Miles, George (1837-1912)

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

The Hove branch has sustained a great loss in the removal of Brother G. Miles. Born at Burgess Hill, Sussex, on Feb. 7th, 1837, he was converted in a lovefeast in the kitchen of Mr. John Smith, of Brighton, in 1853. In the year 1857, at the age of eighteen, he preached his trial sermon at Stoke Newington, London First Circuit. He afterwards returned to Brighton, and was a member and local preacher at Sussex Street Chapel. Of the Goldstone Villas Chapel, built in April, 1878, he was a trustee and treasurer until he died.

He filled every official position, being circuit steward when Hove was separated from Brighton and became the Brighton Second Circuit. As a nurseryman and florist he was one of the founders, and for many years chairman of the Brighton Horticultural Society.

He died October 29th, 1912. There was a very large attendance, both at the chapel and at the grave in Hove cemetery, where our brother was buried. Rev. W. C. Rose (superintendent at Brighton) officiated, and an address was given by Rev. Clark Hallam.

He is greatly missed in the services of the chapel, but our loss is his eternal gain.

Such workers as he can be hardly spared; their places are not easily filled. The heroism which is equal not only to the great occasion and the prominent task, but which can also bear the strain of the monotony of dull days and unseen toil is not found everywhere and its value is seldom fully realised while it is at our service. May our brother’s life be the means of inspiring others to rise up and carry on his work; to seize the flag which has fallen from his nerveless hands and press forward to victory.

Family

George was born on 7 February 1837 at Burgess Hill, Sussex, to parents John Miles, who worked the land (1851) and Sophia Burtenshaw.

Census returns identify the following occupations for George.

1851 brick maker’s labourer
1861 gardener
1881 florists foreman
1891 nurseryman & florist
1901 nurseryman & florist
1911 nurseryman & florist

He married Ann Williams (1828-1872) in late 1859 in the Bethnal Green Registration District, London. Census returns identify three children.

Ann (1860-1862)
Emma (b1866) – a housekeeper (1911)
Bessey (b1868) – a parlourmaid (1891); married Henry William Gould, a music publisher’s clerk (1901), in 1894

He married Elizabeth Halestrap (1836-1908) in the spring of 1875 in the St George Hanover Square Registration District, London. Census returns identify one child.