Louisa Sewell Abbs
Encyclopedia
Louisa Sewell Abbs (1811–1872) was the wife of English missionary Rev. John Abbs who helped establish the lace
and embroidery
industry in Travancore
, Southern India
. She also founded and taught at girls boarding schools during her time in India
.
1811. Her father was Samuel Skipper b. 1781 in Sinfield
, Norfolk
and her mother was Amelia Powell b. 1782 in Beccles
, Suffolk
. Although born in Norwich, her earlier life was spent in the rural village of Forncett
. She attended a school run by a Unitarian
minister, whose family loaned her many books. She attended the Parish
Church
in the morning and the Unitarian chapel
in the afternoon. She became involved with the Church Missionary Auxiliary in Norwich
, She assisted in organising prayer meetings, collecting for the church and the Jewish community, visiting the poor and afflicted. She became a member of the tabernacle
and a Sabbath school
teacher, although she maintained her relationships with her Christian fellowship.
When she was 18 she offered her services as a teacher in the West Indies in one of the Church Mission Schools, The committee highly approved of her zeal
and piety
although they thought of her too young for such an important undertaking.
Louisa married Rev. John Abbs
15 Sep 1837 at the Princes Street Chapel, Norwich
, Norfolk
.
to Neyoor, Travancore
, India
. They departed England the same month; they arrived in Quilton, South India March 1838 and finally arrived at the mission in Neyoor 20 April 1838.
In Neyoor while her husband worked alongside Rev. Charles Mead, She educated local girls and cared for the sick and afflicted. She along with Mrs Mault, the wife of another missionary began to teach lace making and embroidery to the local girls. While in Neyoor she gave birth to 3 children, John Henry b. 1838, Amelia b.1841 and Louisa b.1842.
In 1845 Rev. John Abbs was transferred to Pareychaley, South Travancore where a bungalow had been erected for Rev. Abbs to found his own mission. Louisa followed her husband she established girls boarding and orphan schools and taught the native girls subjects including religious education, history, geography and elements of natural philosophy. She continued her work from Neyoor and began the Embroidery
Industry
in the Pareychaley. The workers were paid a reasonable salary and the surplus was used mostly in building up institutions intended for women.
While in Pareychaley she gave birth to two more children, Selina b.1847 and Charles b.1849.
In 1850 Louisa briefly returned to England with her children for their education. She spent two years at home, although her stay in England was short, there was noted increased interest in the Christian
Churches of Norwich
, Ladies sewing meetings were established and her presence was desired for the purpose of communicating missionary information. While back home she raised monies for her husband’s mission. Dr. Tidman, the foreign secretary stated at a public meeting in Norwich
that he considered her as far as his personal knowledge went, one of the best missionary wives in their service.
She returned to Travancore
leaving her children at missionary schools and with family. She continued her work with John until 1859 when they returned to Norwich
, England. Mrs Abbs’ work is still present today with the lace and embroidery industry still present in the district.
The Abbs Memorial Church in Parassala
was built in honour of her husband Rev. John Abbs.
. In 1861 she moved with her family to Kirkbymoorside
, Yorkshire
as her husband had been appointed the minister of The Bethel Chapel. In 1872 Louisa passed away at her home surrounded by her family. On her memorial card the words “She hath done what she could” are engraved. Louisa’s last words are noted after her youngest son asked whether she had anything to say to her family, she replied “Meet me in heaven” as stated in “Brief Memorial of Louisa Sewell Abbs” which was published by her youngest son C.J. Abbs of Dewsbury
in 1872 .
Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
and embroidery
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
industry in Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
, Southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. She also founded and taught at girls boarding schools during her time in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Background
She was born in NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
1811. Her father was Samuel Skipper b. 1781 in Sinfield
Sinfield
The following people have the surname Sinfield:*Alan Sinfield, British academic*Ian Sinfield, Scottish rugby player*Kevin Sinfield, English rugby player*Peter Sinfield, English songwriter*Reg Sinfield, English cricketer...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and her mother was Amelia Powell b. 1782 in Beccles
Beccles
Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 Blythburgh and A12 road, northeast of London as the crow flies, southeast of Norwich, and north northeast of the county town of...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. Although born in Norwich, her earlier life was spent in the rural village of Forncett
Forncett
Forncett is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 1,000 in 381 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of South Norfolk....
