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the honesty or courage to speak out . He was a very zealous promoter of the Assembly held twice yearly at Exeter . He found great emolument both to body and purse by giving his regular attendance . He had many presents , and many sums of money given , both
from private people and the Fund , to both which he was constantly recommended by Mr . Walrond , and some other leading ministers . I remember he once made a journey to London , where , by Walrond ' s recommendation , he cleared <^ 100 , besides all his expenses of going and coming . He was
very often employed in reconciling family differences , in which he had very good success , for great deference was paid to his judgment by people of all denominations in the town . He was likewise very often consulted in politics ; for he was able to direct the votes of most of his hearers in time of
an election , and therefore was in high esteem with the old Sir Francis Drake , by whom he hath often provided for such of his friends as wanted places . He maintained his power and reputation to the end of his life , and was as much regarded and attended in the last
stage of life as in the beginning . His last disorders were the consequence of a gross habit of body , whieli had been too much encouraged by foul feeding . He was long confined after he had
done riding , and struggled hard with death . Many of his friends took their turns to watch by him at nights . What observations they made on his last conduct J never particularly heard , only it is said he recommended Mr . John
Edmonds , the minister at Plympton , to be his successor . This advice , however , was not taken , and the authority and weight which Mr . Sandercock always maintained , seemed in this instance to expire and die along with him .
Mr . GEORGE BRETT was a man of a very different character from those I have mentioned . I had reason to know him well , for my mother and he had one father , and he was always conversant in our family as so near a relation . He was the
eldest son of my grandfather Bre « tt by a third wife , who was a very reputable tradesman in his day , and lived and died with a very good character . His
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family was in Staffordshire , from whence he came to Plymouth , and served his apprenticeship with the greatgrandfather of Mr . Samuel Northcote . He married three wives , and all of good families : his first was sister to Mr . Abraham Searle , merchant , by whom he had two sons and three
daughters 5 the second of the latter was my mother ; hi 3 second was a sister to Mr . Arscot , of Tetcot , by whom he had no issue ; and his third a Bisset , by whom he had three sons and two
daughters , who are all dead except the gentleman I now speak of . He was esteemed a person of the best natural temper that ever lived , for no misfortune either in his family or trade could
ever ruffle him . I have heard many instances of this , and one in particular , which is worth remembering . He had one large ship at sea called the Old Industry , which was employed in the Virginia trade . She was full laden , cargo and all his own ; and was
reckoned then to contain the best part of his substance . It happened that she was taken , and when the news was told him , instead of bewailing his loss , and talking of his numerous family , as is natural in such cases , or breaking into passionate and indecent complaints against fortune , all he said was to my mother . " Moll , " said he , " what
would'st say if the Industry be taken ?" " I hope not so , " replied my mother . " Why if it is , you'll only have a little the less for your fortune , " and immediately he went to his chamber , as his custom was on all such emergencies , lay down and slept about half an hour , and then came down with his usual
cheerfulness , and was never heard to mention the misfortune more . He was very remarkable for his hospitality and g-en-erous way of living . I have heard that when he was able , he spent ^ 200 a quarter in his family . He was a very great supporter of the Nonconformist ministers , who in his day
were greatly distressed by the government . Whole families at a time have been harboured and maintained by him , and he has given them money at their going away . His zeal for the cause of Puritanism occasioned his
breeding his son George a minister , to whom I now return , thinking I could not say less of his father than I have . When he learnt grammar at Plymouth , he was esteemed a boy of good parts .
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260 Airs John Eox * * Biographical Sketches 0 / some of his Contemporaries
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1821, page 260, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2500/page/4/
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