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Compliments of Celia Renshaw in Chesterfield UK

Extracted from the Derby & Chesterfield Reporter, 21 Aug 1828
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DEATHS - On Tuesday morning, Mr. John HALLAM, whose death was supposed
to have been accelerated by an accident he met with, a few weeks
since.  He was always averse to mentioning his own age, but sometime
since he told a family where he visited, that he was in his 96th year,
this is confirmed by one of his early and intimate friends who was
born in 1736, and who always said Mr. HALLAM was three or four years
older than he.  Some years since, the late Mr. MACCONNELL, a young and
promising artist, of Derby, obtained, almost by stealth, a good
likeness of Mr. H., from which he published an engraving.  He was
extensively known and much respected in this town and neighbourhood.
In the earlier days of Methodism, he attached himself to the
celebrated leader of that sect.  Every Monday he was in Derby to
attend the methodistic preaching at five o'clock in the morning.
Sometimes the minister who had preached in Derby, on the previous
evening, at other times Mr. DOBBISON and occasionally Mr. HALLAM
himself preached at that early hour at No. 32, Full Street.  He was
also in the habit of preaching in several villages in the
neighbourhood, and not unfrequently out of doors, where he would
continue speaking until midnight, even after every one of his hearers
had withdrawn.  Many little anecdotes are still in circulation, of the
tricks the rude rustics used to play upon him.  Fifty, or sixty years
since he was in the habit of attending the Methodist Conferences, at
London, Manchester, &c.  But it does not appear that he was ever
exclusively connected with that body, and for many years past he was
accustomed to attend the worship of the Established Church.  His
disposition was amiable, and his conduct inoffensive, but his person
and appearance was singular and his habits eccentric.  It was
difficult, if not impossible, to learn his religious opinions, and his
practice of always placing himself in some very conspicuous situation
at Church, had the appearance of ostentation.  The benevolence of his
disposition led him for many years to visit prisoners, especially such
as were under sentence of death.  Much of his time was employed in
attending the poor and afflicted, to whose relief he contributed not
only to the utmost extent of his own limited means, but also by
soliciting assistance from the humane and affluent.  He was fond of
reading, and was sure to be present at any Scientific Lecture that was
delivered in Derby.  But could scarcely be said to have, or at least
to avow, any opinion of his own on any subject.  The habitual
evasiveness of his answers to any question, is most exactly described
by COWPER's Character of Dubious in this Poem on Conversation.   His
abstemious habits, and eccentric appearance engaged considerable
attention, especially amongst young people, and villagers where he was
known.  But the courteousness of his manners and his kind attention to
children and to the afflicted poor, never failed to procure for him a
cordial welcome.
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*** Added: 11-March-2012 ***