James Wallis - about the man

       Recently (Sept. 2, 2004) I posted a piece that included the Last Will and testament of James Wallis.  The Will was dated  December 1866, and he apparently died in 1867.
             I recently learned that he had been the editor of the British version of the Millennial Harbinger for the Church of Christ: he had been so for approximately 30 years! 

             In an on line presentation of:
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN LONG HEDGE LANE

A
History of the Church of Christ

MEETING IN LONG HEDGE LANE, NOTTINGHAM
(Formerly in Salem Chapel, Barker Gate)
By S. MOTTERSHAW.    PUBLISHED --- NOTTINGHAM:"DAILY EXPRESS" COMPANY, LIMITED, PARLIAMENT STREET.1886.

I located a reference to the obituary - I am including it here because it is very telling of the man - James Wallis.

[**Briefly, James Wallis was the father of Susan Wallis who would marry the oldest son of John Kinley Tener I.  And as stated previously, another daughter Eliza married John Frost - and their daughter also Eliza (Frost) would marry John Kinley Tener I's son Hampden.  In the letters of Mary Francis Evans Tener - JKT I's wife, you will see reference to a James Macrum.  James would later marry, on June 22, 1848, another daughter of James Wallis -  Hephzibah (the second daughter.]

What follows is the exert:




1867.-It is now our duty to chronicle the death of our venerable Brother and Pastor, James Wallis, who passed away May 17, aged 73 years, in the sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection to eternal life. From the commencement of his christian career down to the time of his decease, a period of 65 years, he was firm and steadfast in his advocacy of Bible truth, always evincing a strong desire to bring others into the same liberty and love of the gospel which he himself enjoyed. Those of us who knew him will remember and recognise the watchfulness and devotion manifested towards the church over which he had the spiritual oversight, together with the fatherly care towards the young of his charge. In this respect we shall ever cherish the feelings of love and gratitude which we owe to the departed for the many kindnesses received from his hands. The following account of the funeral is taken from a Nottingham newspaper:-"At noon, yesterday, the body of Mr. James Wallis, Senior Elder of the community of New Testament Disciples, worshipping at Salem Chapel, Barker Gate, was interred at the General Cemetery in a vault near the Holly Mount entrance, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators, most of whom were attired in funeral habiliments, and who were visibly affected by the sad ceremony. The hearse was followed by six mourning coaches conveying personal friends and relatives of the deceased, among them being his widow, and the cortege was extended to a considerable degree by members of Salem Chapel congregation, who brought up the rear on Foot. Mr. R. Mumby conducted the obsequies, and at times the emotion exerted, was so powerful that he was scarcely able to proceed. In the Chapel he delivered a short address couched in serious and pathetic language which was listened to with great attention, and caused tears to flow from many eyes. They were assembled, he remarked, under very solemn and painful circumstances, a mighty man had fallen, and they had come to pay the last tribute of respect to one whom they all loved, revered, and honoured. In the death of the deceased, the poor had indeed lost a benefactor, the town a worthy inhabitant; diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; sons and daughters a father, an aged mother a husband, the disciples of the Lord a brother, the church of God a pastor, teacher, and guide, and the world a reformer. After calling to mind the sympathy of the deceased for perishing sinners, Mr. Mumby dilated upon the transporting news of the gospel, that the grave had lost its victory and death its sting, commenting on the brevity of life and the certainty of death, administered consolation to the bereaved family and church. The coffin was borne to the grave by six of the 'disciples,' six others acting as pallbearers, and in its descent into the vault it destroyed the beauty and fragrance of numerous flowers strewn within the tomb by those who will not soon forget him whose body has found its final resting place. At the grave side, appropriate passages of scripture were read, and Mr. Mumby again made a few observations principally to the unconverted, the ceremony terminating with prayer." At the General Annual Meeting in August, after many touching references to the career of the departed brother, the following resolution was adopted:-"That this meeting desires to put on record its profound sense of the great loss the churches have sustained in the death of our esteemed and venerable Brother James Wallis, who for many years sustained so well the position of the editor of the "Harbinger," and to express our deep sympathy with the church at Nottingham, and especially with our aged Sister Wallis and her family in their great bereavement, and hopes that the worthy life of him who has been called away will serve as a stimulus to the brethren to greater devotedness to the service of our Lord." Notwithstanding that the church in the providence of God had to suffer this bereavement and loss (the government and guidance being necessarily committed to other hands), we are pleased to record that the spirit of harmony and peace existed very largely amongst the brethren, a good hearing was secured for the proclamation of the gospel, sinners believed and obeyed, the saints were edified and strengthened. The church now numbered 211, no less than 46 having during the year put on the Lord by being immersed into His name; the attendance at the Lord's table, after making every allowance, averaged 150 members. The discipline of the church was also well maintained, the brethren deeming it necessary. for the sake of purity and virtue, to expel 15 individuals whose walk and behaviour were inconsistent with the profession and practice of christianity.


