S. Deacon

Deacon, Samuel, born 1746, at Ratby, in Leicestershire, d. 1816 at Barton, near Market Bosworth, in the same county. He was son of Samuel Deacon, sen., one of the first preachers of the Leicestershire General Baptists; and half brother to John Deacon (q.v.) of Leicester. In 1771, S. Deacon settled at Barton, a small agricultural village, where, however, he presently established a considerable business as clock and watchmaker, and became well known for his mechanical skill. In 1779 he was invited to assist his father in ministering to the cluster of village congregations of General Baptists, of which Barton was the centre. He was popular and useful as a preacher, and continued minister of this church 37 years, receiving no pecuniary remuneration, but himself contributing liberally to various religious enterprises. In 1785 he published a volume entitled, A New Composition of Hymns & Poems chiefly on Divine Subjects; designed for the Amusement and Edification of Christians of all Denominations, more particularly them of the Baptist persuasion, Leicester: printed for the author by George Ireland. It contained 63 hymns, and 20 meditations. Subsequent editions were considerably enlarged, and the collection became known as the Barton Hymns, S. Deacon's style is very homely, and of his numerous hymns, "0 who can comprehend the rest" (Heaven), and "Ye heavy-laden souls" (Invitation), represent most, if not all, now in common use S. Deacon was also the author of several religious books, some very popular in their day, and most of them in metre, but they do not contain any of his hymns. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)