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The Rev. JOHN WESLEY, M.A., the celebrated founder of the Armenian Methodists, and the son of the Rev. Samuel Wesley, rector of Epworth and Wroot, was born here in 1703, and his brother Charles in 1708. His parents had 19 children, and he was their second son. When only six years old the parsonage house was burnt down. The flames broke out in the night, and John was not missed for some time, but was at length heard crying in the nursery, to which the flames had cut off all access. His father, in agonising despair, had fallen upon his knees, and commended the soul of his child to God; when John, having climbed upon a chest, appeared at a window, and the house being low, a tall man was hoisted upon the shoulders of another, and succeeded in taking the boy out, only a few moments before the whole roof fell in. John Wesley often spoke of this providential deliverance with the deepest gratitude, and it forms the subject of a beautiful engraving, recently published as a memorial of the centenary of Methodism. He was elected fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1726; and appointed Greek Lecturer and moderator of the classes. His father died in 1735, leaving a numerous family in beleaguered circumstances; and in the same year, he and his brother Charles went out to the new colony of Georgia, to preach to the settlers and the Indians; but they returned in 1737. In 1745, he married Mrs Vizelle, a widow lady with four children, an independent fortune, a jealous disposition, and an outrageous temper; who after tormenting him for twenty years, left his roof for ever, taking with her part of his journals, and many other papers. He died in 1791, aged 88 years, after labouring indefatigably and successfully, the greater part of his life, to revive, enforce, and defend "the pure, apostolical doctrines and practices of the Primitive Church," in which great work, he was materially assisted by his brother Charles, who composed many of the beautiful hymns used by the Methodists, who now form a numerous and influential body of Christians; but since the days of their founder, they have been divided into several schisms, the New Connexion, or Kilhamite Methodists; the Primitive Methodists; and the Association, Warrenite Methodists. Mr Wesley died, and was buried at Lambeth. His sister, Mrs Mehetabel Wright, was also born at Epworth, and possessed considerable talents. She produced several beautiful poetic effusions, and when only eight years old, she could read a Greek Testament. Mr Alexander Kilham, the founder of the "New Connexion," was also a native of this parish, and died in 1798, after fighting hard against the "priestly domination" of the Wesleyan Conference, which, having lost the meek and tolerant spirit of its founder, has occasioned, , at various periods, dissatisfaction and secession. John and Charles Wesley commenced their pious labours at Oxford, about 1730, and during the remainder of their lives, travelled into all parts of the kingdom, preaching to the poor and the ignorant, inculcating the general part of the doctrine taught by Aminus, a native of Holland, who defended the religious principles of Beza, in opposition to those of John Calvin.
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