posted Sept. 20, 2004

HAMPDEN FROST TENER

Hampden Frost TENER died Englewood, Florida on April 19, 1985.  Hampden was the grandson of Hampden Evans Tener and Eliza Frost Tener of Moree House, Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone, Ireland. 

His direct family lineage can be summarized as follows:
Hampden Evans I (1836-1910) & Eliza Frost TENER (1844-1916) - father of
       Robert William TENER (1876 - 1955) & Gertrude BAILY (d. 1941) - father of
       Hampden Frost (1907-1985) & Virginia Letson TENER (1908-1995)

Hampden Frost TENER had led an interesting life.  He was raised in the Sewickley - Coraopolis, and Coraopolis Heights areas of Pennsylvania. .   When he was about 70 years of age a good friend of his, Mrs. Betty Shields , asked him to write about his younger days, and what it was like growing up in the area.  After some cajoling, he acquiesced to writing.
In his following writings he remembers the gas chandelier lighting, the natural springs on the homestead property.  He recalls the brutal winters - snow ball fights, skiing, flooded creeks, and shoveling snow.  He recalls riding ponies, camping with his friends, and of sneaking into town "for a 15 cent soda".  He fondly recalled vacations, and the vacation related activities.  He wrote of the Great Depression - and of the 1936 Floods.  He wrote of friends, and neighbors.  He wrote of fruit and vegetable stands, of split rail fences.  He wrote of the travails of getting to school - driving, riding horses, and of fighting past the bullies!
He includes some comments upon his varied employment; upon his retirement; upon his moves, and upon his love for log houses!  He concludes with some comments, and observations on 'Family'.
Sit back and enjoy!  What follows are the computer-scanned pages from his own pen (typewriter?).

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TO BREATHE FRESH COUNTRY AIR
By Hampden F. Tener

In the early 1900s, land in the country sold for roughly one hundred dollars an acre, and there was a lot of it on the market. My family purchased theirs in Moon Township rather than another property in the area because it fronted on the Beaver Grade Road, the only hard road in the Township in 1901. This road, known as a Pinchot road after Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot, ran from Route 30 in Robinson Township to Carnot, where it became the Brodhead Road, then unpaved.
One mile from our place, the Beaver Grade Road was met by the Coraopolis Road. It also was a hard road and important because so many of the men, who lived on Coraopolis Heights, commuted to Pittsburgh. They had to get up early and drive a team hitched to a buggy or surrey -- complete with leather seats and fringed top -- to the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad station in Coraopolis, then took the trolley across the Smithfield Street Bridge to their offices. Of course, a return trip was made each evening. In my father's case this round trip was five miles each way in all kinds of weather.
The lighting at our house was with gas chandeliers; cooking was done on a huge, cast iron gas range; heating was by individual open gas stoves in each room plus the great open log-burning fireplace in the living room.
Water was always a problem and the family was always drilling a well on the place. The under laying clay would carry off the rainwater and not allow it to accumulate on the property. Although there were several wet-weather springs, our farm was even then known as "the dry farm." We were all very careful of water especially in August.
Compensating for the lack of water was the fact that there was a gas lease and Purdy Bros. gave us all the gas we could use for three dollars a month. We even pumped the well water with a Ryder-Ericson gas-run, hot air pump.
We children went with Dad the first mile to the Coraopolis Road and then walked two miles to school at Carnot. After school we walked the three miles home. Again, this was in all kinds of weather but we went prepared.
Everybody had a transportation problem. Later they allowed my oldest brother to drive without a license by ignoring him but not the Sewickley police. Therefore, he drove us to Coraopolis in a Model T and Dad paid Pete Petrie to drive us to Sewickley.
Our family was not alone in this style of life. Many young families were doing the same to get out of the dirt and smog of the valley and to breathe fresh country air.
H. F. TENER, 1983

