Jones, James (1833-1908)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1908

Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by Andrew Wilkes

Silver Street Church, Brierley Hili Circuit, lost its oldest official and worker on January 9th, by the passing away of Brother J. Jones. Born at Old Hill in the great industrial parish of Rowley Regis, he never knew the advantages of an elementary Day School, but learnt to read at a local Sunday School. Those were strenuous times for boys and girls, and young Jones found himself at the age of seven assisting to earn his bread by work in a local brick yard. Some years later the family removed to Brettell Lane. They occupied a house near to the site of the Brierley Foundry, and on the ground adjoining, the late Mr. W. Dudley established a brick works, at which Brother Jones laboured with his father and sisters. From this works were furnished the bricks for the erection of our Church at Brettell Lane, and when the material edifice was built, the whole family became living stones in the spiritual church which it sheltered, and attended closely on the services of the school and the sanctuary.

At a special service held there in the early days of the new building our brother sought and found the Saviour. He soon entered upon active Christian work. A Bible Class, formed at his home, became the fruitful training ground of ministers and local preachers. For many years he was a class leader, and filled the office of chapel steward conscientiously and faithfully up to the time of his death. 

The funeral at our Bent Street Church was attended by a representative gathering of his fellow workers in the Christian cause, and a memorial service at the church to which he had been so devoted, was conducted on February 16th by Mr. A. Wooldridge, of Lye, and the writer.

Family

James was born abt1833 at Old Hill, Staffordshire.

Census returns identify the following occupations for James.

• 1851 coal miner
• 1861 brick maker
• 1871 brick burner
• 1881 carter
• 1891 coal dealer
• 1901 coal merchant

He married Emily Simpkins (1829-1888) in late 1859 in the Dudley Registration District, Staffordshire. Census returns identify two children.

• Eliza Maria (1861-1946) – married Albert Edward Lloyd, a brick burner (1901), in 1884
• James Richard (1863-1931) – a haulier (1901)

James died on 9 January 1908 at Brierley Hill, Staffordshire.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1908/491

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers