Pearson (nee Shaw), Anne (1843-1883)

Anne Shaw married Rev. Alfred Rhodes Pearson with whom she had at least three children:  a daughter who died soon after her mother and two surviving children:
Mary Ann G. Pearson (1868-)  and John Alfred Shaw Pearson (1870-1950).

Her life story was told by her husband in this obituary published in the Methodist New Connexion Magazine for 1884, pp144-146.

ANNE PEARSON, OF BATLEY.
The subject of this brief notice was the eldest daughter of John and Mary Ann Shaw, of Micklehurst, Mossley and was born March 10, 1843. Her parents were closely identified with our Church at Mossley for a period extending over thirty-five years; her father sustaining the position of leader for more than twenty years and the office of holding the honourable place of trust with commendable fidelity and acceptance to the people and finished his career of usefulness and entered into the higher service of heaven in February, 1877.
Under the favourable influences associated with a religious home, Anne was early in life brought to a saving acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ. The circumstances of her conversion are not known. During the years of her girlhood her father’s house—situated about a mile from our chapel at Mossley and in the midst of a little population at that time altogether unsupplied with any of the ordinances of religion—was opened for the preaching of the Gospel and at the close of the service a class-meeting was held, conducted frequently by the minister. Here Anne was brought into direct contact with religious influences; and under the ministry of the Rev. C. J. Donald and others, her heart was opened for the reception of the truth. But the blessed change in the centre of her spiritual life was effected so quietly as to be almost imperceptible. “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation,” received a beautiful illustration.
There was a silent sowing and germination of the seed of eternal truth; the gentle influences of the Holy Spirit, falling like the dew or the summer rain, producing an unobtrusive piety of heart and anunobtrusive usefulness of life.
When about the age of fourteen years she was sent to the school—at that time kept by the Rev. T. Allin, at Altrincham—and there her religious life was fostered and promoted under the godly example and high spiritual excellence of Mr. Allin. On her return to her home she became at once a member of our Church at Mossley and entered theSunday-school as a teacher, employed herself usefully in connection with the ladies’ sewing meetings and took an active part in the very successful bazaar which was held in the year 1865.
The labours she expended in the interests of the Church and Sunday-school were, however, so far engrossed her attention of a laborious time school teaching, that she was constrained to relinquish her connection with the latter. She was fully appreciated and as to occasion she was a daughter and a sister were faithfully and cheerfully discharged. Obedience and filial love were shown to the latter in almost motherly care for many years. She possessed and the spirit of untiring industry she manifested, rendered her of great service at home andconstituted one of the most prominent features of her character. On September 19, 1866, she was married to the Rev. A. R. Pearson and thus entered on a sphere of life congenial to her own tastes and presenting opportunities for usefulness in the connection to which she had belonged and in the prosperity of which she took a deep interest.
Called to the circuit work of the Conference in 1867, she accompanied her husband to the Circuits in Batley, Macclesfield, York, Bradford,Halifax South and Batley—by her deep interest in everything relating to the progress of the Connexion, by whatever labour or sacrifice demanded by the cause and by her calm submission to the will of God in all circumstances and by her generosity in ministering to the help of those who were in difficulties, she secured a place in the affection of all among whom she laboured. Many who had received benefits at her hands have testified to the high estimate which they had been formedof her character and influence.
Possessed of a cheerful and sociable disposition and great energy of character, she was ever ready to cheer and to help. She was a woman of sound judgment and refined taste and combined in her character the qualities of a devoted wife and a mother. She was the light of her home. “She looketh well to the ways of her household andeateth not the bread of idleness.” In the ways of her household management she displayed peculiar tact and wisdom. In the ornament of her house an air of neatness and order prevailed, giving to her house a look of attractiveness and pleasant hospitality where visitors were welcomed and took pains to secure their comfort. There can be little wonder, indeed, that she made many friends and kept them.
In the early spring of 1881 she became aware of a slight physical ailment which, while not awakening any grave fears or anxieties, yet occasionally gave some little trouble. Attaching no importance to the symptoms, the disease, which might have been checked, was permitted to gain ground. Medical advice was not sought until the autumn of the year; and even then she placed herself under the advice of one of the most skilful professional men in the provinces. But, notwithstanding all the efforts used, there was no arresting the disease. Every means which could be suggested failed to avert that which so soon proved fatal.
With everything calculated to make her life happy she should be coveted. In the seeming midst of her days; with opportunities of usefulness in Church opening up; in the nurture and training of her children pressing upon her—it seemed hard that the gift of God to be cherished—she grappled with disease and endured with a true womanly heroism pain and suffering for wearisome months and years; and with a cheerful submission to the will of God, could and did all say, “It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good.”
A prolonged stay at Southport was tried and it was confidently hoped would be beneficial. At the end of the period, however, there was a relapse, a disappointment of hope and a manifest loss of strength. During the Conference held in Sheffield last year, she began to have serious doubts as to her ultimate recovery and for several weeks before her death looked upon the event as certain to occur at no distant date. As she had endured suffering without flinching, she faced death with the most perfect calmness and courage. To her, death had no terror. She could talk about it with the most perfect composure of mind, because she rested and was assured. “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”  It had cost her a struggle, doubtless, to bring her mind into this condition; for to leave her children and her husband was a severe trial; but in the strength of Divine grace she triumphed. On the morning of August 10, 1883, she passed gently away to be “with Christ, which is far better.”