Ross, Philadelphia (Phillis) (1839-1916)

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Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by J. Maland

After a long and exceptionally useful and fruitful life, Sister Rose, after a brief illness, passed to the higher life on April 15th, measured by the years’ seventy-seven, but in thought and spirit one of the youngest women in our Endcliffe Church.

Strictly speaking, she never grew old, but preserved the teachableness, receptivity, artlessness and gaiety of a child to the last. For her good works and activity in the King’s service she was “a woman in a thousand.” From her youth up she recognised that salvation means service, and was for many years the premier missionary collector in the Leeds District. She served for several years at Taunton as town missionary, where, in prison, workhouse, and slum she proved herself a real representative of the compassionate, loving Saviour. 

As secretary for four years of the Leeds Y.W.C.A. her labours were richly owned of God, particularly in her Bible class, which grew to a membership of about two hundred; and later she served in Manchester with much tactfulness and tenderness a term of years as assistant matron at the old Penitentiary, proving a mother and redeemer to many a fallen, friendless woman, directing her to Christ and His cleansing and consoling fellowship.

These heavy years made a heavy toll on her strength, and at length compelled her retirement. After resting awhile and to a large degree recuperating she came to Sheffield, and finding we were seeking to establish a new cause at Endcliffe she threw in her lot, and has been one of our best helpers in the difficult task of building up this new cause, particularly helping in the work of visitation and among the women and children. She had good literary gifts, as a little volume of poems she published evidences. We miss her greatly, but are grateful to God for lending her to us.

Family

Phillis was born in the spring of 1839 at Leeds, Yorkshire, to parents Thomas Ross, a mechanic (1841), and Philadelphia Paterson.

Census returns identify the following occupations for Phillis.

• 1851 scholar
• 1861 milliner
• 1871 dressmaker & milliner
• 1881 missionary in Taunton
• 1891 ward matron at the Penitentionary
• 1901 domestic housekeeper
• 1911 householder – private means

Phillis died on 15 April 1916 at Sheffield, Yorkshire.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1916/784

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Note: Phillis’ surname was Ross, not Rose as stated in the obituary.