Sons- and daughters-in-law of George and Margaret Binns

TO GENTLEMEN.

THE finest HAVANNAH CIGARS and MANILLA CHEROOTS, at

JOHN BOWRON AND SONS,

199, High-street, Sunderland

[ . . . ] in Villiers Street, 10th, aged 35, Mr John Bowron, Jun;, of the firm of Bowron and Son, grocers and wine merchants, High Street, Sunderland, much and deservedly respected by all who knew him: he was a member of the Society of Friends, and one of the Town Councillors of the Corporation.

In his case was strikingly evinced the power of Divine grace to make both a short and an effectual work; "I have had," said he, "a strong will to break down; but it is completely broken, and I am now become as a little child." Old things were indeed done away, and all things had become new, and all things of God, who had reconciled him unto himself by Jesus Christ.

at Durham Spring Assizes:

JOHN WATSON (16) pleaded guilty of stealing eight books the property of Mr. John Peacock, jun. at Bishop-Wearmouth.—Three months' hard labour.

DEATH OF MR JOHN PEACOCK.—On Thursday Mr John Peacock, formerly of the firm of Messrs Robinson and Peacock, millers, Sunderland, died at Croydon. Mr Peacock was a member of the Society of Friends, and was born at Holderness in 1790. In early life he was a farmer, but came to Sunderland between forty-five and fifty years ago, and was with Messrs Ellerby and Gray, of the steam flour mill at the foot of Stob Lane. This was the first steam flour mill in the north of England, and up to within twenty years ago contained one of Bolton and Watt's steam mills. On the death of Mr Ellerby, Mr Peacock became partner in the concern, with Mr Gray, and the firm continued as Messrs Gray and Peacock until 1846, when Mr E.C. Robson joined Mr Peacock, and soon after they left the mill in Stob Lane and purchased the premises in Queen Street, Bishopwearmouth, formerly belonging to Messrs Mounsey, and used by them as furriers. In 1862 Mr Peacock retired from business, and a short time ago removed to Croydon. During last summer his friends observed his health failing, but his departure at the last was somewhat sudden. Mr Peacock was a thorough Liberal in politics, and took a warm interest in the political movements of the day.

EMMA BINNS, 50               15 2mo. 1868

Croydon. Wife of Henry Binns.

In early life this dear friend, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Andrews, of Sunderland, appears to have been brought into much religious concern of mind. A journal kept in the latter part of her school days indicates, that she then realized that "the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." The following passages appear to have been written in 1832-3, when from fourteen to fifteen years of age.

Eleventh month, 16th. "I have not behaved as I ought to have done this day. I have yielded to many temptations. I wish I could overcome them. How many passions I have allowed to get the better of me!"

Eleventh month, 24th. "I feel just now as if I should so like to be good, and to love God. Oh, I am very wicked. I feel my want of a Saviour. I think that scripture is very suited to me; 'O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! how often would I have gathered thee, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings;—but ye would not.' Does it not show how very willing my Saviour is to gather the lost? He would gather me, if I would but come to Him. This is the last day of the week. Have I improved it ?"

Eleventh month, 26th. "This day I am afraid I am growing worse instead of better. The first thing I did after I got up was to quarrel with my schoolfellows; and when I went to bed I felt so hard! so ungrateful! I am afraid if I go on in this way, I shall not go to Heaven when I die."

On the 5th of Twelfth month, after again confessing her faults and waste of time, she says; "I am a very naughty girl. I want to be good: but I have yielded so long to temptations of the enemy, that I feel I should give up my own ways, and come to my Saviour with an humble heart. O my God, do grant me my wish. I want to be good; fain would I be; but I am very weak indeed. Do take pity upon me, and deliver me from temptation."

Twelfth month, 21st. "I have for a long time been wishing for this day; now it is come, how have I spent it? * * I have a heavy heart. Tongue cannot tell how I have spent this day, and how hardened I feel. I think I shall never be better." Again on the 9th of First month she writes: "How have I spent the time since my last entry? I am afraid very badly indeed. I have not improved my talent. How pleasant it would be to fear God with all my heart, and to love Him ! I wish the time was here when I could rejoice in God."

