J. Brettell

Brettell, Jacob, son of an Unitarian Minister, born at Gainsborough, April 16, 1793. In 1814 he entered upon the pastorate of an Unitarian congregation at Cockey Moor (now Ainsworth), Bolton, Lancashire; and in 1816 upon that of Rotherham, Yorkshire. The latter charge he held until 1859, when he retired from active work. He died at Rotherham, Jan. 12, 1862. In addition to minor pieces contributed to various newspapers, &c, he published:—
(1) The Country Minister; A Poem in four Cantos, with other Poems, Lond., 1821; (2) Sketches in Verse from the Historical Books of the Old Testament, Lond., 1828.
In 1837 Mr. Brettell contributed 16 hymns to Beard's Collection. With one or two exceptions, these have fallen out of use. The best known, but by no means the best hymn; is "The last full wain is on the road," Harcet, given in Dr. Martineau's Hymns, 1873. Another is, "He lived, as none but He has lived" (Life of Jesus). In compiling a volume of sacred poems these hymns, from their poetic character, might be consulted with advantage.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)