Pemberton, John

Pemberton, John a devoted Quaker preacher, a native of Philadelphia, and brother of the preceding, was born Nov. 27, 1727. John was early interested in the Gospel labors of his society, and traveled much both in this country and in Europe in the service of his divine Master. His first visit to Europe was in company with John Churchman, in the year 1750; his second was undertaken in 1782, and occupied him until 1789. His return to his relatives and friends after so long an absence was exceedingly gratifying to them all; but this pleasure was abated by the early discovery that he came home under a burdened mind, from an apprehension that his duty was not fully performed, which occasioned so great distress and conflict as sometimes to affect his bodily health. In his disposition he was modest; yet when his duty led him among the great and distinguished, his manner was plain, solid, and dignified. To the different ranks of sober people he was open and communicative. To the poor he addressed himself with great tenderness and condescension, and might indeed be said to have been the poor man's confiding counselor and friend. Like his Lord and Master, he went about continually doing good. He embarked for Amsterdam in the spring of 1794, and on his arrival in that city engaged in religious labors which occupied him some weeks. He then proceeded towards Pyrmont, in Westphalia, Germany, where there was a monthly meeting of Friends. At Bielefeld he was taken ill with a fever; yet he recovered sufficiently to travel, and reached Pyrmont early in the ninth month. He remained in that vicinity about four months, being in very poor health, yet most of the time occupied in religious labors. He died Jan. 31, 1795. See Janney, History of Friends, 4:80.