The Minor Family of Somerset

My grandfather died; left Goodcreave to my father (Joseph) his e
ldest son byhis first wife, and Priestley Ing to Frances, the e
ldest son by his second wife. Goodgreave being 25l per annum an
d Priestley Ing 15l., and gave portionsin money to his younge
r children.
Francis was a very eager, indefatigable reader of books, both di
vinity, law, and history, but especially divinity, having very g
ood natural parts and capacity, whereby he became a person of gr
eat knowledge and understanding as any that ever I was acquainte
d with; but that which was best of all, he was a pious, religiou
s, and conscientious Christian, both in his duty towards God an
d man, very humble, and very much masterover his won passions
; had an excellent gift and faculty for discourse (he was M.P. f
or Halifax in 1648) and argument. He married Sibyl, widow firs
t of Joshua Witton (father in law to Mr. Witton, parson of Thorn
hill, father toRichard Witton, Esq, of Wakefied, councillor a
t law). After the death of Joshuah Witton, this Sibyl married Mi
chael Whitely, by whom she had Joseph and Mary Whitely, and afte
r the death of Michael Whitely, this Sibyl married my uncle Fran
cis Priestly, by whom he had no childen. He lived after he wa
s married, at Bentleyroyde in Sowerby, where Sibyl his wife live
d when he marriedher, and did let Priestley Ing to... He wa
s a good useful man in the town;no town's business of moment wa
s done without his advice and assistance; no man in the town s
o frequently called on as he to arbitrate differences; was agoo
d liver, a fast friend to godly ministers. I do not know a fami
ly comparable to it ever since for peity and religious exercise
. My aunt Sybil's man-servants and maid-servants, and one Richa
rd Moore, a tabler that lived and died with them, were all of th
em eminent good Christians. In his old age he and my aunt gav
e up housekeeping, and came and lived with my brother Thomas a
t Holdworth, who married Mary, daughter to my aunt Sybil, by Mic
hael Whitely, her second husband. They both died at Holdworth
, in a good old age.
Page24
He gave to Joseph, his eldest son, all his land at Westercroft
, which cost him 680 l.: this son, by ill management, foolishl
y and prodigally wasted and consumed all. It's true h is wife e
njoys part of it, worth 10l., a year, but there is more money ow
ing; if his debts were paid, than the land will give. He went i
nto Ireland, and was slain near King William, at the Battle of t
he Boyne
from Vicar Favour and his times page 76
Sibill Whitley, widow, married for her third husband Francis pri
estley of Priestley Ing. On his marriage, he removed to Bentle
y royd in Sowerby; but on his wife's death, he went tolive wit
h his nephew Thomas Priestley of Holdworth, where he died. Hi
s will is dated 4 October 1669. Oliver Heywood, in his list o
f Mr. Roote's Independent society, the first introduction of tha
t sect into Halifax parish states of him:-
"7 ffrancis Priestley, a solid ancient christian, yet upon his c
oming to live with his (wive's0 daughter and son in law Thom Pri
estley, at Holdworth, he lesse approved Mr. Root's way, but dye
d in the faith about the year 1666"
His name occurs amongst those who voted for Jeremy Bentley, to b
e member of parliament for the parish of Halifax in 1654; and al
so amongst the jury who convicted the last thieves gibbetted a
t Halifax, under the old gibbetlaw in 1650. He had no issue.