MUD

Seventy years ago there was some traffic on the Coraopolis and the Beaver Grade roads, hard Pinchot roads, but not very much. It was only a mile from our place to the Gardners' and usually we would ride the berms of these roads. One day, however, we were riding our ponies on the Thorn Run and I asked Kirt whose Shetland pony it was in a field we were passing. He told me that it was Henry Curry's and informed me that he, Henry, went to the Sewickley Public School the same as we did. The next day the three of us got together in the playground at recess and this was the beginning of a lifetime friendship.
Henry was the oldest of the three and went on to Shady Side Academy and then graduated from Williams College. I was next and went on to Miss. Munson's, Kiski Prep, and Amherst. Kirt went to Shady Side, Williams and a further two years at Lehigh University's School of Engineering.
In those early years we were almost inseparable, riding our ponies and, later horses, all over the back country lanes, swimming, camping, playing tennis and golf.
I don't think any of us will ever forget those country dirt roads. When they were wet, they were mud--unbelievable muck. If one of the ponies got ahead in a race those behind got plastered and when we got home our families threw up their hands in horror and made us change our clothes on the porch or in the basement. If a vehicle went by in the wet season there was no way to escape a splattering on these narrow roads that were, for the most part, single lane.
In dry weather there was the dust--clouds of it. It was bad enough for the riders of horses, but even worse for those in the old open cars. Those in cars were usually attired in better clothes. In the dry weather, the township would drag and scrape these dirt roads into a smoother surface but as the season went on they became washboards when the ruts reappeared. The people came up to a slower vehicle with a sinking heart, because they knew that they were stuck in its dust until a turnoff, or for the duration.
I am retired now and again live in the country. I am conscious that country dwellers have always contended with mud in wet seasons. Now that I look back, I recall that the homes of country people have mud rooms outside the kitchen entrance for boots, shoes, and wet coats.
As a young man commuting to an office, I remember our unpaved lane to the garage and of wearing overshoes to protect my dress shoes from the mud between the house and the garage. Then we had cinders; today gravel has made a difference.
H. F. TENER, 1983

