SOME ACCOUNT OF

THE LIFE OF MR. SEDDON.

THE Rev. John Seddon, author of the following fermons, was near thirty years one of the minifters to a refpectable fociety of Proteftant Diffenters in Manchester. His life devoted to the quiet discharge of paftoral duty presents not many fcenes that claim the public attention. Yet fome who venerate his memory, will perhaps be gratified with the few anecdotes that are here fubjoined.

The family of Seddon is of French extraction. The name fo lately as the reign of Elizabeth was written Sedanne, and tra

dition reports that his ancestors came originally from Sedan in the time of William the Conqueror. They had formerly large estates in the neighbourhood of Manchester and Bolton in the Moors, and appear to have intermarried with fome of the principal families in Lancashire.

His father the Rev. Peter Seddon, was a diffenting minifter at Penrith, and afterward at Cockey-moor near Bolton. He was interred at this laft place, with the following infcription on his tomb.

"Here refteth the body of the Rev. Mr. "Peter Seddon, a good fcholar, an excellent "preacher, eminent for piety, industry, and "great humility, who departed this life April 26, 1731, in the forty-third year of "his age."

The Rev. John Seddon was born at Lomax-fold, Little Lever, in the parish of Bolton,

Bolton, in the year 1716 or 1717. He was placed at Stand fchool, under the care of Mr. William Walker. He was afterward a pupil of Dr. Rotheram who prefided over an academy at Kendal, and from Kendal he removed to the university of Glasgow, where he took the degree of Mafter of Arts, and finished his education.

He appears to have been early patronised by the fociety of proteftant diffenters in Manchefter, who kindly contributed to the expence of his education; and on or before his quitting the university of Glasgow, chofe him affiftant minifter to their pastor the Rev. Mr. Jofeph Motterfhead.

With Mr. Motterfhead, whofe prudent and exemplary conduct gained univerfal respect, he lived on terms of intimacy and friendship. He was married to his daughter Elizabeth in the year 1743, and by her had feveral children, none of whom now furvive. His only defcendant is the fon

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of his daughter Abigail, who married a relation of the name of Seddon, and died in 1774.

His juvenile years are faid to have been remarkably fprightly and cheerful. He was however far from being of a strong conftitution, and his too great exertions, probably excited by an overflow of fpirits, brought on a nervous and weakly habit, which rendered him a valetudinarian for many of the last years of life. It is particularly mentioned that he received an irreparable injury to his health from walking to Chowbent one Sunday morning, a distance of twelve miles from Manchester, and returning the fame day after having performed divine fervice.

In his temper he was mild, friendly and affectionate, in his addrefs courteous and obliging, in conversation affable and communicative. He was very liberal to the poor, and unwilling to deny any one who

applied