Sansom,

Howgill, Francis, visits Cromwell, 389; labour in Sabbath, true Christian, 61.

BRIEF MEMOIR

OF THE LIFE OF

JOHN CROKER.

"The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, he will be found of you.”—2 Chron. xv. 2.

I was born on the eighth of the Twelfth month, in the year 1673, in the town of Plymouth, in the courty of Devon. My father was of the family of the Crokers of Lyneham, being by birth one called a gentleman. He married Anstice, the daughter of Nicholas Tripe, a shopkeeper at Kingsbridge, in that county. They were both early convinced of the blessed Truth, and stood boldly for it in the time of persecution, many times to the loss of their goods and imprisonment of their bodies, which they bore with patience, accounting it as nothing, in comparison with the bless ed truth, which God had revealed and made them sharers of.

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them as to outward things, that God would be a portion to their children, as they kept in his fear, and the lot of their inheritance, if they proved faithful; which would be the best of riches and the best of ornaments, far exceeding gold or silver, or any of the soft and shining raiments, which they themselves had found a concern, in a great degree, to forsake and deny; accounting all things as nothing, that they might win Christ, for whose sake they were made willing to be as the off-scouring of many people. They would not allow in us their children, that which they found Truth called them out of; but still showed us an example of self-denial, and constrained us, as much as in them lay, to refrain from all things that were not of a good savour, or seemed any thing like going back again into the rudiments of the world, or into that which they were brought to deny themselves of for Christ's sake.

tender counsel, and vainly spent my childish days to their, and since to my own, grief and sorrow; so that when they had brought me up to about twelve years of age, and educated me with some learning, as reading, writing, and arithmetic, and were earnest I should learn Latin, I was stubborn, and would not learn it.

Although I was then but young, yet I can remember their love and zeal for the way of truth professed by them. Notwithstanding great was the rage of men against the professors of the light, which had discovered many of the dark ways of the professors of that time, my father and mother, with others, Nevertheless, when I was young I found would not neglect the assembling of themselves there was an evil stubbornness or rebellion, together for Divine worship, but frequently met which grew in me; so that I often kicked at together, and took their children with them; the reproofs of my parents, and slighted their and sometimes they met in the open streets, because they were forcibly kept out of their meeting-house. Thus they were made a gazingstock, and were mocked at by men of corrupt minds, who often ill-treated them, by pulling them down from their seats, and haling them before magistrates; who often separated husband from wife, and parents from their chil In the year 1686, some Friends of Plymouth dren. This was the lot of my father, who was being about to remove to Pennsylvania, and I kept a prisoner some time at Exeter, forty-four being willing to go with them, my father and miles from home, and my mother was at the mother concluded to bind me apprentice to a same time a prisoner in the Bridewell at Ply. Friend, one John Shilson, by trade a serge mouth. In all these trials I never heard or saw maker, but who also professed surgery; with them uneasy; but they often encouraged their whom I went to be instructed in the art of surchildren to be sober and good, that they might gery. They had a good end in it; for I was come to be the servants of God, and to stand sensible my mother was greatly exercised for in their places, when they might be called my preservation, and that I might be brought hence; believing, however it might fare with to a sense of the power of God, to work me VOL. XIV.

No. 1.

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into a new lump; and by separating me from
them and from my companions, I might be
brought to a thoughtfulness how I had behaved
myself towards them, and to a remembrance
of my
Creator in the days of my youth, before
the strength of evil days came on. And truly
this separation, and what I met with before I
returned again, had a good effect upon me, as
may be seen hereafter.

reading oftener than I commonly used to do,desiring the Lord to open my understanding in what I read, and to show me my duty, for I was willing to serve him; and that he would be pleased to open a way for my return to my father's house, for now I was free from my apprenticeship by the death of my master ;—then would I serve him, and be obedient to my tender parents, and walk in awfulness before the Lord the remaining time I had to spend ;-with some such breathings as honest Jacob had, when he said to this effect-If God will be with me in the way that I go, so that I come again in peace to my father's house, then shall the Lord be my God, and I will serve him.

