A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Colquohn, Janet
COLQUOHN, JANET,
Was the youngest daughter of Sir John Sinclair, of Ulster, eminent in Scotland for his enterprise and philanthropy. Her mother was Miss Maitland, who dying early left two little daughters, Hannah and Janet. The eldest was the Miss Sinclair of whom Leigh Richmond wrote the memoir; she died in 1818, aged thirty-eight years, and after her death a little volume was published containing her beautiful "Letters on the Principles of Christian Faith."
Janet, the subject of our sketch, was born in 1781, carefully and religiously educated; and marrying, at the age of nineteen. Sir James Colquohn, Baronet, she became the Lady of Rossdhu.
In 1805, the year of her removal to Rossdhu, Lady Colquohn began her diary, which she kept steadily for forty years; a signal proof of her self-discipline and energy in duty, as well as of her piety, which thus found expression and expansion. She was mother of five children, whom she watched over with great care; her three sons she assisted to instruct, and her daughters' education she entirely conducted.
In every department of female knowledge she was perfect: her own home was a model of order, industry, and judicious economy—these things are important, as showing that in her deeds of extraordinary benevolence, she was not neglecting those common duties which so often wholly engross the time of her sex.
Soon after her settlement at Rossdhu, she began to visit the cottagers on her husband's estate; then the neighbouring poor claimed her attention; thus she went on, administering alms, advice, sympathy, as each were needed. At a later period, when in Edinburgh, she adopted a similar course of visiting among the sick and miserable in that city, where so many are paupers.
In 1818, Lady Colquohn began to interest herself in that great cause, yet to be accomplished throughout the earth—Female Education. She built a school-house, and established a School of Industry for girls not far from Rossdhu, and almost daily visited it and taught one class herself. With this she associated a Sunday School. She instituted in this Sunday School a new plan of instruction, where she was the only teacher.
Besides all these labours, Lady Colquohn found time to write; and though of a most retiring disposition, she felt that she might do good with her talents, and a sense of duty impelled her to publish. Her first book was a tract entitled "A Narrative founded on Facts," in 1822. The following year appeared "Thoughts on the Religious Profession and Defective Practice in Scotland." Both productions were sent out anonymously, but their great success encouraged her to go on. In 1825, she sent out "Impressions of the Heart," etc. This work was widely circulated, and from its good sense and high-toned spirituality, together with its refinement of taste and delicacy of feeling everywhere displayed, many of her personal friends suspected the authoress. Sir James Colquohn died in 1836; and, owing to the sweet example of his wife, died a Christian. Her biographer, the Rev. James Hamilton, thus alludes to her influence over her husband:—"At first proud of her beauty and her elegant manners, Sir James Colquohn learned to value his wife's gentle wisdom and unworldly goodness, till at last harmony of affection merged in harmony of faith. She saw his prejudices against evangelical religion. She scarcely hoped to remove them by conversation; but she prayed for "oil in her lamp," and sought to make her own light shine. Her prayers were answered; her consistency was rewarded."
A short time previous to the death of her husband, Lady Colquohn published another book, "The Kingdom of God," to which she attached her name, her father on his death-bed having enjoined her to do this.
She continued the school for girls, and her readings and expositions at her Sunday School, and visitings among the poor and afflicted. Thus in the round of steady usefulness she filled up every day. One of her duties, distributing tracts, we have not named, nor have we space to give the details of her noble charities. She was an active member of many benevolent Societies, the projector of several, and to all she gave freely of her own wealth. Her last appearance as an author was in 1839, in "The World's Religion, as contrasted with genuine Christianity." She died October 21st., 1846, aged sixty-five years.