. She attended a school run by a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister, whose family loaned her many books. She attended the Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
Church
Church
In the Christian religion, a church building is a building or structure whose primary purpose is to facilitate the meeting of a church. Originally, Jewish Christians met in synagogues, such as the Cenacle, and in one another's homes, known as house churches...
in the morning and the Unitarian chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
in the afternoon. She became involved with the Church Missionary Auxiliary in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, She assisted in organising prayer meetings, collecting for the church and the Jewish community, visiting the poor and afflicted. She became a member of the tabernacle
Tabernacle
The Tabernacle , according to the Hebrew Torah/Old Testament, was the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan. Built to specifications revealed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, it accompanied the Israelites...
and a Sabbath school
Sabbath School
Sabbath School is a function of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Seventh Day Baptist and some other sabbatarian denominations.-Program Context:...
teacher, although she maintained her relationships with her Christian fellowship.
When she was 18 she offered her services as a teacher in the West Indies in one of the Church Mission Schools, The committee highly approved of her zeal
Zeal
Zeal may refer to:* Zeal, Zeal * Diligence, the theological virtue opposite to acedia.* Zealotry, excessive ideological zeal* Zeal , an internet directory* Kingdom of Zeal, a kingdom in the Chrono Trigger video game...
and piety
Piety
In spiritual terminology, piety is a virtue that can mean religious devotion, spirituality, or a combination of both. A common element in most conceptions of piety is humility.- Etymology :...
although they thought of her too young for such an important undertaking.
Louisa married Rev. John Abbs
John Abbs
Rev. John Abbs was an English missionary. Sent out by the London Missionary Society, he spent twenty-two years in Travancore, Southern India, a period rarely exceeded by European missionaries at that time...
15 Sep 1837 at the Princes Street Chapel, Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
Travancore, India
In October 1837 her husband was appointed by the London Missionary SocietyLondon Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
to Neyoor, Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They departed England the same month; they arrived in Quilton, South India March 1838 and finally arrived at the mission in Neyoor 20 April 1838.
In Neyoor while her husband worked alongside Rev. Charles Mead, She educated local girls and cared for the sick and afflicted. She along with Mrs Mault, the wife of another missionary began to teach lace making and embroidery to the local girls. While in Neyoor she gave birth to 3 children, John Henry b. 1838, Amelia b.1841 and Louisa b.1842.
In 1845 Rev. John Abbs was transferred to Pareychaley, South Travancore where a bungalow had been erected for Rev. Abbs to found his own mission. Louisa followed her husband she established girls boarding and orphan schools and taught the native girls subjects including religious education, history, geography and elements of natural philosophy. She continued her work from Neyoor and began the Embroidery
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
Industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
in the Pareychaley. The workers were paid a reasonable salary and the surplus was used mostly in building up institutions intended for women.
While in Pareychaley she gave birth to two more children, Selina b.1847 and Charles b.1849.
In 1850 Louisa briefly returned to England with her children for their education. She spent two years at home, although her stay in England was short, there was noted increased interest in the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Churches of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Ladies sewing meetings were established and her presence was desired for the purpose of communicating missionary information. While back home she raised monies for her husband’s mission. Dr. Tidman, the foreign secretary stated at a public meeting in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
that he considered her as far as his personal knowledge went, one of the best missionary wives in their service.
She returned to Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
leaving her children at missionary schools and with family. She continued her work with John until 1859 when they returned to Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, England. Mrs Abbs’ work is still present today with the lace and embroidery industry still present in the district.
The Abbs Memorial Church in Parassala
Parassala
Parassala is a small but busy town in India, at the the southern end of Kerala, bordering Tamil Nadu. Malayalam and Tamil language is spoken by the residents.-Parassala town:The name of Parassala became more popular after the rise of Prof. Parassala B...
was built in honour of her husband Rev. John Abbs.
Return to England
In 1859 Louisa returned to her home town of NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. In 1861 she moved with her family to Kirkbymoorside
Kirkbymoorside
Kirkbymoorside is a small market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England which lies approximately 25 miles north of York midway between Pickering and Helmsley, and has a population of approximately 3,000.-History:...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
as her husband had been appointed the minister of The Bethel Chapel. In 1872 Louisa passed away at her home surrounded by her family. On her memorial card the words “She hath done what she could” are engraved. Louisa’s last words are noted after her youngest son asked whether she had anything to say to her family, she replied “Meet me in heaven” as stated in “Brief Memorial of Louisa Sewell Abbs” which was published by her youngest son C.J. Abbs of Dewsbury
Dewsbury
Dewsbury is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Huddersfield and south of Leeds...
in 1872 .