Martha Thompson was the first Wesleyan Methodist in Preston. She met in a class at Cockshott House in 1759, which belonged to the society at Brimicroft. Cockshott House appears to have been a farmhouse at Duddle (Duddel) Lane End, between Walton-le-Dale and Bamber Bridge.
The leader of that class was Win. Livesey, a hand-loom weaver. In the year 1764 a list of all the members in the Circuit was taken. At Brimicroft there were two classes ; Eichard Aspinall, of Livesey, was the leader of one, and John Grime, of Brimicroft, of the other. There were 36 members in these two classes.
Mr. Liveseys class, at Cockshott House, contained 16 members, including the leader. Amongst the names we have Martha Thompson, Preston ; Robert and Ellen Smalley, Ellen Newton, George and Sarah Chatham, and James and Margaret Thompson. The name of Martha Thompson in this list of members will be familiar to some. She was a native of Preston, and was born about the year 1731. When she was nineteen years of age she wrote to a lady in London, who had formerly lived in this town, asking for a situation as servant. She was accepted. This was in the year 1750. One day her mistress sent her on an errand into the city ; she had to pass through Moorfields, to which we have already alluded ; her attention was arrested by hearty singing. She entered the old Foundry, and was amazed to find such a large congregation. Martha, like the rest, was rivetted to the spot. That sermon was a word in season. She became an anxious inquirer. Her mind was so absorbed with the service that she forgot her errand ; but suddenly it dawned upon her mind, and she ran and completed her purchase and hurried quickly home, and, by way of apology, described the preacher and the service with such enthusiasm that they concluded it was John Wesley. She was warned never to listen to those Methodists again, for they would drive her mad and ruin her soul. In a few days she heard Mr. Wesley again. On that occasion she passed out of darkness into light.
On arriving at home, she spoke to her master and mistress and the servants about this great salvation. They said she was mad, A doctor was sent for, who examined her and declared she was stark mad. The next morning her master s carriage was driven up to the door ; she was ordered to step in, and they drove her to a lunatic asylum. She was a complete mystery to the officials.
They cut off her hair and shaved her head. She offered no resistance, and bore them no malice. One day, a gentleman, whose wife was an inmate, heard her story, and undertook to deliver a letter to Mr. Wesley, which stated her case and solicited his help to gain her freedom. He brought about an inquiry into Martha s condition, and in a few days she was set at liberty. Mr. Wesley asked her how she intended to get her living, and she told him if she could only get back to Preston she would commence business. He was travelling to the north at that time, so he obtained a cushion and mounted Martha behind him, and both rode together on horseback till they found a carrier s cart, which brought her to this town. She commenced business in 1757. Regularly she walked to Brimicroft on Sunday, a journey of 12 miles, for service once a day.
Martha had a neighbour named Mrs. Walmsley, a widow, who kept an Inn in Church-street, who occasionally accompanied her to service at Brimicroft, and was induced to join the class.
Soon her son William became a member of the society, and was converted. There were now three Methodists in Preston, and they earnestly desired a visit from the travelling preachers. The invitation was accepted. At first they came once in six weeks, and preached in Mrs. Walmsley’s alehouse. She entertained them ; and her son William became THE FIRST CLASS LEADER of the little society, which numbered five members. After a time the preaching was established once a fortnight, on Sunday at noon.
The whole book is freely available online from the Internet Archive (both to read and download):
The makers of Wesleyan Methodism in Preston and the relation of Methodism to the Temperance & Tee-total Movements by Pilkington, W
https://archive.org/details/themakersofwesl00pilkuoft/page/12/mode/2up
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THE OLD DOG INN, 133, CHURCH STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1209745
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Ordnance Survey Map 1848 from the National Library of Scotland website:
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