Now! Then! 2024! - Yorkshire On This Day

Excerpt

Zachariah Barton, a tall, sanctified-looking man, wearing a suit of rusty black, and conspicuously displaying what was intended for a white cravat, was charged with obtaining money under false pretences. On the 26th inst. Superintendent Young observed the defendant going from door to door at Nafferton, with a book in his hand, and on asking him what he was doing he said he was collecting contributions for the support of home missions for the expounding of the Gospel. In the inside of the book was written, “Gospel missions in the cities, towns and villages of this country. If you wish to know particulars inquire of the collector.” Superintendent Young told the man to discontinue his proceedings, but he refused, saying that he was sent forth by the Wesleyans to expound the Gospel. On being pressed on this point he admitted that he was not authorised by any party; he preached and collected in places as part of his living. He also stated that he had saved a little money, but not sufficient to live on; this, however, he afterwards admitted was not correct, as he had spent it all in expounding the Gospel. Evidence was given that Barton had obtained a shilling from Mr. Rickinson, Kilham, butcher, and another shilling from Mrs. Riby, Ruston-Parva. In defence Barton stated, in an affected solemn tone, that although he was not authorised by any party to go about to collect money or to preach, he had some years ago belonged to the Wesleyan Connexion, though he had not now a card of membership. He had a calling derived from God to preach the Gospel, and had endured much persecution, especially at Malton, but it had been at the hands of the vulgar sort, many great and good men having approved of his preaching. He said he had done nothing under false pretence. The money he collected was for his own work, and if parties did not ask for particulars he gave them none. After a long consultation the Bench said they declined to convict, but they must say that the defendant’s account of himself was very unsatisfactory, and it was simply for want of legal evidence that he had escaped; very little more would have brought him under the Vagrancy Act.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations:

• ER: East Riding
• GM: Greater Manchester
• NR: North Riding
• NY: North Yorkshire
• SY: South Yorkshire
• WR: West Riding
• WY: West Yorkshire

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Original

“EXPOUNDING THE GOSPEL.”-At the Court-house, Driffield, on Saturday, before the Rev. G. T. Clare, Mr. E. H. Reynard, Mr. J. Grimston, and Captain Brooksbank, Zachariah Barton, a tall, sanctified-looking man, wearing a suit of rusty black, and conspicuously displaying what was intended for a white cravat, was charged with obtaining money under false pretences. On the 26th inst. Superintendent Young observed the defendant going from door to door at Nafferton, with a book in his hand, and on asking him what he was doing he said he was collecting contributions for the support of home missions for the expounding of the Gospel. In the inside of the book was written, “Gospel missions in the cities, towns and villages of this country. If you wish to know particulars inquire of the collector.” Superintendent Young told the man to discontinue his proceedings, but he refused, saying that he was sent forth by the Wesleyans to expound the Gospel. On being pressed on this point he admitted that he was not authorised by any party; he preached and collected in places as part of his living. He also stated that he had saved a little money, but not sufficient to live on; this, however, he afterwards admitted was not correct, as he had spent it all in expounding the Gospel. Evidence was given that Barton had obtained a shilling from Mr. Rickinson, Kilham, butcher, and another shilling from Mrs. Riby, Ruston-Parva. In defence Barton stated, in an affected solemn tone, that although he was not authorised by any party to go about to collect money or to preach, ho had some years ago belonged to the Wesleyan Connexion, though he had not now a card of membership. He had a calling derived from God to preach the Gospel, and had endured much persecution, especially at Malton, but it had been at the hands of the vulgar sort, many great and good men having approved of his preaching. He said he had done nothing under false pretence. The money he collected was for his own work, and if parties did not ask for particulars he gave them none. After a long consultation the Bench said they declined to convict, but they must say that the defendant’s account of himself was very unsatisfactory, and it was simply for want of legal evidence that he had escaped; very little more would have brought him under the Vagrancy Act.

406 words.

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Tags are assigned inclusively on the basis of an entry’s original text and any comment. You may find this confusing if you only read an entry excerpt.

• Driffield (12) ·
• Evangelicalism (7) ·
• Kilham, East Riding of Yorkshire (1) ·
• Methodism (38) ·
• Nafferton (1) ·
• Ruston Parva (1) ·
• Vagrancy Act 1824 (3) ·
• Vagrancy (2) ·
• Wesleyan Methodist Church (Great Britain) (3) ·

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