A school teacher, Band and Class leader in Bristol. Susan Massingarb married James Designe at St Mary's church, Whittlesey, in 1730. Neither of their baptisms have been traced, but it is thought that they were members of the French Protestant congregation at Thorney. Following their marriage they moved to Bristol, where their daughter, Parthenia, was baptised at Temple Church on 14 April 1734. It is not known if they had any other children.

Susannah was impressed by the preaching first of George Whitefield and then of John Wesley, resulting in her joining one of the Methodist societies in Bristol. John recorded taking tea and singing hymns at her house on 9 June 1739. On 12 August 1741 Susannah write to John that she had heard that Sister Ryan was leaving the school in the Horse Fair and that Sister Somerell had declined taking it on. Susannah was offering to take on the school because her own school was declining, which she attributed to parents persecuting the Methodists.

On 18 March 1742 Susannah wrote her conversion testimony to Charles Wesley, at his request. This letter survives in the John Rylands Research Institute and Library.

On 29 August 1746 John Wesley recorded a conversation with Sarah Farley, in which Sarah recounted an incident involing Susannah which had taken place on 16 July 1743. It concerned a pupil of Susannah's, named only as S.T., who suddenly developed fits. Her father sent for an apothecary, who pronounced her dead. Her mother sent for Susannah and the child recovered. Wesley records the third-hand account of the child's near-death experience.

James Designe was buried at St James's Church, the parish in which the New Room was situated, on 7 February 1769.

In a list of 'Persons admitted on Trial' between September 1765 and March 1769 Sister Design recommended three women to become members and they were each to meet with her in Band or Class. A fourth, Ann Smith, who was housekeeper at the New Room, was transferred to her from the London Society, and a fifth was added to her care without additional recommendation. Susannah appeared in the first complete membership list for the New Room, dated 1770, leading two Classes, and described as a widow, working as a schoolmistress and living at Cross Street. She continued to appear in each annual list, as a Class leader and schoolmistress, living at Cross Street, until 1777. In 1778 Susannah was not recorded as a Class leader, but she was in a Band. Although her name was recorded in the 1779 membership list, it was subsequently underlined and marked with a symbol to indicate that she died during the year.

Susannah was buried at the church of St James on 31 December 1779. Her daughter, Parthenia Murray, and her granddaughters, Susannah and Parthenia, were members of the Society at the New Room.

Entry written by: CJ
Category: Person
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