Orphaned in infancy, Samuel Wesley, the son and grandson of clergy, was the father of John Wesley. In his youth, he attended Newington Green, a private school for dissenters in preparation for become a clergy in that movement. At the private school, he met school mate Daniel Defoe, who later was to write the novels Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders.

   Later Samuel converted to the Church of England while at Oxford. He served the parish of Epworth in Lincolnshire for almost 40 years. John Wesley was born at Epworth and grew up there. Samuel published a commentary on Job. Samuel could not manage money well and angered his parishioners with his strictness.

Samuel Wesley, father of John Wesley

   Samuel Wesley was a poet and a hymn writer, but most of his work was lost in the fire at Epworth. One hymn that was not burned, "Behold the Savior of Mankind," has been preserved in Methodist hymnbooks. He dropped the "t" from the Wesley name, making it Wesley.

When John Wesley was shut out of preaching