a child; and as he grew in years, he grew in grace and in the fear of the Lord, whereby he gave just hopes of being a serviceable member in Society. And as he advanced in life under the forming hand, he became qualified for, and was instrumental in promoting the peace and welfare of his fellow men, which caused him to be greatly beloved by Friends and others.

He was called to the work of the ministry about the 30th year of his age. His first appearances were not lengthy, yet accepted by Friends, and for many years his public communications were in few words but were attended with life and power, being a deep traveler in spirit and careful to abide with the seed. He was in due time enabled to bring forth fruit greatly to the comfort and consolation of the Church, and became largely gifted in the openings of truth's doctrine. In his engagement as a minister, he traveled twice as far as North Carolina, visiting almost all the meetings in those provinces, where he had good service amongst Friends and others, besides many short journeys within the verge of our Yearly Meeting, which were to good satisfaction, leaving many seals behind him of his labors.

He was a man of good understanding, sound and penetrating judgment, and enabled to detect the subtle workings of crooked and perverse spirits, that were laboring to creep into the church and subvert the truth, and to preserve from the effects they would produce. He failed not honestly to bear a faithful testimony against such, standing like a valiant in Israel for the Lord's cause. And may others be encouraged by his pious life and example, to dedication in the discharge of their religious duties.

His removal from life was sudden, occasioned by receiving a serious injury at the raising of a building, he appeared sensible to the last, and departed in a resigned frame of mind, on the 9th of 4th month, 1760, aged 59 years, a minister about 29, and on the 11th, his remains being accompanied by a large body of Friends and others, to our meeting house in Swanzey, after a solemn meeting, were interred in Friends' burying ground. Signed in and on behalf of said Meeting, held 2d of 1st month, 1797, by

DANIEL BRAYTON,
ABIGAIL LAWTON, S

Clerks.

THEOPHILUS SHOVE.

Testimony from the Monthly Meeting of Friends, held at Somerset, for Swanzey, 2nd of 1st month, 1797, concerning our friend, Theophilus Shove, deceased.

As the memory of the just is pronounced blessed, we think it our duty to give forth a testimony concerning this our beloved friend.

He was born at Dighton, the 7th of 4th month, 1715, of honest parents, (Edward and Lydia Shove,) and was early convinced of the truth, and bore a public testimony for it before the twenty-first year of his age, to the satisfaction of Friends. Yet through unwatchfulness to that convincing power that had in a good degree illuminated his understanding, he was for a season captivated and drawn into the wilderness by the subtle baits of the enemy. Nevertheless, through the Lord's goodness and condescension, he was mercifully re-visited and plucked as a brand out of the midst of its burning, whereby he was raised to sing on the banks of deliverance, of the mercies and loving kindness of the Lord thus continued to him.

And after a season of deep exercise and humiliation, he was favored with a dispensation of the gospel again, and in and through a diligent attention to the dictates of truth he witnessed a growth in the gift committed to him; and in the improvement thereof, ministered in the ability which God giveth, exciting others to keep up the watch and maintain the guard, devoutly commemorating favors conferred, and fervently imploring the continuation thereof. He was diligent and exemplary in the attendance of our religious meetings for worship and discipline, although he labored under great infirmity of body, at times, and frequently attended meetings adjacent within the compass of our Yearly Meeting. And once with the unity of his friends at home, he visited the churches through the western governments as far as North Carolina; and on his return produced satisfactory certificates from the meetings he attended. He was an affectionate husband and a tender parent, (having great influence on the minds of his children, by

