Hands, Emmilia (abt1821-1900)

Transcription of Obituary In the Christian Messenger

MRS. EMMILIA HANDS.— How many of our old members, who have been the stay and support of our village causes for many years, pass away, unheard of and unheeded except by their immediate friends and relatives, and yet we know the recording angel has taken note of their quiet perseverance and struggles, and now their reward is sure. During the stirring times that Hugh Bourne visited the Witney Circuit, there were no more consistent members of the Primitive Methodist Connexion than the late Mrs. Emmilia Hands, who has recently passed away in her 80th year. Converted as far back as 1838 in the village of Chilson, Oxon, she, together with her husband, was amongst the first to join our society there, and until her husband’s death her house was the home of both lay and ministerial preachers, and by systematic giving, from the very commencement of her Christian career, she always generously supported our cause from her very limited income. She was a firm believer in prayer and in answer to her many petitions had the joy of seeing her whole family converted. The only daughter married a respected local preacher in the Oxford Circuit, and the four sons are all local preachers with us to-day. Surely the prayer of the righteous man or woman availeth much. She was appointed to the office of class leader and diligently served her Master in that capacity for eight years, and so great was her energy and zeal that she was at one time authorised to preach and her name duly appeared on the plan. And now she has gone to join her husband in heaven, but her name is still held in reverence as that of a Godly, upright, consistent woman, who feared God and did the right.
Forget her, no, we never will,
We loved her here, we’ll love her still,
Nor love her less because she’s gone
From earth to her Eternal Home.

C.A.V.

Family and other information

I have not been able to identify Emmilia’s marriage to determine her maiden name.

She was born abt 1821 at Chilson, Oxfordshire and was married to George Hands (1822-1895). George worked the land. Census returns identify three children.

• Henry Alban (1850-1932) – a railway wagon builder (1900)
• Leonard James (abt1853-1937) – a platelayer (1911)
• George Francis (1859-1925) – an evangelist (1891); later a salesman for Singer Sewing

Emmilia died on 19 May 1900 at Long Handborough, Oxfordshire.

References

Christian Messenger 1901/127

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers