Family Lessons 162: Josiah Harrison

My 8th great-grandfather was Josiah Harrison whose life nearly spanned the entire eighteenth century. Born at Ellel near Cockerham, Lancashire, in 1705, he died at a place called Cleveley near Garstang in 1799. He was christened, married and buried at St Michael’s Church, Cockerham. I suspect he was a hardworking farmer who seldom left the vicinity of his home except to trade livestock and sell produce. If ‘Cleveley’ is Thonton-Cleveleys, which seems likely, then his life might have been a little more interesting for living by the sea. He had nine children, but six predeceased him, so a potentially boring life was punctuated by pain, which is worse than dullness.

Grandfather Harrison was presumably named after that great Biblical King, Josiah of Judah. As a young man he led a reformation of the land, sparking a revival of the worship of YHWH rather than the eastern idols which had been in vogue for several centuries. Although some criticise his movement as being short-lived and his own reign reduced by his desire to meddle in geopolitics, he is still worthy of commemoration.

Josiah of Judah and Josiah of Cleveleys appear rather different. One was famous and powerful, known the world over; the other a farmer and father, all but forgotten but for this blog and a few erstwhile researchers tracing back their lines. Yet a book I am reading, A Very Present Help, by Lt General Sir William Dobbie, the hero of the Siege of Malta, makes the point that God commends faithfulness in whatever capacity He finds it, rather than the excitement or glamour of the call. A humble grower of food and father of nine who lives a’right, fears the Lord and seeks to glorify His name, could well receive better commendation than pastors, missionaries, priests and kings. The more famous and influential will not be better regarded than the humble and diligent, if faithful they were in the particular task and sphere to which God had allocated them. We might not be called to reform nations or defend islands, but we can seek revival and reformation in our own families, homes and hearts.

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. Proverbs 12:24

A. D