose in the summer will be most convenient and safe. Excuse my tediousness, I am,

Your very affectionate Brother,

RICH. HEYWOOD.

Copy of the Presentation of the Vicarage of Ormskirk to the Rev. NATHANIEL HEYWOOD, a Fac-simile of which taken from the Original is given in this volume.

CHARLOTTE, Countess of Derby, the true and undoubted Patroness of the Vicarage of Ormskirk, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, unto the honourable the Commissioners for appro

bation and admission of public Preachers, sendeth greeting in our Lord God everlasting. I do present unto you to be admitted unto the Vicarage of Ormskirk aforesaid, being now void, my well beloved in Christ Nathaniel Heywood, minister of God's word, humbly desiring that the said Nathaniel Heywood may be by you admitted unto the said Vicarage with its rights, members and appurtenances. And that you will be pleased to do whatsoever shall be requisite in that behalf for the making him, the said Nathaniel Heywood, Vicar of the Church of Ormskirk aforesaid, according to the late ordinance in that case made and provided. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty

and six.

DERBY.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

J. VINT, PRINTER, IDLE.