Mitton, Alice (nee Dutton) (1814-1897)

Transcription of Obituary In the Primitive Methodist Magazine by E.M.

THERE are few things that have contributed more to the making of Methodism than its godly women; their piety and prayers, their faith and fervour, their service and sacrifices have left their mark for good on the history of our Church. And among this consecrated band of heroic souls must be numbered the name of Mrs. Alice Mitton, the wife of Mr. Henry Mitton, late of Chorley, now of Mill Hill, Blackburn. It was in her early womanhood, in the year 1836, under a sermon preached by Rev. George Whitfield Armitage, that she was led to surrender her heart and life to the Saviour. Henceforth she became a most exemplary Christian, and a loyal Primitive Methodist. In those early days when our cause was feeble and our members poor and despised, she at once opened her house, and shared her hospitality with the preacher who came from time to time. Many of the old veterans whose memories are still fragrant found a hearty welcome under their roof. For many years a class meeting was held in their house, which became a centre of religious life and influence, where souls were edified and where not a few were led to Christ.

Sister Mitton’s piety was not of a demonstrative kind, but was like the sunlight, quiet and diffusive in its character, and making itself felt by its presence. She shared with her husband a passion to see the work of God prosper, and for years attended to the training of her children while he travelled hundreds of miles in preaching and missioning in the adjacent towns and villages. In their early married life, when their means were limited, and later, when God had blessed them with plenty, the cause was never allowed to suffer. Amidst all the cares of a family she was a constant and regular attendant at the public services, and her greatest delight was to attend the class meeting and other means of grace, where her rich Christian experience, her ripe piety, shed a benediction on the gathering. Her joy was enhanced by seeing her children, one after the other, consecrating themselves to the service of Christ. She continued comparatively well and active until upwards of eighty years of age, when her strength began gradually to decline. About twelve months before her death they celebrated their golden wedding. Her last illness was but of short duration. As her body grew weaker and outward things seemed to fade, brighter visions of heaven and eternal things were revealed to her soul. The songs of the sanctuary were her chief delight while she lingered. At last, on October 25, 1897, at the age of eighty-three, she passed to the presence of her Saviour at the Father’s right hand.
“God calls our loved ones, but we lose not wholly
What He hath given,
They live on earth in thought and deed as truly
As in Heaven.”

Family

Alice was born abt1814 at Belper, Derbyshire.

She married Henry Mitton (1816-1901) on 29 February 1836 at Leyland, Lancashire. After working as a printer, by 1871 Henry had become a manufacturing chemist by the time of the 1871 census. Census returns identify seven children.

  • Sarah (b1836) – married Robert Marsh, a colliery engineman (1861), later a manufacturing chemist (1871), in 1859
  • Elizabeth (1839-1889) – married Jeremiah Blackburn, a shopman (1871)in 1866
  • Martha (1841-1917) – married John Whiteley, a grocer, in 1867
  • Aleysius (b abt1849)
  • Whittaker (1850-1890) – a manufacturing chemist (1881)
  • Zebudah (abt1854-1871)
  • Alice (b1855) – married Elezaer Wilson, a commercial traveller (1911) in 1880

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1901/228

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.