When about twelve years of age, I was sent to live with an aunt in Shields, it being my father's intention that I should assist in the little shop, and also attend school. By this plan, however, my education, as to school-learning, was marred, yet all was mercifully over-ruled for good, by a gracious Providence. Being confined to the shop, yet with much leisure, and having access to an extensive collection of "Friends" books, I was led to take great delight in reading the accounts of the religious exercises and sufferings of our worthy predecessors; by which means my memory became stored with much useful knowledge, and my understanding considerably enlightened in the principles of true practical religion.

When about fourteen years of age, I was placed as apprentice to Joshua Watson, a Friend, in Newcastle. A residence of twelve years in his family circle proved a blessing to me in various respects.

Allusion has been made in previous chapters to his frequent ministerial journeys. On these occasions the cares of the family and the business were left to his wife, whose letters bespeak much anxiety in relation to both the children and the trade.

The extensive acquaintance which he made with Friends up and down the country made their home in Newcastle the frequent resting place for these on their visits to Newcastle.

His published auto-biography, aptly entitled "A Basket of Fragments for Hungry Souls," sufficiently describes the subject matter of his ministry.

Though in his own particular meeting he was often silent, the reverence and fervency of his spirit betokened a mind stayed upon God, and the unction which accompanied his ministry left a deep impression upon those who heard him. In prayer, especially, he seemed to get 'within the veil,' while his soul was poured forth in fervent supplication for those assembled.

His interest in the Friends in Norway was long continued and earnest. From a small company of prisoners of war, who were led (before they had any knowledge of Friends) to sit in silent waiting upon the Lord on board their prison-ship at Chatham, and who were thus brought to the notice of Friends there and in London, they became, by persistent faithfulness in the maintenance of their conscientious convictions "a separated people."

They were supplied with Bibles and books in their own language, and were repeatedly visited by Friends after they were established as a Meeting at Stavanger, and were further fostered by correspondence and other proofs of sympathy until they increased in numbers and received accessions to their membership from the national church.

To escape persecution many of them emigrated to Iowa and other parts of the United States. This led George Richardson, in 1842, to write an earnest appeal "to those in authority in Norway" on their behalf. A copy of this document was handed by William Allen to the Swedish Ambassador in London for presentation to the King of Sweden. This was followed three years later by a resolution of the Storthing, which received the royal assent, and was issued with the signature of "Oscar" as an "Act of Toleration," granting to the Friends under his dominion "free public exercise of religion, separate registration of marriages, births, and deaths, exemption from taxes to the State church and its officers, other than tithes;" "the acceptance of a promise or affirmation" in lieu of the oath, besides other immunities, which were greatly appreciated by the Friends, though they were still liable to be drawn for military service.

Next to his more directly religious engagements the Bible Society shared by far the most largely his personal labours. For this cherished object he spared neither time nor strength. Holding the post of Depositary for about fifty years, nearly 250,000 Bibles passed through his hands.

The British Schools early claimed his attention, from a sense of the necessity of a better system of popular education which fastened upon him while teaching an adult school. The school-house at Cullercoats was his last effort of this kind, and may be looked upon as a monument of his energy and perseverance, when nearly eighty years of age.

The year before he was confined to his bed his thoughts were much occupied with the duty of the Society of Friends in the neglected cause of Foreign Missions; and he wrote with his own hand nearly a hundred letters to leading Friends in all parts of the country, urging them to a more active part in spreading the knowledge of the gospel in heathen lands. The subject engaged the earnest attention of the Yearly Meeting, so that when he was withdrawn from further active effort he was greatly cheered, saying -- "The seed has taken root and it will grow."

For two years he lay, often in pain but always cheerful, and brightly interested in passing events; but after a few days of rapidly declining strength, he passed to his reward. His interment was the last permitted in the grave-yard behind the Meeting House in Pilgrim Street, so closely associated with his life and work.

He was brought up a grocer; but, having a heavy loss by shipwreck, he wound up his business and became a mariner, which he followed for many years; but, being twice shipwrecked, he lost all his property, and passed the last few years of his life more comfortably at Newcastle, and died single much esteemed, 8 mo. 14, 1848.