Johnson, Alfred (1842-1919)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1902

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1919

Early years

Alfred was born in 1842 in Dunstable, Bedfordshire to parents Edwin and Catherine. Edwin worked in the hat industry. Edwin was PM Sunday school superintendent and a class leader. Alfred was in the same Sunday School class as Joseph Odell and they went on the plan in the same year.

Alfred was converted under a sermon preached by Joseph Toulson on the last Sunday in January 1860. Alfred attended Elmfield College and studied under John Petty before entering the ministry.

Ministry

Alfred was a lover of history and poetry, and was a poet of no mean ability. He was also accomplished in music and painting.

His obituary records that preaching was his passion. Deeply spiritual and stoutly loyal to the old evangelical verities, he was ever seeking to win souls for Christ. After preaching, pastoral visiting was his joy.

After superannuation, Alfred served the Penge, Walthamstow and Bath circuits.

Family

Alfred married Mary Braithwaite (1848-1913) in the summer of 1870 in the Houghton le Spring Registration District, Co. Durham. Mary was born in Ripon, Yorkshire. Census returns identify five of their six children.

• Kate Eliza (b1873) – a nurse (1911)
• Elizabeth A (b1875) – a milliner (1901)
• Beatrice Mary (b1878) – a governess (1901)
• Gertrude Harriet (1880-1906) – married John Thomas K Bathhurst
• Ethelwynne (1884-1961) – a housekeeper

Alfred married Edith Emily Savory (b1873) in the summer of 1916 at Bath, Somerset.

Alfred died on 16 February 1919 at Bath, Somerset.

Circuits

• 1866 Knaresborough
• 1867 Pateley Bridge
• 1868 Ripon
• 1870 Colne
• 1871 Otley
• 1873 Dewsbury
• 1876 Horbury
• 1878 Knaresborough
• 1881 Thirsk
• 1885 Malton
• 1888 Knaresborough
• 1890 Stroud
• 1894 Brynmawr
• 1897 Lichfield
• 1899 Swansea
• 1903 Teignmouth
• 1906 Falmouth
• 1908 St Ives
• 1910 St Ives (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1902/803; 1919/577

PM Minutes 1919/269

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers