George Bewley (1684 - 1750)

Born 9 May 1684 in Ivegill, Cumberland, England

Ancestors

Husband of Blessing (Fennell) Bewley — married 16 Apr 1713 in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland

Died 11 Feb 1750 at age 65 in Cork, County Cork, Ireland [uncertain]

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Biography

George was a Friend (Quaker)

George Bewley, 'a serviceable man in the church', was born into a Quaker family in Ivegill, Cumberland on 9 May 1684.^[1][2] In August 1698, aged 14, he was sent to Dublin where he became an apprentice to Edward Webb, a linen-draper.^[2][3]

In September 1706, his apprenticeship having expired, he became a bookkeeper for the banker Joseph Hoare of Cork.^[2] On 16th April, 1713, he married Blessing, daughter of William and Blessing Fennell.^[4] They had three sons and two daughters, but two of the sons died in infancy and the third in childhood.

Around 1713, George Bewley found his calling and became a prominent Minister and elder in the Society of Friends, in which capacity he travelled around England, Scotland and Wales.^[2]

In 1745 he became ill with pains in his legs and back and sought treatment in Bath, but his health continued to decline.^[2] He died in Cork on 11 February 1750, having been a minister for 36 years.^[5] A narrative of his Christian experiences, written by himself, was published in Dublin in 1750 by order of the National half year’s meeting of the Society held in Dublin in May of that year.

Sources

1. ↑ Bewley, Sir Edmund Thomas. The Bewleys of Cumberland and their Irish and Other Descendants. Dublin: William McGee, 1902. Main Volume, Pedigree B
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Bewley. George. A Narrative of the Christian Experiences of George Bewley ... deceased. Written by himself, etc. [Edited by James Gough.]. Dublin: I. Jackson, 1750. p.A2, 11, 16, 43
3. ↑ Mary Leadbeater, "Biographical notices of members of the Society of Friends, who were resident in Ireland". London, Harvey and Darton, 1823, p.231. (https://archive.org/details/biographicalnoti00lead/page/231/mode/2up?view=theater)
4. ↑ “Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Marriages,” database with images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FMARR%2F19282B : accessed 26 September 2020), marriage of Blessing Fennell and George Bewley son of George and Mary Bewley of Cork in Youghal on 16d 2mo (Apr) 1713; citing Register of marriages, YOUGHAL, 1859, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.
5. ↑ Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Family Lists, image, FindMyPast (https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FMMV111M-1%2F0008&parentid=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FBURS%2F10363 : accessed 26 September 2020), death of George Bewley on 11d 12mo (Feb) 1749 (1750) ('a serviceable man in the church, in good esteem among Friends, a minister about 36 years'); citing Cork MM Family lists 1671-1872, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.

See also:

• "Ireland, Society of Friends (Quaker) Yearly Meeting Testimonies to Deceased Ministers," image, FindMyPast (https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FYMF-1%2F0128&parent : accessed 27 September 2020), testimony to George Bewley, citing YM Sufferings Testimonies to Deceased Ministers 1661-1933, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.