The Minor Family of Somerset

John died in 1662, and his son Samuel, Thomas Lister's nephew, w
rites in hisnotebook; "Md. that my father John Lister, departe
d this life July 18th 1662. Mr. Bentley (Eli) preached at his f
uneral, II John, 3, "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick"
. the sermon preached in Halifax Church on this occasion was ca
refully taken down in a very well written shorthand, in one of h
is numerous notebooks, by Samuel Lister, son of his departed fat
her, over whom it was preached.
It is singular, methinks, that, though the Act of Uniformity ha
d been passed on the 19th of May, and Dr. Marsh restored as vica
r of Halifax, Mr. Eli Bentley, the Presbyterian minister, was al
lowed to preach thefuneral sermon in Halifax Church over John L
ister on the 18th of July, 1662.It seems to show that the roya
list Vicar was not a very intolerant divine.
from "History of Northowram"
In the year 1663, Samuel, eldest son of John andPhoebe Lister
, having occasion to make a journey to London, kept a diary in w
hich he recorded each Day's spendings; and although the journe
y must have been both long and tedious in those Days, yet, consi
dering the time it must have taken, it was managed very economic
ally as the diary will show. Moreover,it gives us a peep int
o English life as lived two hundred and thirty-five years ago, a
nd also a glimplse of the character of one of the ancestors of t
he present highly esteemed owners of Shibden Hall.
The Edward Hill referred to,in the second item on the list, wa
s the Rev. Edward Hill, M.A., who was ejected from Crofton nea
r Wakefield, 1662. "He was a pious, grave, ancient Divine, of a
n excellent temper. Upon the Five Mile Act he removed to Shibde
n, near Halifax. He and his wife, who had lived together fort
y years, died within two hours of one another, in January, 1669
. It was he who first subscribedthe Vindiciae, etc, in 1648
" (Calamy, vol 2. p. 562
The above Samuel Lister married Mary, only daughter and heir o
f James Holdsworth of Lower Place Southowram, by whom he had te
n children, viz:-
John, Phoebe, James, Elizabeth,Jeremie, Susn, Mary, Martha, Hes
ter (twins, Thomas.
In the year 1666, shortly after the great fire, Phoebe, his moth
er, addressed the following letter tothe above Samuel from Lond
on, the tone of which clearly shows that her pastor - Oliver Hey
wood - was justified in describing her as a godlyh woman" :-
"Samull,
I need not aquaint you with the lamentable acsident that hath be
falne London, I know you have heard of it, and, indeed, it i
s a most hevy Judgement not only upon them but upon the whole la
nd. John received a letter this Day from my cosen Thomas, he sa
ith that the Lord hath delt graciously with them tho' their hous
e be burnt, yet much of their best goods is safe. Thomas Dicans
on hath writ to Mr. Palin that he is now redused to the same con
ditionhe was at first, and where he hath bene able to releeve o
thers he fears he sHall now nede releefe. I suippose you hav
e a great losse with the rest at Blacwell Hall, but we must be c
ontent to submit to the wise providence of God, and as we have h
ad a hand in the sin that hath brought this judgement so let u
s be content to submit to the punishment. I would not have yo
u discouraged, but trust in the Lord: he hath biden us cast ou
r care upon him, and he willcertainly provid for his in the wor
st of times; he knows how to bring goodout of these sad provid
ences. I have not yet heard anything of Jeremie, whether he b
e alive or not. Remember my love to Mary, and to all our friend
s at Shibden Hall and Lower-breare. Your loving Mother, Phebe L
ister.
Writ whether my bridle came home with the pony or not."
Samuel was one of Oliver Heywood's most regular hearers at the M
eeting House in Northowram, but we have notyet discovered tha
t he followed his mother's example and became a member ofHeywoo
d's Church. It was a constant practice w