The Minor Family of Somerset

Name Suffix:<NSFX> M.A.
Name Prefix:<NPFX> Rev
Here lyes interred the body ofthe Rev. John Lister, of Shibde
n Hall, who departed this life the ....Day ofSep 1759, aged 56
, master of Bury Grammer Schold, died umarried.
Letter toJohn from his father James. 28th jan 1724
"Son john.--I can never advise youto spend time in the study o
f Physick, for you are never likely (consideringthe trouble tha
t attends it) to be a penny better for it. I will remind youo
f the chief matters sch. you ought to understand before you ca
n expect anybusiness. And first after you have taken a great d
eal of pains to learn theTheory, you are very little wiser unti
l you have spent a number of years inpractice, and to obtain i
t you are obliged to spend some years in France or Holland, an
d at your return you'll begin to be looked upon as a Doctor bu
t will soon lose your reputation, except besides being a learne
d Physitian yoube also a skilful Chyrurgeon, which requires bo
th judgement and courage, as in taKing off a leg or an arm, etc.
, ettc., is not agreeable with squeamish stomachs...And last o
f all, you'll be obliged to keep your Physick either yourself, a
nd have te trouble of maKing up your own medicines, which is th
e custom of most Drs. nowaDays, and good reason may be given fo
r it. There is onething to be said, and that is, amongst all t
he distempers incident to mankind, none more common than the sma
ll-pox, and for the Dr. to say he hath not hadthem, will be b
e a sufficient excuse for not attending the sick. Suppose you c
ontinue your other year in the study of Divinity, and at the en
d go intoOrders, you may be at Shibden Hall, or sometimes at Co
llege, while you lightof a Place that will please you. And fo
r the future, instead of being frightened with the thoughts o
f a 30 or 40 pound Curacy, be encouraged with the hopes of one w
ell worth 80 to 100 pounds per annum. From your affectionate an
d loving father, Jas. Lister. P.S.--If your encouragement to t
he study ofphysick is that some of your name has attempted it w
ith success, I sHall nameyou two that has profitted very little
, considering their labour and charges.
The one was educated at Cambridge, and came out Batchelor of Phy
sick--made it his whole study during the time of his being at th
e University. The other gentleman took another method, which wa
s, first he served as an Apprenticeto an Apothecary in the coun
try for several years--afterward was journeymanto several Apoth
ecaries in London. So to make him more perfect, he was at the c
harge of going through several courses of Chymestry and Anatomy
, and tomake him more complet, he attended at St. Thomas' Hospi
tal a year or a year and a half, which be a great expence. An
d now after all, I durst not give 10/- per annum for all their p
rofit. I need not name them any plainer than to say they are bo
th Mr. Thomas Lister."
became master of Shibden Hall after hisfather, never married, h
is brother James also unmarried came into possesionfor four yea
rs
pg 117 of film