Person:Ellis Pugh (1)

Biography

Excerpted from: Roberts, Ellwood. Plymouth Meeting: Its Establishment, and the Settlement of the Township with Historical, Genealogical and Biographical Data from Records of Friends, (Norristown, PA: Roberts Publishing Co., 1900), 37-41.

"The following interesting account of the life and religious labors of Ellis Pugh is found in a 'Collection of Memorials' concerning deceased ministers and others in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and parts adjacent, from nearly the first settlement to the year 1687; it is partly extracted from a memorial of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting of Friends in regard to him, and partly from a short summary of his life, both of the articles being prefixed to his book, 'A Salutation to the Britons.'

'Ellis Pugh was born in the parish of Dolgelly, in the county of Merioneth, and dominion of Wales, in the sixth month, 1656. His parents were religious people; but his father died before he was born, and his mother a few days after. In the days of his youth, when going with the multitude into folly, it pleased God, by his judgment, to stand in his way, and cause him to consider the things that belonged to his soul's everlasting peace. And in the eighteenth year of his age, the Lord visited him more eminently, kindling a zeal in him to serve his Creator more diligently; having been also reached by the testimony of John-ap-John, one of the people called Quakers.

'God, who promised to be a father to the fatherless, took care of him; and about the year 1680, gave him a part in the ministry of the Gospel of Christ, notwithstanding he was not one of the wise of this world, nor had human learning; yet he was made a profitable instrument to turn divers from vanity, and to exhort and strengthen many in their spiritual journey, in his native land, and also in this country, where he finished his course.

'In the year 1686, he and his family, with divers of his acquaintance, prepared to come over to Pennsylvania, and whilst they waited for the ship to be ready, there came a great trouble and exercise upon him, so that he was sick for some days; in this strait the Lord showed him, that they should meet with troubles and exercises in their way, and that He had a work for him in that country, and must sometime return to his native land. After they sailed, they met with storms, straits, and troubles; and having been upon the tempestuous sea all winter, they arrived at Barbados, where they were joyfully and lovingly received by their friends.

'The summer following, in the year 1687, they arrived in Pennsylvania where this our friend was a serviceable instrument in the Lord's hand, to cherish and instruct us, in meekness and tenderness, to obey that which God made known unto us of his will, and to follow and understand the operation of his Spirit, discovering to us the snares of the enemy of our souls.

'His pious labors, with those of others that were fitted for the same service, have been profitable in directing and edifying us in the way of Truth; for by the tenderness and influence which came as dew upon our souls, while we sat under his ministry, we believed his doctrine was of God.

'In the year 1706 he was engaged to visit the inhabitants of his native country, according to what the Lord had revealed unto him before he came from thence: which service he performed to the benefit and acceptance of many, and returned to his family in 1708.

'After he came home, three of his children, in the flower of their age, who from their youth had walked orderly, and were hopeful, died within one month; in the time of which trial, the Lord was near unto him: He mourned not as one without hope. Strength was given him to bear his affliction. He said in a public meeting: 'If he could bear his affliction acceptably in the sight of God, it would be as marrow to his bones,' which testimony amongst several other things was to the edification and comfort of the hearers. His residence was then nearer to us than before, which rendered his life and conversation more conspicuous, and his fellowship more known unto us.

'His ministry was living, profitable, and to edification. He was of a meek and quiet spirit, considerate and solid in his judgment, of few words, honest and careful in his calling; and several were induced to speak of the benefit they received by his chaste conversation, and his loving and comfortable expressions while he was amongst them in their families. He was honorable among his friends and of good report among all people generally, therefore his memory will not soon wear out.

'He was in a declining state of bodily health about a year and three months before his decease, so that he was not well able to follow his calling; but his candle shone even brighter, as may be seen by perusing his treatise called 'A Salutation to the Britons,' which he wrote in his own language, in that time of his long sickness when his view was towards that which pertains to eternity; more especially of his life reached over sea and land; for the encouragement and instruction of them that were seeking the way to Zion, the New Jerusalem, the city of the Great King, whose walls and bulwarks are salvation.

'In the last meeting he was at among us, he was weak in body; but fervent in spirit, as one taking his last leave in a great deal of love and tenderness, saying, that the Lord granted him his desire to come and visit us once more; putting us in mind to live in peace and unity, and to keep out from amongst us, as much as we could, all strife and discord; and when any thing appeared which had a tendency thereunto, that hand should be laid without delay to end it, and that none should depend upon his own hand, eye, or balance in judgment.

'He was fitted to counsel others, because his life and conversation was answerable to his testimony; amongst his family tender, and careful to counsel them to live in the fear of God.

'We looked upon him as one who had finished his work, that the time of his dissolution drew nigh; and that he might say in the words of Paul, according to his measure: 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.'

'He was patient in his tedious indisposition, and contented to wait the Lord's time; and he slept with his fathers on the third day of the Tenth month, 1718, in favor with God."

A Salutation to the Britains

Full title: A Salutation to the Britains to call them from many things, to the one thing needful, for the saving of their souls; especially to the poor, unarmed travler, plowmen, shepherds and those that are of low degree like myself. This is in order to direct you to know God and Christ, the only wise God, which is life eternal, and to learn of him, that you may become wiser than their teachers.

This book, written a few years before Ellis Pugh's death, was afterward printed by Andrew Bradford (Philadelphia, 1721), and is the first Welsh book that is known to have been printed in the United States. "So popular and well received was this dying testimony" that in 1727 an English edition was published, the translation having been made by Rowland Ellis (1727). (Source: Wilson, James Grant and John Fiske. Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography: Vol. 5. Pickering - Sumter, (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1888), 132.)

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Griffiths, George R., "Ellis Pugh, Quaker, in Wales and Pennsylvania," The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol. XXIX (Number 2, 1975): 112-124.
2. ↑ Gwynedd Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends, 1699-1949: Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary (Qwynedd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: unknown, unknown), 13.
3. ↑ Griffiths states death occurred "near Philadelphia."