a steady circumspect example of self-denial :) a good neighbor, and well-beloved by his acquaintance of every rank and denomination; his life and conversation being grave, yet innocently cheerful, which rendered his company agreeable. He was a lover and promoter of peace, unity and brotherly love; useful in our meetings for discipline, being sound in judgment and concerned that the church might be preserved and kept clean. He was engaged to visit the sick and those in affliction, and favored to administer of the wine and oil to their wounds, and continued to be living and green to the end of his days; and in his advanced years had often to express, that while he was sensible that the outward man decayed, the inward man grew stronger and stronger. A few weeks before his death, having a shock of the palsy, from which disorder he had suffered for many years, he expressed to some of the family that he had a desire for some time that he might, ere long, be released, and which he believed would now be granted him. After which his strength gradually declined; and through the whole of his sickness, when asked how he did, his answer generally was, that he was easy in body and mind. One day, several friends being present, he expressed in substance as follows that he had for a long time been laboring to be ready for such a day and hour, that his sun might go down in unclouded brightness and that the evening curtain might be drawn in calmness, that he might leave a good savor behind him; and the time being now come brought no sorrow, and remarked, how necessary it was for every one to be prepared for such a day and time, and had to acknowledge the goodness of God to him in the abundance of favors received. A little before his final close, being asked how he did, he answered, "I am just passing away out of this land, and I die in that unshaken faith in which I have lived."

Thus having finished his course with joy and in unity with his friends, like a shock of corn fully ripe, we doubt not he is gathered into the garner of the Lord and made a partaker with the righteous.

He quietly departed this life on the 30th of 3d month, 1796, in the eighty-first year of his age, a minister about fifty years, and was interred in Friends' burying ground in Free

town, the 1st of the 4th month following, after a solemn meeting of Friends and others.

Signed in and on behalf of said meeting, by

DANIEL BRAYTON, Clerks.
ABIGAIL LAWTON,

MEHITABLE JENKINS.

Testimony of Berwick Monthly Meeting, held the 19th of 4th month, 1816, concerning our dear friend, Mehitable Jenkins, deceased.

She being early settled within the compass of our meeting, we have had repeated opportunities of witnessing in her that state of innocency and unaffected piety which so adorned and fitted her under divine influence for the work of the ministry, and we therefore feel it to be our duty to preserve some memorial of her virtuous life, gospel labors, and peaceful close.

Having passed through seasons of deep probation, and known an overcoming through suffering, she was enabled to speak from experience to the comfort of the mourners in Zion, and to the encouragement of the heavy hearted in their conflicts, many of whom can testify that as a mother in Israel, she was qualified rightly to divide the word to their edification.

It appears she was born at a place called Richmond, on the western side of the Kennebec river, in the 4th month, 1731, of religious parents, of the Presbyterian Society, Joshua and Sarah Weymouth. Her father dying when she was young, her mother endeavored to instruct her children in the way she believed to be right, and to give them such learning as she could without the help of schools, that part of the country being then a wilderness. Our friend observes that she took delight in reading the bible and religious books, having received early impressions of the importance of religion, attended with desires to become one of the righteous.

Near the eleventh year of her age she went to live with her aunt Tabitha Weymouth, afterwards Tabitha Jenkins, a worthy member of our Society. About this time her aunt came forth in the ministry, and under her tender care she was encouraged to attend Friend's meetings, though often in the fear of being deceived-and in time her inward eye became opened by the Holy Anointing to see the truth altogether lovely, and she was enabled cheerfully to lay aside all superfluities of dress, and to adopt that plainness of language and behavior which she believed to be consistent with the life of a christian. In this state of self denial she found peace of mind, though she often felt herself alone as to outward company, and frequently had to struggle with her natural propensities which stood opposed to the cross.

Occasionally when associating with young people where there were lightness and vanity, she would feel a word of reproof or advice to arise, and instead of yielding to the manifestations of duty she would withhold what appeared right to communicate; for which omissions she had at times to suffer deeply, and often had to pass through nights of sorrow, fearing she should be finally forsaken. But she was shewn by the light of Christ that there was no other way for her to find peace of mind but by obedience to what was made manifest to be her duty.

About the nineteenth or twentieth year of her age she first appeared in the ministry with these words. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest to your souls.” In making this sacrifice much peace was granted her, as she had been under the exercise for several months previous, during which she frequently left meetings with a heavy heart, viewing herself unfit for so great a service. But a way was mercifully made for her and she was enabled to communicate from time to time what rested on her mind, to her own strength and comfort, and by abiding in a state of true humility she experienced a growth in her gift.

In the 7th month, 1755, she was married to our esteemed friend, Elijah Jenkins, when the care of a family devolved