Wesley, Susannah

Wesley, Susannah a remarkable Christian woman, wife of Samuel Wesley, Sr., and mother of John and Charles Wesley, was the youngest daughter of the learned Nonconformist divine Samuel Annesley, LL.D., and was born in London, Jan. 20, 1669. About the year 1681, before she was yet thirteen years of age, she renounced Nonconformity and gave her adherence to the Church of England. In 1689 she became the wife of Samuel Wesley, to whom she bore nineteen children. The great service she did for the world was accomplished largely through her thorough training of her children. Her method of teaching and governing them was peculiar to herself, and is fully described in a letter to her son John, dated Epworth, July 24, 1732. They were not taught to read until they were five years old, when they learned the alphabet in a few days, and began to spell and read, first a line, and then a short paragraph, mastering it perfectly. She was a woman of strong intellect, and employed her; best powers in the performance of her maternal duties. She was a model mother, and her sons owed a great deal of their success to her prudent counsels. Many incidents remain on record which illustrate her singular independence of character, as well as her womanly deference to legitimate authority. For a prolonged period she shared the fortunes of her husband in a country parish with a stinted income; but throughout she maintained an active, cheerful, and consistent piety. The family of which they were the joint head was a remarkable one in many respects, and to its peculiarities she contributed her full share. After her husband's death, she remained a short time with her daughter Emilia, and then resided with her son John in London, and became his judicious adviser in carrying out his great work. Previous to her death, her experience was very clear, much more so than formerly, though she seems to have been a true Christian all her days. She died in London, July 23, 1742, and was buried in Bunhill Fields, where her son John delivered the funeral discourse. See Stevenson, Memorials of the Wesley Family.