CREDIT A PINCHOT ROAD

The family bought the old homestead on the Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township, in 1909. I remember them saying that it was then a choice between it and the one we came to know as the Bell Farm, which became the foundation of the Greater Pittsburgh Airport. The deciding factor was that our homestead was then on a hard road and the Bell Farm property was not. Also, our property was more than a mile closer to Coraopolis and the P&LE Railroad, and, although not critical, it was important at the time.
You see, in 1909 the first automobiles were a luxury and not dependable. People, as they had done for all time before that, depended upon the horse for transportation. In my father's case, he used a team of Shetland ponies that could trot the entire five miles each way to the station and back every morning and evening during those first years. One of my earliest recollections is seeing him arrive home on a bitter cold winter evening with his visor hat, designed much like the present ski-mask, covered with white frozen vapor from his breath. He used several laprobes. One was of buffalo, a holdover from the many made when the great herds were hunted in the west in the late 1800s. They also used heated bricks in a tin box to keep the feet warm.
By 1912, the automobiles came more into use and, here again, the fact that our property was on a hard road was a blessing. I don't think anybody today can imagine the condition of back country roads in the
spring of the year after the frost had gone out from under it. The cars then were open with canvas tops. There and carbide gas lights.
"Dependable" was the slogan of the Dodge, but the cars were not. It was a sales point for the Franklin that it was air-cooled and would not freeze in cold weather. Also, I recall the Franklin had a laminated wood frame, supposedly stronger than steel, and a heater wire that ran from the inside direct to the manifold. I also recall that it was years after World War I that a tire was created that would get more than 5000 miles and cost only $80. All in all, those were the days to forget
H. F. TENER, 1983

We're Back

       I have been dormant for a while.

       We just came back from a few days in Arizona - where we went to see the S.F. Giants play the Diamondbacks.  The highlight of the two games we saw was Barry Bonds hitting his 699th home run - a towering shot that bounced off of the jumbotron in center field.  I think that they estimated it at about 450 feet!

       We also had the opportunity to visit with some Tener descendents - and learn of more 'family lore'.

       Now it is time to get back to work.  Try to figure out what to write about, and make another posting!

       One question:  we are thinking about a trip to Ireland - and would like to hear from others on things that one MUST SEE!  And, this will give me an opportunity to see if anyone is reading these postings!  :>)



D. Holmes Sept. 14, 2004

      

Will of James Wallis, 1793-1866

I received this document in August, 2004.  The document, as I received it, was three legal sized pages, and appeared to be a transcribed 'copy' of the will. I scanned the document and forwarded the OCR (optical character recognition) scan to Microsoft Word for editing.  The copy that I have is one long ongoing 'sentence' with no punctuation and no indenting.  It has been modified from that form in an effort to make it more readable.  No spellings have been changed!

As you may recall, James Wallis was the father of Susan Wallis who married George Evans Tener, the oldest son of John Kinley Tener I. (TBB Page 30 and 31) In addition, John's daughter Eliza married John Frost, and their daughter Eliza Frost married Hampden E. Tener I, the youngest son of John Kinley Tener I. (TBB Pg. 30 and 32):

This is the Last Will and Testament of me James Wallis of Nottingham Park in the County of Nottingham.

Gentleman, I direct the payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses as soon as conveniently may be after my decease. I give and bequeath all my household goods and furniture - plate linen china and wearing apparel (but not my books), to my dear wife Sarah Wallis absolutely. I also give and bequeath to my said wife an annuity of Three hundred pounds per annum for and during her life to be paid to her by equal quarterly payments the first payment to be made at the expiration of three calendar months from my decease and to be charged and chargeable upon my seven Warehouses in Mary Gate and Kaye's Walk, Nottingham in exoneration of my other real and personal estate and with the usual powers of entry and distress and perception of rents in case of the said annuity being at any time more than twenty eight days in arrear.

I also direct that my said wife shall have the privilege of occupying the house in which I now live rent free for twelve months next after my decease.

I give to my daughter Hephzibah Macrum the small farm of about thirty acres more or less belonging to me and situate in the parish of Killyman, in the Barony of Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland, to hold to my said daughter her heirs and assigns forever for her sole and separate use and benefit independent of the debts control and engagements of her present or any future husband and (subject only to the gifts and bequests aforesaid).

