| Notes |
- '...stopped about half an hour at Peobe Haighs who once told me,
that before her convincement, she had been for
many years so infirm that it was with difficulty she could get
to & from bed or even walk up & down the house,
in which state a desire was raised in her mind to get to a
meeting of Friends, & being obedient there unto she
set forward & was enabled to get to Highflatts on a Week?day,
from that time forward she mended apace &
not only became a diligent attender of our own meetings, but
walked on foot to many others at a considerable
distance, I thought this was worthy to be recorded amongst the
many miracles the Almighty is working for his
People inwardly & outwardly.'
Pheobe Haigh (1731-1785) resided at Heighmoor House (between
Shepley and Shelley). She was the widow of James Haigh.
(1) Joseph Woods Small Notebook No. 14. (12th Month 1782) [3]
Died:
- <u><b><font"TimesNewRomanPSMT","roman",0><fs"+8">Joseph Woods Large Notebook 5
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A short account of the convincement of Phebe Haigh and her happy conclusion mostly from her own mouth by Joseph Wood
<align"j">The memory of the Just is blessed of which number I believe Phebe Haigh Widow of James Haigh of Heighmoor house was one; her maiden name was Bates, and as I have understood was educated in the way of the Church of England, After her marriage with the aforesaid James Haigh they lived together without any sense of religion, or fear of him in whose hands are Life Breath and Being seldom attending any place of Worship, but spending their precious time in vain and ungodly conversation, until the Lord was pleased to visit her with great indisposition of Body so that for many years she was not able to go out of doors without help nor even walk over the floor, in which time of affliction a concern was raised in her mind for the welfare of her immortal Soul; and strong were her cries unto the Lord that he would be pleased to direct her in the way that was well pleasing unto him; and as she was concerned to wait upon him he was graciously pleased to incline his ear and Answer her humble petition; It being audibly sounded in the secret of her heart "Go to the Quakers meeting" This at first appeared to her impossible from the long and heavy indisposition she lay under, and caused her much reasoning; But in her the Lord hath wonderfully manifested that miracles are not ceased, neither is anything impossible with him; The word remaining powerfully with her she in the Faith thereof made ready and with some difficulty got to our week day meeting at Highflatts contrary to all human probability for her to accomplish being 3 miles from her habitation were being directed to the Light of Christ in the secret of her heart as the way and means appointed of God for the restoration of mankind she readily embraced the truth and by coming up in obedience to the discoveries thereof, experienced a thorough renovation of heart, and the Lord being pleased to heal her of her infirmities both inwardly and outwardly, and forgive her much, she loved much, manifesting her love by her obedience, being a very diligent attender at our religious meetings not Suffering the concerns of this Life to hinder her on first days week days, and tho' she appeared rather weakly and deformed in Body occasioned by her long illness, yet she travelled on foot to many neighbouring meetings and to the northern Yearly Meeting at Rochdale, Her zeal was indeed truly exemplary the lively exercise of her Spirit instructive being visible in her very countenance, and her innocent Life and conversation adorn'd her profession. Soon after her convincement her husband was removed from her by Death, leaving her with a large family of children and considerably in Debt, which through their industry and the Blessing of Providence they were enabled to discharge to the satisfaction of her creditors. She was not only called to believe but to suffer for Christs sake, the spoiling of her goods in bearing a faithful testimony against an hireling Ministry. The last first day she was at Meeting a friend was led to declare from 2 Kings C: 20. v: 1. Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die<font"TimesNewRoman","swiss",0> <font"TimesNewRomanPSMT","roman",0>and not live. Which was applid to her the 3rd .day following she was taken very ill, and on 5</fs>th<fs"+4">. day sent desiring to see me, I went and had a precious opportunity with her. She commemorated the Lords goodness and mercy to her that he had not taken her away in her iniquity, but given her space to repent, that he had blotted out her transgressions and cast her sins behind her back, and now covered her mind with sweet peace, and that Death to her was disarm'd of its terrors. She also signified her near Unity with friends and tho' she was not accepted into membership having been afraid of being too forward yet was united in Spirit with the living, and desired her Body might be laid in friends Burying ground. She also gave much weighty counsel and advice to her Children desiring them to keep to meetings and live near the Truth and then she knew by living 5. 10 experience the Lord would bless them every way. I visited her again on the 6</fs>th<fs"+4"> day evening and found her in a sweet heavenly frame of mind, being full of Love Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost. On first day afternoon I went again accompanied by several friends, we found her so weak as not to be able to speak yet her countenance bespoke the sweet serenity of her mind. She continued without any visible alteration until evening and then quietly resigned her Breath ye. 23</fs>rd<fs"+4">. of ye. 1</fs>st<fs"+4">. Mo. 1785 Aged about 54 Years, her Body was buried the 4</fs>th<fs"+4">. Day following ye. 26</fs>th<fs"+4">. Inst. in our Burying ground at Wooldale, after which a solemn Meeting was held which was eminently overshadowed with the Power and Presence of God, many living Testimonies were born therein to the Truth and one Woman was convinced that day which was as a seal to the finishing of this servant of the Lords Testimony, whose immortal spirit I believe is gathered amongst the spirits of the just of every generation who are made Perfect thro' Sufferings.<font"Calibri","swiss",0><fs"+3">
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Our Haigh & Gurden Family
Abt 1731 - 1785 (53 years)
