Howlett, William Stiff (1845-1922)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1902

Early years

William was born in 1845 at Woolpit, Suffolk to parents Samuel Howlett and Eliza Stiff (not Haggar: see comment below). Samuel was a labourer. William’s parents and grandparents were attached to the Church of England, but frequently attended Primitive Methodist services and entertained the preachers.

William was converted when fourteen years of age. This was the result of a gradual opening of the mind by the Holy Spirit. William’s name appeared on full plan in 1862 when he was just seventeen.

William worked the land before entering the ministry.

Ministry

William’s obituary records that his was essentially an evangelistic ministry, and very fruitful. William wrote that by the mercy of God, he never had to report a decrease in numbers during his ministry.

William served as Building Committee Secretary in the Shrewsbury District for eight years.

Family

William married Susanna Nunn (1846-1917) in July 1870 at Ellesmere, Shropshire. Census returns identify one child.

  • Samuel John (1871-1871)

William died on 25 February 1922 at Wrockwardinewood, Shropshire.

Circuits

  • 1866 Wolverhampton
  • 1867 Lichfield
  • 1868 Hadnall
  • 1870 W Bromwich
  • 1872 Oswestry
  • 1875 Welshpool
  • 1876 Minsterley
  • 1879 Hadnall
  • 1882 Welshpool
  • 1884 Llanymynech
  • 1887 Wrockwardinewood
  • 1890 Bolton II
  • 1894 Bury St Edmunds
  • 1897 Stalybridge
  • 1904 Wigan
  • 1906 Welshpool
  • 1911 Oakengates
  • 1916 Aston under Lyne
  • 1918 Wellington (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1902/563; 1922/582

PM Minutes 1922/260

W Leary , Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits , 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Comments about this page

  • I would like to ask Audrey Hartshorne if she still has plaques from the chapel at Wrockwardinwood, My gt.gt. uncle was a Methodist preacher and lived his last years there and eventually died there.

    By Elizabeth Clarke (21/05/2021)
  • My son has been working on church at Wrockwardine and has plaques. Would Patricia Howlett like them? Please contact me.

    Audrey Hartshorne

    By Hartshorne (31/03/2019)
  • I would like to put one thing straight on this page about the Mother of William Stiff Howlett, his Mother’s name was not Haggar it was Eliza Stiff who married Samuel Howlett dob 1816. I am a distant cousin of a lot of the Howlett ancestry from Woolpit and have his details on file and also I do know another three cousins with the same information, I hope you find this helpful.

    By Patricia Howlett (24/04/2015)

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