Lightly esteemed by men : The last years of Sarah Mallet, one of Mr. Wesley's female preachers

Mallet, Sarah (Mrs. Boyce) (1764-1846), a native of Loddon, Norfolk, [England] who became a member of the Methodist Society there in her teens. In her early twenties, she began 'preaching' whilst apparently unconscious, suffering from a series of fits. Shortly after this, the fits ceased, but she continued to preach, first in the preaching-house in Long Stratton controlled by her uncle, and then throughout South Norfolk . She met JW [John Wesley] three months later; he was convinced of her call to preach and over the closing years of his life they corresponded frequently. In his letters JW advised her about her preaching style, and gave her encouragement and support (including an offer of financial help to assist her as she 'travelled up and down'). With the approval of JW and the Conference of 1787 she was given written authorization to preach-which no other woman received. After the death of JW she married Thomas Boyce, a Local Preacher, in 1793. She continued preaching after the 1803 Conference prohibition of female preaching, and the death of her husband in 1813. In her latter years she and Martha Grigson were companions, travelling together to preach. She preached widely throughout East Anglia, and also in London and Binningham. Her last recorded service was in October 1841 , representing at least 55 years preaching.