Bourne, James (1781-1860)

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Englesea Brook Museum 16c.03

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Wycherley p83

Early life

James Bourne was born on 8 Feb 1781 at Ford Hayes, Bucknall, Staffordshire, to parents Jospeh Bourne and Ellen Steele. He was the youngest of eight children. James became a Methodist in 1799 – in the same year as brother Hugh, and joined the society at Ridgeway, some 3 miles from Tunstall.

Camp Meetings

James supported his brother in the organisation of the Camp meetings at Mow Hill, in particular, continuing  to support following the decision of the Methodist Conference to ban such meetings in 1807. Kendall describes his character as ‘calm, self-possessed, practical, ever ready to do his best without fee or reward’.

James was a diligent and active preacher, travelling many miles when required. In 1808 he preached in the open air at Tean, some 20 miles from his home at Bemersley, and was instrumental in the forming of a Society there.

The development of the PM Movement

In 1809 supported his brother in appointing James Crawfoot as the first travelling preacher.

In 1810 James took charge of a new class at Standley, which was formed as a separate society that could not be incorporated satisfactorily into the existing Burslem Circuit.

James was a key influence in the formation of the new connexion in 1811/12, in particular in the building of the first church at Tunstall and taking the role of Local Preacher in the first PM circuit.

Along with his brother Hugh, James attended the meeting in Nottingham in 1819 which was the precursor for the first national conference and laid down the general rules for management of the new connexion.  James was appointed as minister to the Tunstall Circuit.

Book Steward

At the conference in Hull in 1820 it was agreed to commence a monthly magazine, the first edition to be published in January 1821. Hugh Bourne was appointed editor and James Bourne book steward. The following year, the conference, held at Tunstall, agreed to establish a Book room and a Printing press. James was instrumental in putting this into effect at Bemersley Farm, the family home. Kendall reports that the press cost £373 8s 10d. It appears to have been run as a family concern, with members of James family involved in the publishing process. In 1821, there were 16 circuits in the connexion and over 16,000 members. The increase since the previous year had been some 8,000! This provided a sizeable market for the magazine. The Book Steward role became a full time conference appointed role from 1824. (Follow this link for an account of the handover of the Book Steward role to John Flesher)

James was President of Conference 1826, 1829, and 1842. He was held in good regard for the way he conducted business meetings.

In the 1851 census, James is recorded as a farmer of 97 acres employing 3 labourers. He was living at Bemesley with his wife Sarah and son John.

James was something of a business entrepreneur developing several businesses which helped to provide financial support to the PM movement. These included pottery ventures with James Nixon producing PM commemorative plates.

Later Life

In later life James suffered a number of business reverses and thereafter played no active part in the affairs of the connexion. He received a small annuity from connexional funds as a testimony of the gratitude and respect felt for his former services.

He attended the Jubilee camp Meeting help on Mow Hill in May 1857, albeit in poor health and looking his age. James died on 15 January 1860 at Bemersley, Staffordshire. He was buried at Englesea Brook in the same vault as his brother, Hugh.

Family

James married Sarah Rowley (1783-1853) on 27 March 1807 at Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. They had five children.

• Joseph (b1808)
• Mary (1809-1870) – married Hugh Harding, a farmer, on 13 April 1827
• Sarah (1816-1870) – married John Walford, a PM minister and later farmer, on 18 December 1832
• James (1818-1900) – a farmer (1861)
• Ann (1821-1900) – married William Salmon, a farmer, on 17 April 1839

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1832/887; 1862/513

J Petty, The History of the Primitive Methodist Connexion, 1880, p5, p31-2, p39, p97, p109, p137,  p547, p564

H B Kendall, Origin and History of the PM Church, vol 1, p65, p80, p154-5; vol 2, p3, p21, p379

B A Barber, A Methodist Pageant, 1932, p58, p309

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

R Newman Wycherley, The Pageantry of Methodist Union, 1932, p8

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers