The Deacons of Westbury

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The spelling in some cases a little unusual. I have tried to copy the words verbatim.

The information contained within this page is the result of shared research. I wish to thank fellow Deacon researcher Yvonne Mitchell for most of it. In the coming months/years I hope to be able to personally confirm what is written and obtain copies of the certificates and census records etc. etc. It is very difficult to prove beyond doubt that what we believe to be fact is actually that. All we can do is interpret the records and piece together the facts as they present themselves in the hope that the resulting picture makes sense.

 

Richard Deacon first appears as the father of Samuel Deacon in 1748 on the occasion of his Baptism at St Mary's Church in Dilton, Wiltshire. Samuel's mother is recorded as Ann. We have no occupation for Richard and no maiden name for Ann. 

Samuel Deacon married Sarah Wilcox in Rode, Somerset in 1770. Rode is about 4 - 5 miles from Westbury across the Wiltshire/Somerset county boundary. Samuel is stated as being the father of Joseph Deacon in research that has been undertaken by the family of Joseph Deacon's wife Mary Ann Harris. It continues:

"Henry, (the youngest son of Richard and Jane Harris) married Ann Hopkins, 24th July 1770. She was the daughter of John Hopkins. They had issue one daughter Mary Ann born 20th March, 1771, she was married to Joseph Deacon (son of Mr. Samuel Deacon), September 1794. They had issue- Benjamin Deacon, Joseph Deacon, Ann Deacon and Samuel Deacon. Henry Harris died 20th August, 1810, aged 73 years."

It seems that Samuel Deacon converted to the Baptist ideology after his own son George was baptized at St Mary's Church in Dilton in 1770. It is a feature of the Baptists beliefs that a person should only be Baptized at their own request rather than at birth as was prevalent in the Anglican Church. The fact that Samuel himself was Baptized at birth suggests his father did not hold the Baptist beliefs. It is recorded that Samuel was Baptized again in August 1774 at Westbury Leigh Baptist Church. Samuel and Sarah are both mentioned in the minutes book of the Westbury Leigh Church.

 

 

 

Samuel again comes to the fore in November 1810. Four years earlier in 1806 the incumbent Pastor of Westbury Leigh Church, Mr. William Marshman had died. His co-Pastor Mr. George Philips had claimed the sole pastorate of the Church resulting in major disagreements within the congregation. A division of loyalties caused the formation of a new Baptist Church at Penknap, a small area of land between Dilton Marsh and Westbury Leigh. It was agreed within the Church that Mr. George Philips and those within the Church that supported him, should form their own Church. 

The split within the Church at Westbury Leigh was documented in a book entitled "Twenty Golden Candlesticks" written by another son of Wiltshire Mr. W. Doel and published in 1890. At the time of writing the book Mr. Doel was the Pastor of the Baptist Church at Southwick, a small village south west of Trowbridge. The book goes into great detail about the formation and history of the Westbury Leigh and Penknap Churches and other non conformists Churches and Chapels of West Wiltshire. About the split within the Westbury Leigh congregation he writes: 

"No one will profit by a recital here of the altercations divisions of feeling which took place at Westbury Leigh 83 years ago. One circumstance only I relate. Mr. Phillips, on assuming the sole pastorate at Leigh, was accused of having been formerly a Wesleyan minister. When asked whether it was so at a Church meeting, he would not reply, which led to a party feeling between the pastor and some of the Church."

The split was also documented in the newly formed Penknap Baptist Church minute book, a partial transcription of which appears below. It appears from the pages of these books that Samuel Deacon was a prominent supporter of Mr. Philips and was one of the first five deacons to be elected, the other four were Felix Hall, Jeremiah Hewitt, Nicholas Hopkins, and Thomas Curtis. The new Church was named the  "Providence Chapel" of Penknap

The first members of this church broke off from Westbury Leigh Church on the 12th day of April 1810: on account of some unhappy altercations which arose in that Church respecting Brother Phillip's ministry! After two years painful experience A friendly separation was agreed on between Mr. Phillips and his friends and the other part of the Church. The Articles  of agreements were as follows: That each member stands in the same order as when Mr. Phillips came amongst us (except one who was suspended for immoral conduct) and that, what has taken place be endeavoured  by all to be buried in forgetfulness, and that all those things which have been written to each other on the occation [occasion] of the unhappy difference which has subsisted in the Church be destroyed on both sides, and also all things that have been entered on the Church Book relating there to be cut out and destroyed and no copies thereof kept on either side. It's agreed that if any member of the Church should request a Dis***ssion  to any other Church of the same faith and order after Mr. Phillips is gone it shall be granted him! It's agreed, that Mr. Phillips may occupy the house and orchard until Lady Day........ It is further agreed that a book of records shall be kept to insert the formation and progress of our Society, and the principal transactions relating thereto and to preserve therein a correct account of the admission and dis****sion, and death of every member of our Church Covenant is agreed to by us all this 29th day of August 1810 Witness our hands. George Philips, Minister

			Samuel Deacon Robert Milgrove, sen. Jeremiah Hewitt Thomas Jeffers Abraham Dew Thomas Bailey John Hopkins Nicholas Hopkins Thomas Curtis Robert Milgrove, jun. James Hopkins William Richardson Felix Hall			Ann Oxley Hannah Palmore Rebecca Langley Sarah Hall Sarah Tucker Sarah Mills Sarah Harris Sarah Deacon Hannah Bailey Hannah Gunstone Mary Hague Lucy Hopkins Mary Edwards Leah Richardson Jane Hopkins Rachael Hall Susan Eyers

                    More information on the Providence Chapel and it's history can be found here