Prosser, Isaac (1834-1898)

Transcription of Obituary In the Primitive Methodist Magazine by W Forth

On September 29, 1898, a shock was felt throughout Blaenavon and its neighbourhood, for on that day the venerable Isaac Prosser was killed. Whilst prosecuting his duty as overman in the Forgeslope Coalpit, Blaenavon, a mass of rock, weighing between four and five tons, suddenly fell upon him. A general feeling of sorrow pervaded the district, for his death meant the loss of one whose influence was widespread, and who was so well known and so deeply respected. He came, whilst a youth, to Blaenavon, and he never removed from it. He engaged himself to the Blaenavon Colliery Company, for whom he worked for fifty years, during thirty-seven of which he held the office of overman. He was converted to God in our Blaenavon Chapel, under the ministry of the saintly J. Butcher, the circuit superintendent. For forty years he maintained a very consistent and useful membership. His diligent attendance on the private, social, and public means of grace, kept the divine flame burning in his soul. His devotedness to God is reflected in the piety of his surviving family, and the inestimable effects of his humble, persevering Christian toil in the various offices which he held both in the Church and out of it. At the time of his shocking death he was earnestly engaged as circuit steward, class-leader, Bible class conductor, leading trustee, and the treasurer of our valuable Blaenavon Trust Property. In all these positions he was anxious, loyal, humble, liberal and kind-hearted. Nothing damped his zeal, nothing daunted his spirit. He rather set than followed examples. He put nearly all his life into our Blaenavon cause, and to that cause he has been an incalculable blessing. When our Blaenavon Chapel was passing through terrible adversity through so many removals, he consecrated his all to its welfare, and its deliverance from peril may be, under God, principally traced to his prayerful, faithful and self-sacrificing efforts, aided by those of his brethren. His manly piety, his stability, his humility, his sanctified common-sense, his sound judgment, his readiness to go forward singlehanded, if need be, his generosity and his practical sympathy, declare the high type of his Christian manhood.

Never has a circuit sustained a severer loss than Blaenavon has had to endure in the decease of our venerable brother. His interment took place in the Blaenavon Churchyard, and though it was a Nonconformist funeral, a clergyman of the Established Church, along with several Nonconformist ministers, walked in the procession to the chapel. The service, attended by a large congregation, was conducted by Rev. W. Forth and Revs. Rees, Stephens, Phillips and Meredith. The service at the grave was conducted by Rev. W. Forth, and after the large assembly had sung the hymn, “Rock of Ages cleft for me,” etc., the long line of mourners filed past, and gave a last affecting look at the coffined form of one whose worth made honourable the grave which had just received it. It is men and women of the Prosser type who have made, consolidated and extended the Connexion. May God graciously multiply their number!

Family

Isaac was baptised on 9 March 1834 at Winterbourne, Gloucestershire. His parents were George, who worked the land, and Harriet.

Isaac married Charlotte Osland (abt 1835-1869) on 24 December 1855 at Llangattock Juxta Caerleon, Monmouthshire. Census returns identify four children.