I give devise and bequeath all my lands houses and real estate whatsoever and wheresoever my two leasehold houses in Nottingham Park aforesaid and all other the residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects unto Edmund Manfull of Nottingham aforesaid Upholsterer; my son in law Robert Black of 56 Hill Street, Knightsbridge, London; Draper Thomas Underwood of Carrington, near Nottingham. Gentleman and my son John Wallis their heirs executors administrators end assigns upon the trusts nevertheless and for the intents and purposes following that is to say Upon trust with all convenient speed after my decease to sell get in and convert into money all such part of the residue of my personal estate and effects as shall not be then already satisfactorily invested. And to receive the rents of my said real estate and of my said leasehold property and with and out of the rents of my said property in Mary Gate and Kaye's Walk to pay the said annuity hereinbefore bequeathed to my said wife during her life And to pay the rents of my seventeen houses in Eldon Street, Byron Street, Sneinton Road at New Sneinton near Nottingham after deducting repairs and expenses to or permit the same to be received by my daughter Eliza Frost during her life for her sole and separate use independent of the debts control or engagements of any husband whom she may hereafter marry, and her receipts alone whether covert or sole to be good and sufficient discharges for the same but without power of anticipation or alienation thereof. And as to and concernining the remaining proceeds of my said personal estate and effects and the interest thereof.

And also as to and concerning the remainder of the rents of my real and leasehold estates which shall remain after the appropriations aforesaid and other the income of my will and personal estates in the first place to make up thereout the said annuity of three hundred pounds per annum to my said wife in case, at any time hereafter the rents of the property hereinbefore charged therewith should be insufficient to pay the same and subject thereto In trust to lay by and accumulate the same rents and income during my said wife's life and for that purpose to invest the same from time to time at interest upon government or real securities or debentures of first class Railway or other Companies authorized by Act of Parliament in England varying altering and transposing all or any of such investments as to them my said trustees shall seem expedient. And from and after my said wife's decease Upon trust with all convenient speed to sell and dispose of all my said real and leasehold estates (except those in which a life interest hath been given to the said Eliza Frost as aforesaid) either together or in lots and either by public auction or private contract for the best prices that can reasonably be obtained for the same and to convey and assign the same when sold unto the purchaser or purchasers thereof his her or their heirs executors administrators and assigns and also to call in and convert into money all the then accumulations and investments of my said other estate and effects and with and out of the proceeds thereof in the first place to pay the following legacies to my children hereinafter named videlicet:

To my son Caleb Wallis five hundred and twenty pounds;

To my daughter Sarah Ann, the wife of the said Robert Black, one thousand seven hundred pounds;

To my daughter Susan, the wife of George Tener, one thousand six hundred pounds.
My executors however satisfying thereout or taking care that my estate is discharged from the two hundred pounds for which I have given security for the said George Tener to the said Robert Black;

To my daughter Priscilla, the wife of Walter Ladbrook, one thousand seven hundred pounds

To my son Thomas Steadman Wallis one thousand pounds my executors however satisfying thereout or taking care that my estate is discharged from the security which I have given for my said son to the Huddersfield Banking Company;

And to my said son John Wallis one thousand seven hundred pounds my executors however deducting thereout and out of the other bequests hereby made to him in the amount which shall be due from him to me at my decease upon his promissory notes at various dates extending up to the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty nine and also satisfying or taking care that my estate is discharged from the security of one thousand two hundred pounds which I have given for him to clients of Messieurs Percy Goodall and Brown Solicitors, Nottingham for which they hold the title deeds of my said property in Nottingham Park and that such deeds shall be given up to my said executors.

And as to and concerning all the residue and remainder of my said real and personal estate and effects and the proceeds thereof after payment of the bequests aforesaid Upon trust to pay and divide the same unto and amongst my children Hephzibah Macrum, Caleb Wallis, Sarah Ann Black, Susan Tener, Priscilla Ladbrook, Thomas Steadman Wallis, and John Wallis or such of them as shall be then living in equal shares and proportions the issue of any of them who may have died leaving issue representing and taking their respective parents shares equally amongst them if more than one.

