Transcript:Friend (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States)/Biographical Sketch: James Dilworth

Biographical Sketches,

Of Ministers and Elders, and other concerned members of the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia.

James Dilworth.

James Dilworth was an inhabitant of Thornby, in Yorkshire, before his removal to Pennsylvania, and was convinced of the Truth there. For a meeting held at his house on the 13th of Tenth month, 1676, a fine was imposed on him, to satisfy which he had two oxen taken. At what time he came forth in the ministry, we cannot tell, but he laboured faithfully therein according to his measure, having a loving helpful companion in his wife Ann, who also was a minister of the Gospel.

James Dilworth and Ann Waln were married about the year 1681, and sometime after removed to this country, and settled in Bucks county. He was in public life for a time, representing his neighbours in the assembly. In their religious labours, he and his wife travelled much together, visiting in this way, in 1689, the meetings of Friends in New England. In 1697 and, perhaps, the early part of 1698, they travelled southward, through Maryland, Virginia and Carolina, having with both these visits the unity of the Yearly Meeting of ministering Friends. In returning the certificate granted by that body for the southern visit, they reported that they had found great openness among the people, who came readily to meetings,—were willing to hear the testimony of Truth, and seemed to bow under the power of it. They also stated that Friends where they had been, did much desire to be remembered and visited by Friends of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, as way was made for it.

A concern had rested on Ann Dilworth to pay a religious visit to the churches in Europe, and her husband also deemed himself called to accompany her. With the unity of the Friends of their particular meeting, the matter was introduced to the Yearly Meeting of Ministers in the Seventh month, 1698, for its judgment and concurrence. In this meeting the way was open to set Ann at liberty for the service, but as to her husband there seemed a let or hinderance. We cannot now tell what operated on their minds ; perhaps they deemed that the concern expressed by James [page 399] grew out of sympathy for his wife, and a desire to share and lighten by his presence the trials which must necessarily attend such a journey as was before her. At a meeting in the following First month, Ann received her certificate, but his concern was still left under consideration. Her delay in starting had probably arisen from the fact, that her husband did not feel clear from the concern, and she might hope that the way would open in the minds of Friends to release him for the work. But as that now appeared unlikely, she took her departure about the latter end of the First month, 1699, accompanied by Walter Faucett, who had been liberated for similar service.

The parting from her husband was a final one. A few months after her departure, the yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia, and among the valuable Friends removed by it from works to rewards was James Dilworth. He died in the Seventh month, being buried on the 15th, the First day before the Yearly Meeting. The Lord released him from further service in the church militant, and gathered him where the honest-hearted, brought into perfect conformity to the Lord's will, see eye to eye.

His mournful widow on her return from England, felt constrained to give forth this testimony to his memory.

“ A short testimony rests on my spirit to bear concerning my dear deceased husband. He loved the Lord with his whole heart, and was freely given up to serve Him, with soul, body and substance. He bore a faithful testimony for the Lord in an innocent holy life, and godly conversation ; labouring with the strength and ability that God had given him for the prosperity of Zion and the welfare of Jerusalem. He sought not his own honour, nor preferment amongst men, but the honour of God. I am a living witness, being his bosom friend in the Lord for eighteen years, from whom the every thought of his heart was not hid, and I know that he desired to appear more in the sight of God than man. The Lord was with him, and made him a meet-help to me, and as he gave us one to another, in his infinite mercy he preserved us together in true love and sweet unity with each other. We were near and dear to each other, and in all our great trials and deep exercises we were true sympathizers, being bound up together in that sweet covenant of love and life that cannot be broken. In this we took dear leave of one another, and he gave me up freely to travel in Old England in the Lord's service, thinking nothing too near or dear to part with for the Truth's sake. I am well assured he finished his course in faithfulness, and hath laid down his head in peace with the Lord. Henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of life and glory that will never fade away. Blessed be the Lord ! ! Though I was outwardly many hundred miles separated from him, when he departed this life, yet the Lord in his infinite love gave me to see him safe in his own mansion, to my great comfort and sweet satisfaction. So though he was near and dear to me as my own life, and my loss was great, yet in a living sense that it was his great gain, and eternal well-being with the Lord, I have laboured with the strength the Lord hath given me, to give him up, desiring that my will may be subjected to the Lord's will, and that I may be content with what he hath ordered for me. Though we be outwardly separated, yet his memorial lives with me ; and blessed be the Lord, I enjoy him spiritually in that sweetness that will never come to an end. In a living enjoyment of this, my soul is engaged to praise the Lord, and to return all the honour, the glory, renown, and thanksgiving unto Him, who is alone worthy ! not only now, but henceforth, forever and evermore. Amen.” Ann Dilworth.