Waplington, Hannah (nee Hughes) (1810-1855)

Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by John Wapplington.

Mrs. HANNAH WAPLINGTON was born at Lidgmoor, near Weobley, Herefordshire, October 5th, 1810. For many years her father’s house was the home of our preachers, whenever they came into the neighbourhood, or were passing through it to their appointments at other places. From her childhood my dear wife was the subject of the strivings of God’s Spirit; and during a severe affliction, when about seventeen years of age, “she saw herself hanging over the pit of hell, suspended by a very slender thread.” She was first led to hear the Primitive Methodists by an elder sister. For some time my dear wife felt great hostility to our people, but by degrees that hostility subsided, and she united with them heart and hand. Ever after her conversion to God through their instrumentality (which took place when she was about two-and-twenty years of age) to the day of her death, she was a thorough Primitive Methodist, supporting them by her labours, influence, and contributions.

She was appointed to lead the class in her native place; and in discharging the duties of her office she was made a blessing to many. Her powers of conversation were good; and making herself agreeable with all who came into her company, she proved a valuable Christian friend, and many were edified by her pious conversation. The writer of these lines first became acquainted with her when labouring on the Weobley branch in 1843, and in 1846 we were united in marriage. Both by disposition, and those higher qualities which adorn the Christian, she was fitted for those responsible duties incumbent upon the wife of a minister. Ever cheerful and kind in disposition, prudent and economical in the management of the affairs of life, having a penetrating mind, influenced by Christian patience, fortitude, and love, she proved a great help to him who has now to sorrow over his bereavement. For the last few years, through severe chronic affliction, my dear wife was frequently unable to enter into those active duties of the Christian life in which her soul so much delighted. She said, “This body has been a heavy clog to my mind; I would have done more if I could, but the Lord knows all about it.” 

Though her Christian course was always marked by steady Progress, yet of late she was more fully devoted to God, especially in reading and studying the sacred Scriptures. She saw in the Bible riches of an infinite value — “More to be desired than: gold, yea, than:much fine gold; sweeter also than honey-and the honeycomb.” Prayer also was an exercise in which she much delighted. The affliction which ended in her death was of short duration, but very painful, being confined. to her room only ten days. All that medical skill could do to stop the progress of the disease proved ineffectual. On the 20th of January, 1855, she left this, earth for heaven in the forty-fourth year of her:age. 

In her affliction not a murmur escaped her lips; she bore her sufferings with resignation to the will of Him who afflicted her. In the early part of her affliction, in reply to a question I put to her, she said, “I am not rapturous, but I have an inward peace.” She saw before her a prize of invaluable price, and in the-blessed prospect of it she rejoiced. Her sister asked her “Whether her prospects for eternity were bright?” She answered, “I have no clouds—my title is clear.” On my saying to her, “You must hang upon’ the Saviour’s blood,” she replied, “Nothing else will do.” On the morning of her death her sister said to her, “My dear, do you feel yow are ready?” to which she said, with very  great earnestness, “Yes, ready, ready, ready!’ Seeing her end drawing near, she was asked by her sister whether, if unable to speak in her last moments, she would raise her hand in token of victory, she answered, “I can make:no engagement of that kind—I don’t know what I may have to pass through; but don’t you imagine if I do not so that I am not gone to heaven.” 

In a letter to her sister on the 28th of December, 1854, she said, “This has been a very eventful year; the next may be much more so; but let you and me live nearer to God than ever we have done.” But  little did she think, when she penned those words; that she would so soon be called to the spirit-world. Yet: such is the fact; but though her death is felt as a heavy stroke to her relatives, and especially to the writer, we would not wish her back again to a world of suffering and woe but rather say with the poet,

“Happy soul! thy days are ended,
All thy mourning days below;
Go, by angel hosts attended,
To the sight.of Jesus go!”

May the writer and all who read these lines meet her in heaven! Amen.

Family

Hannah was born on 5 October 1810 at Lidgmoor, Herefordshire.

She married John Waplington (1817-1882), a PM minister, in late 1846 in the Hereford Registration District, Herefordshire.

She died on 20 January 1855 in the Cheadle Registration District, Staffordshire.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1855/265

W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers