Willetts, George (1845-1900)

Transcription of Obituary In the Christian Messenger

GEORGE WILLETTS was born at Lushcott, in the Church Stretton Circuit, on November 16th, 1845. He gave himself fully to God at a camp-meeting held on Kenley Common in 1862, and at once joined our Connexion. Two years later he received a note to accompany a local preacher to his appointments, and in due course became an acceptable and useful local preacher, always punctual and trustworthy in taking his appointments as long as his health would permit. He spent about six years on the Monmouth Circuit, and then returned to his native Circuit, and was re-appointed class-leader of East Wall Society. Shortly after this he became united in wedlock to her who now mourns his loss. In 1879 he came to live at Button Oak, in the Kidderminster Circuit, when he found our chapel in that village closed; but, with the co-operation of a few friends, he was successful in having the chapel reopened, and remained faithful to this struggling cause to the end. For eight years he suffered from the effects of an attack of influenza, and for the last six years was unable to follow any employment. Two days before his death his devoted wife was seized with influenza, and before she could leave her bed he had passed to his reward, on January 12th, 1900. On the following Wednesday, the funeral service was conducted by the vicar, who had frequently visited him and shown practical sympathy. Having known him for twenty-eight years, we hear testimony to his sterling Christian character, loyalty to the Connexion, and attendance on the means; also to his punctual attention to duty as local preacher, class leader, and society steward. May his widow and their six children, with all their numerous friends, join hands with him again beyond the swelling flood.

WILLIAM CLULOW

Family and other information

George was born at Lushcott, in the parish of Eaton under Haywood, Shropshire. His parents were George and Mary. George, senior, was a wood hoop maker, an occupation that George also followed.

He married Martha Powell (1848-1933) on 25 January 1877 at Cardington, Shropshire. Census returns identify six children.

  • Frederick Cornelius (abt1878-1963) – a boot store manager (1911)
  • Winifred Rebekah (1880-1964) – a domestic servant (1901); married Edward Horton, a colliery labourer, in 1909
  • George (1883-1943) – an assistant baker (1901); a haulier (1911); a baker’s roundsman (1939)
  • Sydney Reu Quartus (1885-1964) – a wheelwright (1911); a carpenter (1939)
  • Lily Georgiana (b1887) – a domestic servant (1911)
  • Edith (1889-1970) – a domestic kitchen maid (1911); married Harry Cyril Jennings, a farm horseman (1939), in 1932

George died at Button Bridge, Kinlet, Bewdley, Shropshire. Martha married William Pountney, a coal miner, in 1901.

References

Christian Messenger 1900/287

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

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