My parents' care for me was so great, that they sent in the same vessel with me a considerable parcel of goods, and appointed two Friends my overseers, who had the care of disposing of the said goods and the care of me, if anything might happen which should call for assistance, that I might not suffer too much the Although I did not suffer want as to food, want of the things of this life; which proved not having spent what was left by the deceased, very helpful. Soon after I came to Pennsyl- yet being fifteen miles from Philadelphia, those vania, my master put me with the rest of the Friends to whom my father had committed the servants into the woods, in order to clear land care of me in case I should meet with any adfor a plantation; where I was made to work versity, consulted each other what to do with hard like the rest, for the space of about one me, until they could hear from my father, which year; in which time I often thought of my pa- they endeavoured to do, with what speed they rents, and of their former care and advices, could. In the mean time, one of them, James also of my stubborn rebellious behaviour to- Fox, took me to his house, where I remained a wards them; which made me often say, "Lord little while doing such small business as I was forgive me, and look down in mercy upon me.' set about, being still in the country about the Thus I mourned many times;-yet I soon got same distance as before. At length they got over it, and at times grew wanton and foolish me into the city, and put me to school to George with the rest of my fellows, and got over the Keith, who was then in esteem among Friends. reproofs of instruction, that were at work in But growing high and conceited in his arts and my heart, which reproofs and chastisements I parts afterwards, he became troublesome to was not willing to bear. But the Lord intended Friends and himself; so that at length for the good to me, and did not leave striving (at times) clearing of truth, they were forced to deny him, in my soul; and troubles outwardly followed and he became disesteemed, like unsavory salt, one another, as the Lord saw good, for ends as it were trodden under feet of men. Before best known to himself. He soon took my mas- they (the two Friends) heard from my father, ter and mistress, their daughter and maid-ser-I began to take liberty, and forsook my very vant out of the world, by the distemper of the frequent retirements, wherein I had been often country, which was then prevalent: then all tendered and broken before the Lord; and thus our affairs in the country were shut up, and II became indifferent, and came to a loss as to was destitute as well as others of the servants, some of whom soon went off.

I still remained in the country with one young man. We were like two pilgrims walking up and down the woods, making use of such provisions as were left in the house, and what we gathered in the woods; which being a solitary life, various considerations of different matters came before my mind, concerning time and things past and present, and how the Lord had hitherto preserved me by sea and land; and that I was not swallowed up by the one, neither was I taken away by the distemper that reigned on the other,―being fearful of the latter, which was very mortal, having never had the seasoning of the country; but blessed be God I was never sick there. As the sense of these things grew on me, love to God increased in my bosom; and this drew me into tears and solitary sittings with my Bible in my hand,

my inward state and condition. But God having many ways of visiting his people, in order to bring them to a sense of their states, yet found me out, and another sore trial I had to pass through, whereby I might see the Lord could and would do as seemeth good in his sight; and that those who will not bow in mercy, he will make to bow in judgment, and they shall see the goodness of God in and through all-which was my lot: indeed the great goodness of God to me, I hope I shall never forget.

After a while I heard from my father, who was desirous of my return; and in order thereunto my friends made preparations, and got me a passage in a vessel to Newcastle upon Tyne, in England; in which vessel they put some effects, which might be for my accommodation when I came to England, as well as to carry me to my father, who lived some hun

dreds of miles distance from Newcastle. Some shore upon a small island or rock, (which lay other effects were put on board another vessel, between some other islands,) upon which there which sunk in the sea, but being in company was no house, nor any fresh water or shelter. with other ships, the crew were saved by boat. Being twenty-eight of us in number, they gave So after having been four years in the province us a sail and some oars and poles, to make a of Pennsylvania, I embarked for England, hav-tent; in which we all lay without any beds, ing taken leave of my friends in Pennsylvania, having only some straw, which they brought with hopes I should now see my native land, and my dear parents and relations.

