He had a brother William, who was a joiner and builder.  Their father was a village carpenter and undertaker, honest and respectable, but who took to drink in his later years.  He was at an ale-house very late one night, and the next morning was found dead in a brook near his house.  Samuel became a Methodist and a preacher, but was teased about it by his brother, who criticised his blunders in prayer and preaching.  He was gentle and very considerate at home, and was greatly attached to his brother, though they could not agree in matters of religion.  While they were partners in business they prospered, but Samuel did not succeed when by himself.  Samuel and Elizabeth were married at St. Mary’s Church, Nottingham.  In company with a Miss Richards, Elizabeth attended, in 1801 or 1802, a Mary Voce who had poisoned her child.  They visited her in jail, and were with her when she was hung in Nottingham.  Elizabeth wrote an account of her own life, especially of her conversion and her early work in the ministry.  Concerning the execution of Mary Voce, she gives this account:  “At seven o’clock [on the morning of the execution] we all knelt down in prayer, and at ten minutes before eight o’clock the Lord in mercy spoke peace to her soul.  She cried out, ’Oh, how happy I am! the Lord has pardoned all my sins, and I am going to heaven.’  She never lost the evidence for one moment, and always rejoiced in the hope of glory.  Is it not by grace we are saved through faith?  And is not the Saviour exalted at the Father’s right hand to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins?  If salvation were by works who would be saved?  The vilest and worst may come unto Him.  None need despair.  None ought to presume.  Miss Richards and I attended her to the place of execution.  Our feelings on this occasion were very acute.  We rode with her in the cart to the awful place.  Our people sang with her all the way, which I think was a mile and a half.  We were enabled to lift up our hearts unto the Lord in her behalf, and she was enabled to bear a public testimony that God in mercy had pardoned all her sins.  When the cap was drawn over her face, and she was about to be turned off, she cried, ‘Glory! glory! glory! the angels are waiting around me.’  And she died almost without a struggle.  At this awful spot I lost a great deal of the fear of man, which to me had been a great hindrance for a long time.  I felt if God would send me to the uttermost parts of the earth I would go, and at intervals felt I could embrace a martyr’s flame.  Oh, this burning love of God, what will it not endure?  I could not think I had an enemy in the world.  I am certain I enjoyed that salvation that if they had smote me on one cheek, I could have turned to them the other also.  I lived

  “’The life of heaven above,
  All the life of glorious love.’