Author: Small, James
Biography:
SMALL, James (1759-1834: “Memoir”)
His obituary stated that he was born at Taunton in 1759 but the author had no details of his parentage or education until he was sent at the age of 21 to a preparatory institution for the dissenting ministry at Ottery St. Mary, Devon. There he also received a classical education before proceeding to Taunton Academy. He remained there for four years and then moved to become the independent minister at Axminster, Devon. In 1793, he was advertising for pupils for his boarding-school and offered a wide curriculum including Italian book-keeping, stenography, and astronomy. In 1796, on the removal of the Western Academy from Taunton, he became the master and it transferred its pupils, usually no more than six, to Axminster. He continued for over thirty years as master until his retirement in 1829. He married first Martha Rooker, daughter of Rev. James Rooker (1728-80), on 21 Dec. 1786 at Bridport, Dorset. They had at least three children, two of whom survived him. Her date of death is not known. He then married Sarah Whitty on 28 Oct. 1798 at Axminster. They had a further daughter. She was not mentioned in his will so probably predeceased him, but the date is not yet known. He died on 22 Jan. 1834 and was buried at Axminister. He left a small estate to his children and extended family. In addition to his hymns, he published a few occasional sermons. His Sermons to Young People, referred to on the title-page of Three Hundred Hymns, has not been located. (“Memoir,” Evangelical Magazine July 1834, 265-69; “Removal of the Western Academy from Axminster to Exeter,” Evangelical Magazine Mar. 1829, 158-9; Salisbury and Winchester Journal 27 Jan. 1834; GM Mar. 1834, 340; Bath Chronicle 3 Jan. 1793; Dissenting Academies Online: dissacad.english.qmul.ac.uk) AA