Reeve, Robert (1856-1918)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1911

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1911

Early years

Robert was born in 1856 at Walsingham, Norfolk to parents Robert and Mary Ann. Robert, senior, worked the land.

Robert was converted when young and was put on the plan whilst still a youth. He entered the ministry at the age of nineteen. Robert was apprenticed to a harnessmaker before entering the ministry.

Ministry

His obituary records that Robert loved preaching, especially about the Cross. He had no fancy for hair-splitting and theological conundrums. He was hear to tell one young minister; ‘Don’t split your brain-pan, tell the people something to help them;’ these we were the words of a well-read, well-informed man. He had a passion for righteousness, and the courage to speak his convictions without being intentionally offensive.

Robert served as Bradford and Halifax District Committee Secretary.

Following superannuation, Robert lived in Nelson, Lancashire for a few months, before settling at Southsea,

Family

Robert married Mary Ann Stevenson (abt1858) in the summer of 1881 in the Portsea Island Registration District, Hampshire. Census returns identify one of two children.

• Ewart Reginald (1886-1978) – an elementary school teacher (1911)

Robert died on 7 May 1918 at Southsea, Hampshire.

Circuits

• 1876 Liskeard
• 1877 Portsmouth
• 1879 Liverpool I
• 1881 Merthyr Tydfil
• 1882 Abergavenny
• 1884 Bishop’s Castle
• 1888 Knighton
• 1892 Kidderminster
• 1894 Bishop’s Castle
• 1895 Burnley II
• 1899 Silsden
• 1902 Accrington
• 1904 Burnley I
• 1909 Burnley II
• 1912 Dudley
• 1914 Hull VI
• 1916 Nelson (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1911/507

PM Minutes 1918/275

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers