Summersgill, Mary Ann (nee Jefferson) (1841-1919)

A Veteran Missionary Collector

Transcription of ‘Sketch’ in the Christian Messenger

For more than forty years this sunny-faced and kind-hearted mother in Israel “has done what she could” as a collector for our Missionary Fund. Across meadows and along lanes in the first quarter of the year, amid wind, rain, and snow, she has never failed to make her personal appeal in Snainton and adjacent villages for the spread of the Gospel among the benighted heathen.

Mrs Summersgill carries such a radiant smile, and the love of the evangel so runs in her speech that it is no wonder that for nearly half a century she has been one of the largest collectors for the African Fund. For nearly the same period she has shown hospitality to the Lord’s prophets and certain it is that in her house they have not lacked any good thing. Her big mother heart and the silvery touch of time upon her constrain us to address her as “Granny Summersgill,” and this name is like ointment poured forth upon all who know her.

You will be pleased to hear that “Granny” leads a class, and is an excellent sister of both Martha and Mary to all the preachers.

The Scarborough First Circuit fervently hopes that she with her worthy husband may be long spared to us, and when her work is done, we are confident her Master will say, “Inasmuch as ye did it for the least of these ye did it for Me.”

J.R.

Family and other information

The subject of this sketch was born Mary Ann Jefferson in 1841 at Snainton, Yorkshire, to parents Thomas and Jane. Thomas was a market gardener.

After working as a domestic servant, Mary married Harker Summersgill (1839-1919), a farmer, on 29 November 1863 at Brompton by Sawdon, Yorkshire. Brompton is a little village about 1 mile east of Snainton. Harker and Mary were not blessed with children.

Mary died shortly after her husband in the summer of 1919 in the Malton Registration District, Yorkshire.

References

Christian Messenger 1908/332

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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