Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
Chowbent Chapel
Chowbent Chapel is an active Unitarian place of worship in Atherton, Greater Manchester, England. It was built in 1721 and is the oldest place of worship in the town. It is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churc ...
s in
Atherton, Greater Manchester
Atherton () is a town in Greater Manchester, England and historically a part of Lancashire. The town, including Hindsford, Howe Bridge and Hag Fold, is south of Bolton, east of Wigan, and northwest of Manchester. From the 17th century, f ...
, England. During the
Jacobite rising
, war =
, image = Prince James Francis Edward Stuart by Louis Gabriel Blanchet.jpg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = James Francis Edward Stuart, Jacobite claimant between 1701 and 1766
, active ...
, he was given the title "the General" for leading a force of men that routed the Highlanders.
Biography
James Wood was born in Atherton, the son of James Wood (1639–1694) the
nonconformist
Nonconformity or nonconformism may refer to:
Culture and society
* Insubordination, the act of willfully disobeying an order of one's superior
*Dissent, a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or entity
** ...
minister of Atherton Chapel and his wife Anne Townley. His father was imprisoned in 1670 for defying the law and preaching in the homes of sympathisers after Atherton Chapel had been closed by the
Act of Uniformity 1662
The Act of Uniformity 1662 (14 Car 2 c 4) is an Act of the Parliament of England. (It was formerly cited as 13 & 14 Ch.2 c. 4, by reference to the regnal year when it was passed on 19 May 1662.) It prescribed the form of public prayers, adm ...
. In addition, the act affected his grandfather, also James Wood (d. 1667), a powerful orator and reformer who was ejected from the
perpetual curacy
Perpetual curate was a class of resident parish priest or incumbent curate within the United Church of England and Ireland (name of the combined Anglican churches of England and Ireland from 1800 to 1871). The term is found in common use mainly du ...
Rathmell Academy
Rathmell Academy was a Dissenting academy set up at Rathmell, North Yorkshire, and was the oldest non-conformist seat of learning in the north of England. The academy was established in 1670 by Richard Frankland M.A. (Christ's College,Cambridge) ...
. He assisted his father and succeeded him at Atherton Chapel in 1695. James was described by a member of his congregation,
"In person he was above the middle size and rather bulky: his appearance in the pulpit was very venerable and striking. He always wore a gown and bands, with a pretty large white wig when performing public worship. His sermons were delivered in a most solemn manner (yet without cant), and made considerable impression on his hearers."
Minister Wood married in 1717 when he was 45. His wife Hannah died nine years later.
The Atherton Estate Survey of 1734 reveals Wood was also a farmer, occupying a house with an orchard and fields covering 12 Cheshire acres and a smithy which was rented to a nailor. In 1742 though many
dissenter
A dissenter (from the Latin ''dissentire'', "to disagree") is one who dissents (disagrees) in matters of opinion, belief, etc.
Usage in Christianity
Dissent from the Anglican church
In the social and religious history of England and Wales, and ...
s objected to paying the
church rate
The church rate was a tax formerly levied in each parish in England and Ireland for the benefit of the Church of England parish church, parish church. The rates were used to meet the costs of carrying on divine service, repairing the fabric of the ...
, Wood paid his share.
"General" James Wood died in 1759. The location of his grave is unknown, but is speculated to be at Chowbent where his wife and mother are buried.
Battle
In 1715, at the time of the
Jacobite rising
, war =
, image = Prince James Francis Edward Stuart by Louis Gabriel Blanchet.jpg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = James Francis Edward Stuart, Jacobite claimant between 1701 and 1766
, active ...
, supporters of the
Old Pretender
James Francis Edward Stuart (10 June 16881 January 1766), nicknamed the Old Pretender by Whigs, was the son of King James II and VII of England, Scotland and Ireland, and his second wife, Mary of Modena. He was Prince of Wales fro ...
were marching on Preston. James Wood received a letter from Sir Henry Hoghton, countersigned by General Charles Wills, requesting him to "raise all the force you can, and bring arms fit for service—scythes in straight poles—spades and bill hooks and draw them to
Cuerden Green
Cuerden is a village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, in Lancashire, England. It is situated between Bamber Bridge and Leyland, and had a population of 77 in 2001.Battle of Preston, they were given the job of guarding the bridge over the River Ribble at Walton-le-Dale and the ford at
Penwortham
Penwortham () is a town in South Ribble, Lancashire, England, on the south bank of the River Ribble facing the city of Preston. The town is at the most westerly crossing point of the river, with major road and rail links crossing it here. The ...
, both of which were successfully defended. Estimates for the size of Wood's contingent vary from 80, which is most likely, to 400 men.
After the Highlanders were routed and for his efforts Wood was given a £100 pension by
parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
and the title "the General" by his Chowbent congregation.
Chowbent Chapel
Wood's congregation grew to about 1,000 members, the third largest in
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly.
The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...
. It occupied Atherton Chapel, the old Bent Chapel, a small brick building with three windows and a porch. Its windows had curved arches with diamond panes of glass in leaded frames. Inside was a three-tier pulpit. The chapel was built in 1645 on land owned by
lord of the manor
Lord of the Manor is a title that, in Anglo-Saxon England, referred to the landholder of a rural estate. The lord enjoyed manorial rights (the rights to establish and occupy a residence, known as the manor house and demesne) as well as seig ...
, John Atherton. In 1721 his successor Richard Atherton, a supporter of the Jacobite cause, expelled James Wood and the congregation from the chapel for their part in the battle. The dissenters left quietly and met in local barns and houses, including the minister's home at Gib Fold, until they had built Chowbent Chapel, completed in 1722 on land donated by Nathan Mort at Alderfold. Wood was instrumental in raising money for the chapel and used his pension towards the cost.