174 History of Methodism 



born an interesting daughter to Quaker parents, who 

 brought her in yet tender years to a new home in 

 Spartanburg District, in South Carolina, and gave her 

 all the advantages of education which the condition 

 of the country at that early period afforded. In par- 

 ticular they impressed on her tender mind such sen- 

 timents as were calculated to raise her thoughts to 

 things above, and ever afterward influence her life; 

 and were especially careful to enforce the precepts of 

 piety by a godly example. The plainness and sim- 

 plicity which generally characterized the sect to which 

 her mother was attached were always exhibited by the 

 daughter. At the age of twelve she delighted to read 

 the holy Scriptures, and wept at the name of Jesus, 

 because he had suffered and done so much for her. 

 She occasionally had the opportunity of hearing the 

 Baptists preach, but refused to join them for the rea- 

 son that she had come thus early in life to draw lines 

 of distinction between two or more denominations, of 

 which she had at least heard and read, and did not 

 feel warranted in uniting with a Church whose creed 

 was not in accordance with her views. In 1768 she 

 was married to a worthy citizen of Spartanburg. 

 Living in a country which was but thinly inhabited, 

 pressed with the cares of a rising family early in life, 

 and unaided at length by the presence of her husband, 

 who was an officer in the Revolutionary War, she was 

 almost entirely deprived of the opportunity of hear- 

 ing preaching or enjoying the means of grace. The 

 coming of John Mason and Thomas Davis, bringing 

 the gospel into every neighborhood, and to the very 

 houses of the people, was a source of great joy to 

 her who was often brought to mourn her departed 

 privileges. Their preaching she thought a true ex- 



