Drew, James (1843-1913)

Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by F. Leadley

The East Knoyle Church, Mere Station, has suffered a great loss in the passing of our dear Brother Drew on February 16th, 1913. Highly respected far beyond the bounds of the parish, he was a School Manager and Trustee of the Parish Charities. For fifty years he had been a local preacher, and was at the time of his death senior society steward. His home has been for many years open to ministers and lay preachers, and his large family are for the most part members of our Church.

The Rev. W. Taylor, a former minister, writes of him thus:— “Ever since I first became acquainted with him and was privileged to enjoy the hospitality of his home I was much impressed with his quiet, unassuming, genuine goodness. He enjoyed the deepest love and honour of every member of his family, and a more loyal member of the Church could not be.” At eighteen years of age he made the great surrender in the Wesleyan chapel at Ampfield, Hants. But for the past forty-three years he has been a loyal member and official of our Church.

The funeral service on February 20th was conducted by Revs. F. Leadley and J. W. Lewis. Amongst the beautiful floral tributes was one from the Hon. G. Wyndham and Countess Grosvenor (Clouds Estate). On February 23rd Rev. F. Leadley conducted a memorial service at the Green.

Family

James was born in 1843 at Stalbridge, Dorset, to parents James Drew, a dairyman (1851), and Ann Andrews. He was baptised on 5 March 1843 at Stalbridge.

Census returns identify the following occupations for James.

1851 scholar
1861 employed on uncle, Charles Eavis, farm
1871 dairyman and Methodist local preacher
1881 dairyman
1891 farm bailiff
1901 farmer
1911 farmer

He married Rhoda Hannam (1844-1916) in the summer of 1868 in the Wincanton Registration District, Somerset. Census returns identify nine children.

Catherine Mary (1870-1950) – married John Edmund Scammell, a baker & grocer (1911), in 1897
Lena Amelia (b1871) – married in 1907 but unable to identify husband
John Hannam (1874-1948) – a farmer (1911)
Charlotte Ann (1875-1965) – married Edward Henry Cadoux, a Congregational minister, in 1902
Mabel Agatha (1879-1965) – farmer’s daughter – dairy work (1911); housekeeper (1939)
Albert Daniel Hannam (1878-1956) – farm foreman (1911)
William Garfield (1882-1966) – farmer’s son – working on farm (1911)
Harriet May (1884-1953) – farmer’s daughter – dairy work (1911); married Percival Herbert Legg, a farmer (1939), in 1912
Mattie Louise (1886-1950) – farmer’s daughter – dairy work (1911); married Reuben Hutchinson in 1919

James died on 16 February 1913 at East Knoyle, Wiltshire.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1913/574

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers