Rev John and Christian Mitford - their other son Mitford had (we think) William M1935 and he had a son Thomas bap. at Warkworth in 1780. Warkworth is extremely close to Alnwick.

Looking at the Parish map for Northumberland, the surrounding parishes to Alnwick are:
•Shilbottle (Rev. John Ladyman was vicar here)
•Warkworth, Long Horsley where William (M1935) married Jane Crissop in 1769.
•Widdrington is adjoining Long Horsley where William and Jane Crissop's children were born.
Widdrington in fact, belongs to the parish of Woodhorn where some of the children of Rev. John and Christian Mitford were born.

It is also extremely close to Lucker where the children of Thomas Laidman (N1005) were baptised. Going very slightly further down there is Mitford, Morpeth and Stannington - so it does look a real possibility that this John is the same John. I can't see a likely marriage or any other possible children for him (Brenda Harper Hopkins, April 2001).

It is also quite possible that this Elizabeth Laidman was the creator of the wonderful (wonderful because of the serendipity with which it was found, for it is otherwise rather crude work) sampler in possession of Nicholas Michael, described as: A mid-eighteenth century English sampler in monochrome, with the alphabet in uppercase (twice) and lowercase, some crowns, and the text: Behold the Daughter of / Innocence how beauti- / ful is the mildness of her / countenence. ELIZ. LAIDMAN / APRIL 1760

The text is apparently from The Whole Duty of a Woman; or, A Guide to the Female Sex, from the Age of Sixteen to Sixty, &c., first published in 1753, where the author was simply listed as “A Lady.” In fact, the author was William Kenrick (1725?-1779), English novelist, playwright, and founder of the book review digest The London Review. Kenrick was described by Paul Fussell in PMLA (June 1951) as “one of London’s most despised, drunken, and morally degenerate hack writers in the later eighteenth century.” A book with the same title was published by John Gwillim in 1695, but the passage does not appear in it, and it may well have been an addition by Kenrick. The complete poem reads:

Modesty

Behold the daughter of innocence!
How beautiful is the mildness of her countenance!
How lovely is the diffidence of her looks!
Her cheek is dyed with the deep crimson of the rose; her eye is placid and serene, and the gentleness of her speech is as the melting softness of the flute.
Her smiles are as the enlivening rays of the sun; the beauty of her presence as the silver light of the moon.
Her attire is simple; her feet treadeth with caution, and she feareth to give offence.
The young and the old are enamoured with her sweetness; she carrieth her own commendation.
She speaketh not the first in the conversation of woman, neither is her tongue heard among her companions.
She turnest not her head to gaze after the steps of men, she enquireth not of them whither they are going.
She giveth not her opinion unasked, nor stoppeth her ears to that of another.
She frequenteth not the public haunts of men, she enquireth not after the knowledge improper for her condition.
So becoming is the behavior of modesty, so lovely among the daughters of women! Is there any who hath forgotten to blush, who playeth with the wanton glances of her eyes, who replenish the cup when the toast goes round, and despiseth the meekness of her sister. Shame shall overtake her in the prime of her days, and the years of her widowhood shall be infamous as they are many.

Grateful thanks are due to Em-Li’s & The Linen Sampler, Dunn, NC 28335, USA, who were kind enough to allow me to obtain the original sampler in 2000. Their website is <www.emlis.com> where a kit for sewing a reproduction of this sampler may be obtained.

On 16 October 2003 Brian Snaith informed me that Elizabeth’s grandparents, Thomas and Isabella Snaith, died ca 1700 and are quoted as being buried in Bowes, both Quakers. The search continues....