Notwithstanding our vessel was alone, and it was war time, we were in hopes that the Lord would carry us safe. We were preserved on the boisterous seas, until, according to the opinion of the sailors, we were within one hundred leagues of England, when we met with three ships. The master of our vessel (who was a Friend) was willing to speak with those vessels, to know what news in England, though persuaded to the contrary by his mate, who feared what they might be. But to our great trouble and sorrow, they proved to be three French privateers, who soon bid us strike; and presently they hoisted out their boats, and came and stripped us almost naked, and dispersed us, some on board one ship, and some on board another, and afterwards they separated themselves; for one of those ships went for France with our vessel, and the other two were parted in a mist, so that they could not see each other, nor come together again. This fresh exercise brought more than a common fear upon me, (I being in one of those ships that remained at sea,) fearing how I should be dealt with, and what sufferings I should undergo. I was, in respect of clothes, almost naked, and destitute of relief, beyond what our enemies would be pleased to bestow; whose hearts God so far opened towards us, that we did not want for bread or water, and sometimes were allowed pork, beef, peas, and beverage, and at certain times a draught of sour wine; yet still I was in fear, not knowing whither we should be carried.

us, and stones for our pillows, with which we were forced to be contented. Yet I found God's providence was over me, so that I was preserved healthy and sound. Oh! the great goodness of God is fresh in my mind, now at the time of my writing this, and I hope the impression of it will remain as long as I live; so that I may never forget what I met with in my youth, and how the Lord preserved me through it all.

The French used once or twice a week to visit us, and bring us some spruce beer, water, pork, peas, and plenty of bread. Of the bread we eat sparingly, laying up some in store against a time of scarcity, fearing such might come; the bread we hid in some of the hollow rocks, that it might not hinder or stop them from bringing or supplying us with more as usual. There were also about our rock, or little island, plenty of lobsters, of which we caught some, and boiled, and ate them, which were a great help to us; and although we were not in any great want considering our circumstances, yet we were but thinly clothed, and the season not very hot;-I having left me only one shirt, one pair of breeches, and a hat; until some taking compassion on me, gave me a thin linsey-woolsey frock, one old shirt, and an old pair of stockings and shoes, for which I was very thankful.

In this mean condition, I with the rest continued on this island about six weeks, in which time we contrived our escape. There was an island at about half a mile distance from us, which was inhabited by the French for the fishing, whose boats went to and fro by us almost every day; and there were also on our island, some pieces of boards and wood, which had been used, I suppose, by the Frenchmen, at times when they dried fish there, and were by them left; their boats were also lying at a wharf on the said inhabited island, but guarded, as we

The ship in which we were, being a privateer of twenty-six guns, and out at sea on that account, she sailed far northward, until we fell in amongst islands of ice, and were forced to lie by in the night, for fear we should run afterwards understood, though then unknown amongst some of these islands, or great rocks of ice. For about six weeks I took my rest on the boards in the ship's hold, in which time they chased one vessel, which, when they came near to her, was thought to be too mighty for them, and the ship wherein we were, being the better sailer, they let the said vessel pass without examining what she was. Soon after they took a Dutch ship bound for Newfoundland, which had little on board, only ballast and a few cheeses; which vessel and men they rifled, and took the vessel with them to Newfoundland; and as we drew near it, they put us on

to us. We one day took particular notice of one of their boats, which, with several others, lay near the said wharf; and our men proposed in the night by a float, to endeavour to swim out and get it. We, therefore, made a raft, by tying together with rope-yarn such wood and boards as we found on the island, and two of our men, notwithstanding several privateers were lying by us as a guard, were so courageous, that they adventured in the night to stand on this raft we had made, and put off towards the boat which we had observed. Hav. ing got to her, they found nobody in her, and

the watch or guard being in their huts very in obedience to the leadings of God's holy Spi busy in discourse, those two men cut the moor-rit, which leads out of the broad way into the ings of the boat, and let her fall off with the narrow way of life and peace; and this sweettide which was going out, and brought the boat ens all afflictions, and leads to glorify the name towards us; by their help, we attained the of the Lord, who is worthy for ever. same, which made us rejoice.

