Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kendall, John (1726-1815)
KENDALL, JOHN (1726–1815), quaker, son of a printer and bookseller, was born and probably educated at Colchester. His parents belonged to the Society of Friends, which from the rise of the body had numbered large congregations and two meeting-houses in that town. Kendall early showed marks of piety, and when twenty-four started on his first tour of religious visits to the north of England and Scotland. Two years later (in July 1752) he set out for Holland, and revisited that country four times later. A colony of Friends, among the founders of which were the father and mother of William Sewel [q. v.], the quaker historian, was then established in Amsterdam and in the neighbouring town of Twisk, and Kendall, who became proficient in the Dutch language, was always welcomed at both places.
Kendall's father died early, and the charge of his mother, his five brothers, and the business to which he succeeded devolved upon him, and for some years occupied him fully. He prospered, and in 1764 he married. His time and money were thenceforth spent in religious visits to various towns, in philanthropic pursuits, and in study. He and his wife together founded Kendall's almshouses at Colchester in 1791 for eight poor widows; the rules and original minutes are in his own handwriting, and the former were printed. The charity has been augmented since Kendall's death. Another of his benefactions at Colchester, Kendall's Trust, provided for the distribution of a certain number of religious books every year. Under Kendall's Foundation, a third example of his beneficence at Colchester, six poor boys were to receive a free education, and for the use of the master and assistants he left a valuable library, which, consisting chiefly of Greek, Latin, and Dutch books, proved unserviceable, and was by consent of the charity commissioners sold in 1865 for the benefit of the school.
Kendall's kindly disposition and personal influence caused him to be received with courtesy wherever he went. It is said that he attended the theatre in his native town one Saturday night, at the commencement of the performance, and persuaded both actors and audience to quietly disperse. He more than once visited George III and Queen Charlotte, and when the Prince of Wales was with his regiment in Colchester, he called on Kendall at his father's request. Kendall attended the yearly meeting held in London for more than sixty years. He died at Colchester 27 Jan. 1815, and was buried in the Friends' burial-ground there on 3 Feb. A road in Colchester still bears his name.
Kendall's wife, Ann, daughter of Philip Havens, banker, of Colchester, died in 1802, leaving no children.
Kendall's chief literary work was his ‘Abstract of the Bible’ (2 vols. 1800), which was at one time largely used in the families and schools of Friends and others.
Other of his works are: 1. ‘Poems on Religious Subjects, selected from various Authors,’ pt. i. 1775; pt. ii. 1803; pt. iii. 1807. 2. ‘Some Principles and Precepts of the Christian Religion explained, by way of Question and Answer, for the use of Children,’ London, 24mo, 1783. 3. ‘The Life of Thomas Story, carefully abridged,’ London, 1786. 4. ‘Piety Promoted, in Brief Memorials of the Virtuous Lives, Services, and Dying Sayings of some of the People called Quakers, formerly published in eight parts, now revised by John Kendall, and placed in the order of time,’ 3 vols. London, 1789. 5. ‘A Friendly Address to my Neighbours of the Town of Colchester, and others whom it may concern. Occasioned by Considerations of the Value of Time and the Advantages of a Right Improvement of it’ [no place], 1790; reprinted, London, 1791. 6. ‘Remarks on the Prevailing Custom of Attending Stage Entertainments; also on the Present Taste for Reading Romances and Novels; and on some other Customs,’ London, 1794. 7. ‘Letters of Isaac Penington, now first published from MS. copies. To which are added other Letters by Stephen Crisp,’ &c., London, 1796. 8. ‘Extracts from the Writings of Francis Fénelon, Archbishop of Cambray, with some Memoirs of his Life; to which are added Letters expressive of Love and Friendship, the writer not known,’ London, 1797. 9. ‘Letters on Religious Subjects, written by divers Friends deceased, now first published,’ London, 1802; vol. ii. London, 1805. 10. ‘An Abstract of “The Imitation of Christ,” by Thomas à Kempis, with some Account of the Author,’ 1804.
After his death were published: ‘Memoirs of the Life and Religious Experience of John Kendall’ [containing a short autobiographical sketch and a number of letters], London, 1815; and in 1826, ‘Gleanings, Moral and Religious, from various Authors, Latin and English,’ selected, with preface by Luke Howard (1772–1864) [q. v.], from Kendall's manuscript collections, of which he left thirteen volumes for publication at the discretion of his executors.
[Memoirs and Letters, London, 1815; Gent. Mag. vol. lxxxv. pt. i. p. 376; Preface to Gleanings, Moral and Religious; Smith's Catalogue of Friends' Books; Records of Colchester Monthly Meeting; Kendall's Legacy, Essex Quarterly Meeting Books.]