In this way did her youthful spirit sit in judgment on herself, often smitten with remorse, and longing for deliverance. "Oh for an humble and contrite spirit!" she exclaims some months later, "O that I could love my God and Saviour! I go to meetings, go to bed and get up, without living to God. I feel at times as if I was forsaken. O God, have mercy on me a sinner!"

Soon after leaving school, the journal seems to have been discontinued : and we are therefore unable from her own memoranda to follow her religious progress. As life advanced, she was brought into many trials of faith and patience, and much outward affliction. It is believed these were the means, by which her Heavenly Father continued to draw her nearer to Himself. The loss of children, and the death of her first husband, were calculated to wean her affections from things below. In this path of sorrow, the troubled soul is sometimes favoured to find repose on the bosom of the Saviour; with others there seems to be a life-long struggle, a continual warfare; and much of this appears to have been the experience of her to whom this memoir refers.

More than twenty years later, on New Year's day in 1859, she writes: "My foes are indeed those of my own household: inward thoughts bad to conquer: yet we have the promise of spiritual weapons, mighty even to the pulling down of strongholds, and bringing into captivity every thought. Oh that such may be my experience! He that overcometh shall inherit all things." The day following being First Day, she says, "at meeting twice: there was a little feeling after better things. I almost tremble for myself, but let me remember that help is laid upon One that is mighty." She longs after more watchfulness, feeling the necessity of Divine help, and remembering the words of the psalmist, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build it."

First month, 4th. "Quarterly Meeting at Newcastle. I had the privilege of attending it. May I never forget what I heard there. How I should like to be emptied of everything, and become as a little child, as clay in the hands of the potter!"

Towards the end of the same year, she alludes to a very encouraging visit from a Committee of Durham Quarterly Meeting, and adds, "May I pant more after God! May our hands be strengthened for the good work! May we say as Nehemiah, 'I am doing a great work,'—let nothing hinder us till we know it done: peace with God through Jesus Christ,—our sins forgiven, faith to grow like a good tree, bringing forth good fruits, fit for the Master's use." The last record of this kind, dated 15th of Eighth month, 1860, denotes the like humiliating self-examination: "what progress?"—she says, "have I yet passed from death unto life?"

In the First month of 1868, eighteen months after her marriage with Henry Binns, the illness commenced which, in about six weeks, terminated in her decease. Much, both of bodily suffering and mental conflict, was permitted to attend her, but she knew the promise fulfilled, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Often would she lament her unprofitableness: these fifty years I have lived, and what a useless life!" Being encouraged to cast all on Jesus, she said, "what should I do without Jesus?" When in great suffering, she earnestly prayed to the Saviour to give her help and patience, and an increase of faith: "I am so weak in faith: Lord, increase my faith." Then, as if suddenly enabled to lay hold on the promises, she added with her hands clasped together, "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so shall the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

She begged for a more clear evidence of acceptance, not only on her own account, but for the sake of those around her: and, as though her prayer was answered, and she felt the love of the Saviour hovering over her, she continued, "O, precious Jesus! what should I do without Him?" Once when tried and buffetted in spirit, she exclaimed, "get thee behind me, Satan!"

"I'm a poor sinner, and nothing at all:

But Jesus is my all in all."

"Dear Jesus! help me to glorify Thee! 'Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth Me.' Father, prepare a place for me."

At a time when faith was low, she asked with a look of great earnestness, "What dost Thou think of me? Can it be that I shall go to be with the wicked? I cannot bear them on earth, how then could I live with them for ever? 'Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.'" Then, when hope and trust revived, she spoke of the happiness of "being in Heaven with all good people and Jesus:" and when suffering from thirst, she longed for the living streams:—"O yes, there is water,—there is a river,—they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more." At a time when she seemed to be nearing the confines of the eternal world, a heavenly smile was seen upon her countenance, and she was heard to say, "Happy me." Before the last night spent on earth, she inquired what the doctor thought of her, and being told he thought it doubtful if she could live through another night, her response was:—"How delightful!—to be in Heaven!" and she dwelt on the Saviour's prayer:—"Holy Father, the world hath not known Thee, but these have known that Thou has sent Me." Thus strengthened from above, she was permitted very peacefully and gently to put off the mortal frame, and enter into rest.