In the morning we got into our boat again, and committed ourselves for direction to George Stidson, who was mate of our former ship, and had formerly been in these parts, and knew most of the places of fishery in Newfoundland. About the middle of the day we came to the entrance of a small fishing place, I think called Renuse. It being war time, the inhabitants, (who were but few,) were greatly surprised by reason of our number, fearing we were come to rob them; and with what men and arms they had, they appeared very furiously against us, to oppose our landing; so that we were afraid they would without mercy have fired on us and taken away our lives, before they knew what we were. At length, with signs and loud words, to let them know what we were, we stopped their intention; and they sent a single man to us in a small boat, who, finding we were all English, and had no arms, but were poor, ragged, and distressed men, invited us kindly ashore, by the name of brothers! This I looked on as a fresh deliverance from the point of death; for if they had fired on us, no doubt but some of us had been killed. When we came on shore, they treated us with a good fire, spruce beer, and broiled fish; this was grateful to our hungry stomachs and weary bodies, and the best return we had to make them for the favours we received, was our thankful acknowledgements, and to give them an account of what we had met with; which so far opened their hearts, that they desired our stay awhile with them.

There happened (far beyond expectation) to be in the boat, oars, sails, a compass, some pork and butter, a tinder box and candle, with materials for striking fire; also some of the Frenchmen's jerkins, made of lamb skins, with the wool inward, and a pottage pot, an axe, and some fishing lines; all which were very needful and serviceable to us. We soon got what we had into the boat, having in six weeks time saved about two hundred weight of bread, which was now of great service; and such of us as were willing, being in number twenty-five, got into the boat, leaving seven, who were of fearful hearts, behind us, our number having been increased since our being put ashore on the island, they having added more to us. And trusting ourselves to Divine Providence, we put off for the main ocean, amidst the mighty waves of a troublesome sea, not without divers fears lest we should be taken again by our enemies, or swallowed up by the great waters, the waves of which grew very high and dreadful. Although it did not rain, yet we could not keep ourselves dry, because the sea broke and ran so high over our boat, that some of us were forced with our hats to be often casting the water out, while others managed her by rowing and sailing. After being three nights and two days in this open boat, through the good hand of Providence, we arrived at the wilderness part of Newfoundland, (where were no inhabitants,) being almost wearied out; but before we went on shore we cast our hook and line, and it proved to be on the right side of our boat, for we soon caught some famous cod fish, which we carried ashore, and making a fire dressed them, and there we satisfied our hunger. We then made a great fire on the beach, and laid ourselves down to rest; and for my part, I think I may say, I never slept more sweetly in a bed, than I did on those stones, notwithstanding of us before we came, entertained us cheering the impression of them remained in my sides for some time afterwards. I cannot forget to bless God for this deliverance, and to admire his wonderful providence, who had preserved us, and given me strength and health to undergo such hardships,-who, when with my parents, had been brought up in the full plenty of all things needful.

"O! Lord, keep me in the remembrance of these things, that I may ever trust in thee." This I believe was a day of tender love to my soul, whereby I was to be humbled, and brought to a sense of my former misspent time; that I might no more seek my own ways, but give up

We stayed with them two or three days, and then with return of thanks took our leave of them, and went into our boat again, intending to keep along near the shore, until we came to some place where we might meet with shipping. So like wayfaring men we called at a place or two, and tarried a night; when the people hear

fully, for which we were thankful. At length we came to a cove, called Todes Cove, where they had not heard of us before, and our coming surprised them, that they repaired to their arms; but they became soon sensible what we were, and let us come on shore. There was but one dwelling at that place, the master's name, as I remember, was Dier; he had many servants, and cured much fish: he entertained us with much civility, and we stayed and helped him about his fish several days. Here our mate (the chief amongst us) fell dangerously ill, which proved an exercise to us all, and to me in particular, for I had a kindness for him,