William Seward - the Cusop Connection

Have you discovered the history of William Seward who is buried in Cusop churchyard? There is an informative booklet (available in the church) called 'The Story of William Seward (1702-1740). From stockbroker to field-preacher' by John Isherwood that is worth looking at if you want to know more than just that he was known as a “Christian Martyr”. Here are some brief extracts.

On the south east side of St Mary's church, Cusop, under the great yews, is buried the body of William Seward of Badsey, Worcestershire, a wealthy stockbroker of South Sea House in London, turned lay preacher.

Seward the Field Preacher

Following his desire to promote the Calvinist cause, Seward made a number of journeys with lay preacher Howell Harris from Trefecca through the summer and into the autumn of 1740 which are recorded in his unpublished diaries. Some of these events were met with hostile crowds. When they were preaching in Caerleon for example on September 9th, Seward wrote: "- at length I was struck with a stone, brickbat, or some other hard substance upon my right eye which caused so much anguish that I was forced to go away to the inn."

A few days later they met more hostility in Monmouth. Stones, plums, walnuts, dirt and a dead dog were hurled their way and Seward was struck again. Following further journeys into Wales, Seward's journal refers to the fear of trouble expected if he and Harris should go into Hay-on-Wye; even fireworks (squibs) were prepared for them there it seems. Hay at this time was noted for crowd disturbances, yet the next day Seward was to go there without Harris. His journal entry for Wednesday 15th October records that he was setting out on horseback for Hay from Trefecca.

When he arrived on Black Lion Green in Hay, after just a few minutes of praying, singing and preaching, the vicar of St Mary's Hay, who was also Rector of St Mary's Cusop, Rev Henry Gwylym, with several other Justices of the Peace and other clergymen, drew near and demanded Seward's silence. By doing so they stirred up the crowd which had gathered against Seward.

How did Seward die?

There are some stories that claim that he died there on Black Lion Green, stoned to death as a martyr but this is shown to be unfounded. Seward wrote the account in his journal on that day of his arrival in Hay about the confrontation he had in Hay with the clergy and the magistrates. On the 17th October Harris visited Upper Broadmeadow Farm in Cusop, which was known to be an early Methodist Society meeting place and on the 20th October he drew up his will, 2 days before he died.

For months before his death, Seward had been eating frugally, sleeping little and all in a state of extreme excitement as he fulfilled his role as substitute preacher for the dynamic George Whitfield. The eye damaged a month earlier in Caerleon may well have become infected and added to his debility. It is believed that Seward found refuge at Upper Broadmeadow Farm and died there, with the nearest parish church for his burial being Cusop.

Was he really buried in an unmarked grave which nearly fifty years later, was given an inscription and the wrong year of his death (1742), as engraved on the stone. It is a mystery as to why this would be, as he was from a wealthy family.

There is a lot more information in the booklet if you are interested in finding out more.