CONFECTIONERY ESTABLISHMENT.

1, BRIDGE STREET.

CORNER OF HUTCHINSON'S BUILDINGS,

BISHOPWEARMOUTH

ELIZABETH BINNS respectfully announces her REMOVAL to more CENTRAL PREMISES, No. 1, Bridge Street, which she will Open on SATURDAY, the 28th instant.

E.B. takes this opportunity of thanking her friends and the public generally for the patronage so liberally bestowed upon her since her commencement in business, and begs to assure them that nothing will be wanting on her part to merit a continuance of the same.

E.B. also begs to announce that she has opened a REGISTER OFFICE FOR SERVANTS.

Sunderland, 5th Mo., 1839.

NOTICE.

CONFECTIONERY ESTABLISHMENT AND ITALIAN WAREHOUSE,

1, BRIDGE STREET, SUNDERLAND.

ELIZABETH BINNS wishes to thank her numerous friends, and the public generally, for the liberal support awarded her during the Twelve Years she has been in business, as above, and respectfully solicits a continuance of those favours for her successor, FREDERIC WILLIAM THORP. Mrs Binns also wishes to state that she has no interest in any other confectionary establishment in Sunderland.

FREDERIC WILLIAM THORP, in referring to the foregoing announcement, desires to assure those who have hitherto honoured Mrs Binns with their commands, that it shall be his study to maintain, and, if possible, to raise still higher, the reputation which the Establishment has succeeded in winning under the management of his predecessor, who, in leaving England, has transferred to him her business in its entirety.

^*_*^* All accounts owing to, or by Elizabeth Binns, to be paid to, or by her successor, Frederic William Thorp.

N.B.—Register Office for Servants

1, BRIDGE STREET,

(Corner of High Street),

SUNDERLAND

How my sister Margaret came to fancy a man like John Andrews I don't know—for she was a tall lady-like & handsome looking woman. John took after his father—one of the go & easy sort.

. . . wrote for his children a short memoir of their mother, and from this we learn how happy were their six years of married life.

. . . During the last year of her life her husband was taken suddenly ill. "It put," he writes, "new vigour into my dear wife, and well she nursed me considering her weak state." There is a pitiful account in the "Annual Monitor" [ . . . ] which is confirmed by John Andrews, who implores his children to so live that they may have no regrets when the end draws near.

He had made a success of the business (catering perhaps largely for a maritime trade and described on occasion as a ship-store) and, with a view to assuring a career for each of his sons, he added a flour mill and became a partner in a shipping company. All went well until the failure, on 26 November 1857, of the Northumberland & Durham District Bank [ . . . ]. The whole of John Andrews' savings was swept away. The shock was too much for him (he was never physically strong) and he is 'remembered tottering from his mill, white over with flour, bent, an old man at thirty-eight' (Wallis, 16).

NOTICE, is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Robert Wilson and Robert Andrew Wilson, in the business of Tea Dealers, at No. 10, Idol-lane,-Great Tower-street, in the city of London, and carried on under the style or firm of Robert A. Wilson and Co., was dissolved by mutual consent on the 31st day of December, 1861. All debts due to and from the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Robert Andrew Wilson.—As witness our hands this 3rd day of January, 1862.

Y.M.C.A. "AT HOME."

An "At Home," given at the Y.M.C.A. last night by Mrs Edward Binns, was very successful. The gathering was a large one, and included most of the active workers and committees. Mrs Binns welcomed the guests on arrival, and the members of her family were most attentive to the comfort of all present. A brief address was given by Pastor Marsh, and Messrs Sydney Watson, John Robson, and Robert Waddle contributed songs and recitations. Various table and parlour games were engaged in. Refreshments were served by the hostess and friends. On the proposal of Mr John Henderson, seconded by Mr Henry Johnson (general secretary), a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mrs Binns and family. Mr Edward Binns, jun., in a neat speech, briefly responded. It is proposed to hold one or two more such gatherings in order to cover the total membership.