Michael Longridge Esq of Sunderland (1757-1815)

Michael Longridge, fourth son of George (1723-1759) and Jane Longridge, was baptised at Sunderland 3rd August 1757. He settled at Hunter's Hall, Bishop Wearmouth, and died there 17th April 1815, aged 57,leaving two sons, Michael and George William, by his first wife, Elizabeth Bewick, who died 24th May 1789. His second wife, Jane, the widow of James Atkinson Esq, survived until 11th August 1849. The gravestones of Michael and Elizabeth Longridge stand within a railed space in Sunderland churchyard, originally enclosed by the Bewick family. Michael was a prosperous merchant and draper in Sunderland. He was a keen Methodist, joining the Wesleyan Society at the age of seventeen and remained loyal to his death. With other men of means he financed a new Methodist chapel in Sans Street, Sunderland and was the moving spirit in launching the Methodist Sunday School movement in the area. It is recorded that 'thousands of children lived to bless his memory'. His Sunday School was founded in 1786 and soon had seven hundred pupils. Later he was President of the Sunderland and Bishop Wearmouth Sunday Schools, which were operating six schools at the time of his death, with a total of 1483 children. These schools were especially for Children who could not get eduction from other sources; they were not only for religious instruction. It is noted that there were 125 woman in the Adult Literacy class in 1815, at the time of Michael's death. The above details appeared in the local Methodist journal, which describes him as 'our dear and respectable brother', which seems an appropriate title for this good man.