Giles, Sarah Jane (nee Ockwell) (1857-1898)

Transcription of Obituary In the Primitive Methodist Magazine by George Fowler

MRS. SARAH JANE GILES, of Cricklade, in the Brinkworth Circuit, passed peacefully away on Saturday evening, August 20, 1898, aged forty-one years. She was the daughter of Mr. Robert and Elizabeth Ockwell of the same town. The father is one of our aged and much respected local preachers. The bereaved husband, Mr. Thomas Giles, is also a local preacher on the same plan.

From childhood our departed sister was connected with the Primitive Society, first as a scholar in the Sabbath School, afterwards as a teacher. She was very active and an intelligent reciter at the Sabbath School anniversaries. These activities continued until her marriage with Brother Thomas Giles, who now mourns his loss.

Domestic duties were not allowed to keep her from the preaching and other services; and when special services were held she attended the morning services. All matters connected with our chapel and Sabbath School interests were dear to her. It was at one of these efforts for the reduction of debt on our chapel and school premises in Cricklade that she took a chill that terminated fatally.

She took a great delight in singing, and her voice was frequently heard in special services, connected with her own society and other places in the circuit. These efforts will not be soon forgotten. When her voice failed through affliction she often wept while listening to others singing some of her favourite hymns and times.

She had been married eighteen years at the time of her death. She leaves six children, who, with their father, are much distressed at her removal. Her long affliction of two years was borne with great patience and Christian fortitude. Consciousness remained to the last, when she gently fell on sleep in the arms of Jesus.

On the following Tuesday she was buried in the churchyard by Rev. G. Fowler. This was considered one of the most impressive funeral services ever held in Cricklade. A large concourse of friends assembled. She was borne to her grave by local preachers belonging to the Brinkworth Circuit. On Sunday, 11th Sept., a funeral sermon was preached by the writer in the chapel, Calcott Street, Cricklade, to a deeply affected congregation.

May the members of her family, as also the members of the Church of her choice, meet her in heaven.

Family

Sarah was born in 1857 at Cricklade, Wiltshire, to parents Robert, a grocer and baker, and Elizabeth.

She married Albert Thomas Giles (1860-1950) on 14 September 1880 at Cricklade. Thomas  was a rural postman and later a coal merchant. Census records identify six children.

  • Mildred Ethel (abt1883-1961) – a housemaid (1901); married William John Cook, a labourer, in 1903
  • Mercy (1885-1984) – a dressmaker (1901); married Harry Larner, a tramway conductor (1911), in 1909
  • Clement (abt1886-1900)
  • Ethel (b abt1889)
  • Stanley (1890-91)
  • Clarice May (1893-1982) – a domestic maid (1911); married Walter Trinder in 1917

Thomas married Kate Lines in 1899 and had further children with her.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1901/231

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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