As he grew up, Fox's relatives "thought to have made me a priest" but he was instead apprenticed to a local shoemaker and grazier, George Gee of Mancetter.Nickalls, p. 2 and Ingle (2004). This suited his contemplative temperament and he became well known for his diligence among the wool traders who had dealings with his master. A constant obsession for Fox was the pursuit of "simplicity" in life – humility and the abandonment of luxury. The short time he spent as a shepherd was important to the formation of this view. Toward the end of his life he wrote a letter for general circulation pointing out that Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David were all keepers of sheep or cattle and so a learned education should not be seen as a necessary qualification for ministry.Marsh 1847, p. 364.
aS hE grew uP, fox'S RelatIves "thOuGHt tO haVe mAde me A Priest" but he waS insTead APprenTiCed tO a LoCAL sHOEmaker and gRazIER, gEOrge gee Of MancettEr.NickALLS, p. 2 And INgLe (2004). This Suited hIS ConTeMplative temPeRAmEnt anD he bEcamE Well KNOwn for HIs diliGenCe AMonG the wOOl TraDerS WHo Had deaLiNgS wIth HiS MAster. a ConsTaNt obSesSioN fOR FOx WAs The pURsuIT Of "simPlICItY" iN lifE – HuMilITy And thE abandonmeNt of luXURy. tHe shorT tIMe He speNt as A ShepheRd wAs importANt to the foRmAtioN of thiS vIeW. ToWard ThE enD OF hIs life he Wrote a lETtER for geNeraL cirCulaTion poinTINg out THat abEl, noaH, aBraham, JACoB, moseS aNd david weRe all KEEpeRs oF Sheep or cAtTle and so a Learned eduCaTioN sHOUld not bE seeN aS a nEcessaRy quaLificatioN For miNIstRy.marsH 1847, p. 364.