The Minor Family of Somerset

Phoebe's mother was described by her son-in-law as a "very piou
s and religious woman", and an inspection of her portrait,reprod
uced in Pearson's History of Northowram where she is depicted wi
th Bible in one hand, will confirm thisdescription. Phoebe's p
arents died whilst she was a child, and she was brought up at th
e house of her uncle, John Hoyle of Howcans. She and Jonathan P
riestly were married at Halifax Church by the Rev. Oliver Heywoo
d, and they were lifelong friends of that eminent divine. A len
gthy memoir of Phoebe waswritten by her husband, and though mis
sing for many years, the manuscript wasunearthed by the Rev. Ma
rk Pearson and published in his History of Northowram.
Heywood notes her death in his diary in 1674, and adds the comme
nt, a choice servant of God. She was the mother of the Rev. Nat
haniel Priestley of Ovenden. http://www.halifax-toDay.co.uk/spe
cialfeatures/triviatrail/mmt307.htm