Whitehead, Thomas (1823-1912)
Early years
Thomas was born on 26 September 1823 at Burnham, nr Epworth, Lincolnshire. His parents were members of a PM society and regularly entertained visiting preachers. Thomas was converted aged 13 at a revival meeting where George Lamb was the preacher. His brothers George and Robert, along with John Ducker, were all converted at the same meeting and all went on to be PM Ministers.
Thomas became a local preacher aged 16 and two years later became itinerant.
Ministry
St Sepulchre Street Chapel, Scarborough, and Bourne Chapel, Anlaby Rd, Hull, were built under Thomas’ superintendency.
The 1883 Conference elected Thomas to the role of Secretary of the General Committee, which he undertook for six years. Thomas was President of Conference in 1887.
Following superannuation, Thomas became Treasurer of the Superannuation Fund.
His obituary records that, in his circuits, Thomas was a builder of churches, the word being understood to mean the spiritual fellowship of the saints. He was a strengthener and teacher of men. He was a builder also in his work in Connexional, as distinguished from circuit matters. His work was solid and will abide.
Family
Thomas married Caroline Johnson (1819-1871) on 13 April 1848 at Hull, Yorkshire.
Thomas died on 5 August 1912 at Forest Hill, Surrey.
Circuits
- 1842 Retford
- 1843 Hull
- 1845 Patrington
- 1846 Hull East
- 1848 Brigg
- 1850 Barton on Humber
- 1852 Patrington
- 1854 Retford
- 1855 Swinefleet
- 1858 Louth
- 1861 Scotter
- 1863 Scarborough
- 1867 Selby
- 1869 Hull l
- 1872 Grimsby ll
- 1876 Driffield
- 1879 Hull lll
- 1881 Goole
- 1883 Sec of GMC
- 1889 Caledonian Road
- 1890 Harrogate (S)
- 1891 Camden Town
- 1892 Forest Hill
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1870 (portrait); 1872/690 (Caroline); 1887 (portrait); 1913/78
PM Minutes 1913/54
H B Kendall, Origin and History of the PM Church, vol 2, p404, p454
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
Comments about this page
The above account refers to his brothers George and Robert along with John Ducker all going on to be PM ministers. In fact there were two Whitehead brothers (Thomas and George) only, and two Ducker cousins (John and Robert). All four feature in the list of PM ministers on this website.
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