Peculiar People - Conflict with
the law
Members of the Peculiar
People lived their lives within a strict interpretation of the
gospel.
The congregation did a lot of
good in their communities and normally would not break the law but
their valued their beliefs as God's Law and so much higher than the
civil law and this
brought them into conflict with the civil law.
This conflict came in two
main areas- Treatment of illness and service in the armed forces
Conscientious objectors in
World War One
A belief that human life was
scared was a central feature of the Peculiar Peoples belief.
Whilst a few young members
may have joined the armed services this became a real issue in 1916
when conscription was introduced.
There was a special meeting
of the Church Council who affirmed their views that human life is
sacred and so war and bloodshed was the work of Satan. The Council
did not forbid followers from joining up but made it clear that they
would support any member who became conscientious objectors.
Some members took employment
in agriculture or other exempted occupation whilst some joined the
armed services in areas such as medics where they would not be
called upon to take lives.
Some members refused to join
the armed services as their belief was that to have any part in the
war would be unchristian and many were convicted serving sentences
of hard labour in prisons.
At a time of great patriotism
the actions of these conscientious objectors caused negative
feelings against the Peculiar People movement.
The leaders of the movement
appealed against their conscription up to Kings Bench Division on
that basis that Ministers of many religions were exempt.
The court dismissed his
although accepting the movement as a religion they felt that
Ministers were self-appointed with no training and as such did not
qualify for the exemption. Most Elders of conscription age then
became conscientious objectors.
The Peculiar People was so
devout that they believed that some elders had the power of healing.
This power occurred by
prayer, anointing with oil and the laying of hands on the patient by
the Elder.
The patient would then be
healed by God acting through the hands of the Elder.
Members were so strong in
this belief that they felt no need to visit a Doctor or allow their
children to see a Doctor as they felt this would question their
belief in God
If a member died, this was
felt to be part of the wisdom of God and that their loved one would
be happy in heaven.
This belief quickly brought
them into conflict with the authorities especially where a child
died or became seriously ill with an illness that could have been
treated by a Doctor.
Some Specific Cases
Emily Watts in 1876
Other local cases included
Emily Watts who was born in 1875 to Frederick and Louisa Watts.
The family lived in
Tillingham where Frederick was an agricultural labourer and a member
of the Peculiar Peoples Church.
When aged 18 months Emily
contracted Whooping Cough.
The family prayed for Emily
to get better but did not call a Doctor.
Frederick was arrested and
appeared at Essex Lent Assize in March 1876.
After trial he was found not
guilty probably as the prosecution could not prove that a Doctor
would have prevented her death.
Lavinia Jane Dedman in 1884
Lavinia Dedman was born in
1883 to William and Charlotte Dedman.
William was a farm servant
who lived in The Street, Steeple and was a member of the Peculiar
Peoples Church in the village.
On 4 June 1884 baby Lavinia
became ill.
A fellow member of the
Peculiar Peoples Church called Mrs Everitt called and the baby was
given some, port, brandy and arrowroot.
This treatment failed to help
and an elder of the church was called in.
The Elder prayed for Lavinia
and then anointed her with oil and layed his hands on her.
Sadly Lavinia died on 12 June
1884.
As no medical aid had been
sought an investigation began which led to William Dedman appearing
at Essex Assize Court on 2 August 1884.
William Dedman pleaded not
guilty and led his own defence.
The local Doctor testified
that the child had died from an inflammation of the child's lung.
Had medical treatment been sought it was his opinion that the
child's life could have been saved or at least prolonged.
William Dedman said that he
believed that the Lord would answer the prayer of the Elder.
The defence made play of the
fact that the Elder was a carpenter by trade.
William Dedman then said that
he knew people who had been cured by the laying of hands by the
Elders and that of his 13 children 3 had died at the hands of a
medical Doctor.
The jury returned
guilty verdict but recommended mercy as they believed that Dedman
had acted from conscience.
Dedman was sentenced to one
month imprisonment without hard labour.
The Judge said that he hoped
that the sentence would stop other people from continuing in their
folly.
Silas Rush in 1887
Silas was born in 1879 to
James and Martha Rush to join his 3 yr old brother called Abiur.
In 1887 the Rush family lived
in a cottage in The Street, Steeple and were a member of the
Peculiar Peoples Church at Steeple.
James was an agricultural
labourer in Steeple like his father, John.
In July 1887 Silas contracted
measles and then suffered complications affecting his village.
Because of the medical views
the Doctor was not called to treat Silas.
Local village gossip caused
an enquiry which resulted in James appearing before Latchingdon
Magistrates Court on 6 August 1897 before Magistrates Rev Horward
and Mr G Parker May.
Dr Coombe, the local Doctor,
testified that the child had measles before the onset of Opthalma
which has brought total blindness to Silas. In Dr Coombes opinion
medical assistance to Silas may have prevented the blindness.
James Rush said that he did
not request medical assistance because he trusted in the Lord
according to his word.
The Chairman said that the
case was very cruel and sent Rush to prison for one month to serve
as hard labour.
After James release from
prison the family remained in Steeple adding a Daughter called
Minnie in 1893 and a son called John in 1890.
The census of 1891 records
Silas as 'nearly blind'
By 1901 Silas, now aged 20
was a carman for the miller at Mayland and by 1911 he was employed
as a carman to a coal merchant and was living back at Steeple with
his wife and 3 small children.
Silas died in 1938, aged 59,
and is buried at Steeple Congregational Church Burial ground.
Rush was comparatively lucky
in that as time went on many similar cases received much more severe
sentences.
Emily Chignall in 1895
Emily Chignall who was born
in 1885 to John and Maria Chignall. John was a well known resident
of Tillingham who worked as an agricultural labourer at Stowes Farm
.
The family were members of
the Peculiar People Church in the village.
On 31 August 1895 Emily
became ill with Diphtheria and although the laying of hands took
place Emily died without a Doctor being called.
The fate of John Chignall is
not recorded.
Click here to visit a page on
this site about the history of the Peculiar People Church