And as to and concerning the seventeen houses at New Sneinton hereinbefore devised to my said daughter Eliza Frost during her life upon trust at her decease to sell and dispose of the same in like manner as hereinbefore is directed with regard to my other real estate and to divide the proceeds thereof unto and equally amongst all the children of the said Eliza Frost who shall be living at her death and the issue of any who may be then deceased representing and taking equally amongst them if more than one, the share to which their parent would have been entitled if living.
And my mind and Will is that all legacies and shares hereby bequeathed by me to my married daughters shall be paid to them or applied as they respectively may direct for their respective sole and separate use independent of the debts control or engagements of their respective husbands and that the receipts of my said daughters alone shall notwithstanding coverture be good and sufficient discharges for the same but without power of anticipation or alienation thereof.

And also that in every case when the recipients of bequests under this my Will shall be infants under the age of twenty one years my trustees shall have full power to apply the interest and income of their expectant legacies and shares for or towards their respective maintenance, education and advancement in the world during minority.

I also give and bequeath to each of them, the said Edmund Manfull and Thomas Underwood, the sum of fifty pounds for his trouble in executing the trust of this my Will to be paid within twelve months next after my death. I authorize the trustees for the time being of this my Will to satisfy any debts claimed to be owing by me or my estate and any liabilities to which I or my estate may be alleged to be subject upon any evidence which they or he shall think sufficient and to accept any composition or security for any debt and to allow such time for payment (either with or without taking security) as to then or him shall seem fit. And also to compromise or submit to arbitration and settle all accounts and matters belonging or relating to my estate and generally to act in regard thereto as they or he shall think expedient without being responsible for any loss occasioned thereby. 

And I hereby Declare that the receipts of the trustees or trustee for the time being acting in the execution of the trusts hereof for the purchase moneys of real estates sold and for all other moneys paid to them or him in pursuance hereof or of any of the trusts hereof shall be good and sufficient discharges for the same and shall effectually discharge the purchasers or other persons paying the same therefrom and from being concerned to see to the application or answerable for any misapplication thereof.

And I hereby declare that if the said trustees hereby appointed or any of them or any trustees or trustee to be appointed as hereinafter provided shall die or be desirous of being discharged from his office of trustee or shall refuse or become incapable to act then and so often as the same shall happen the said trustees or trustee (and for this purpose any retiring trustee shall be considered a trustee) may appoint any other fit person or persons to be a trustee or trustees in the place of the trustees or trustee so dying or desiring to be discharged or refusing or becoming incapable to act. And upon every such appointment, the said trust premises shall be so transferred that the same may become vested in the new trustee or trustees jointly with the surviving or continuing trustee or trustees or solely as the case may require and every such new trustee shall (both before and after the said premises shall have become so vested) have the same powers authorities and discretions as if he had been hereby originally appointed a trustee.  And I declare that the trustees for the tine being of this my Will shall be chargeable only with such moneys as they shall respectively actually receive and not for moneys received under receipts in which they shall join for conformity only and that they shall not be answerable the one for the other of them nor for any insufficiency or deficiency of any stock or securities whereon my estate or any part of it nay be invested, nor otherwise for involuntary losses. And that they shall and nay reimburse themselves and each other out of the moneys which shall come to their hands under the trusts aforesaid all costs, damages and expenses whatsoever incurred in the execution of the trusts aforesaid, or in any wise in relation thereto.

Lastly, I appoint the said Edmund Manfull, Robert Black, Thomas Underwood and John Wallis joint executors of this my Will and devise to then their heirs and assigns all mortgaged and trust estates now vested in me upon the trusts, and subject to the equities affecting the same respectively.

In Witness whereof, I, the said James Wallis the Testator, have to this my last Will and Testament contained on this and the three proceeding sheets of paper, set ny hand to each sheet thereof, this eighteenth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and sixty six. James Wallis Signed and published by the said Testator James Wallis as his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us both present at the same time who subscribe and attest the sane in his presence and in the presence of each other - Arthur Wells Atty Nottm - Arthur Alliott Wells L.L.D. Atty Nottingham.




D. Holmes, Sept. 2, 2004