Lazenby, Bridgett (1782-1838)

Died, Jan. 16,1838, in the fifty-sixth year of her age, Bridgett Lazenby, of Wolsingham, in the Westgate circuit.  She was a native of Ireland.  With her first husband, who was a soldier, she went abroad, and endured great hardships by sea and land.  And after remaining a widow seven years, she married Robert Lazenby, then in the army.  But, receiving his discharge in 1815, he came to reside at Wolsingham, the place of his nativity.

In 1821, the P. Methodists visiting Wolsingham, Bridgett would go to see and hear for herself; the word reached her heart, and she saw herself a hell-deserving sinner, began to cry for mercy, and at a prayer meeting, experienced the forgiving love of God.  And coming home she said to her husband, “Robert, the Lord has pardoned all my sins.”  In Feb. 1822, she joined our society, and continued till she was called from earth away.

Her former hardships had undermined her constitution; and for nearly a year before her death, she was unable to follow her household affairs.  She suffered much, but her confidence was strong in the Lord, and she bore all with resignation to his Divine will.

A prayer meeting was held at her house once a week; and at one meeting about a fortnight before her death, she shouted, “O that you all felt what I now feel.”  About four o’clock in the morning of her departure, awaking her husband, she said, “Robert, I think my cough is gone, and if it be, I shall not be long.”  About an hour after, she said, “I feel a little shrinking. I did not expect it to be so.”  He observed that it was not uncommon for nature to shrink at death, and encouraged her to look to Christ, who would bring her off, more than conqueror.  She did so, and about ten o’clock quitted this vale of tears, to join the blood-washed host above.

J. Day

Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1838.  Page 396.