Alderson, William (1816-1901)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1863
Copy provided by Steven Carter

Early years

William was born on 4 May 1816 at Yarm, Yorkshire to parents John and Hannah. He was baptised on 12 May 1816 at Yarm. His parents were farmers, who soon moved to Appleton Wiske where he grew up. Three uncles were Wesleyan local preachers and William often travelled with one of them to an appointment. Through them he developed skills at delivering sermons. He was converted as a youth and soon started to preach in the PM circuit. His family tried to persuade him to join the Wesleyan or even Anglican ministry, but William stuck with his conviction to remain a Primitive.

Ministry

William enjoyed reading and collected a good library. In 1852 he was appointed by the Sunderland District to communicate with all the ministers on probation relative to improvements of their minds. He drew up an interesting programme of studies for them. It is not clear how effective this was, but it was certainly an early attempt to improve the education of PM Ministers, many of who came from an illiterate background.

As a preacher he was quiet but effective. Outside the pulpit, as well as in it, he was an earnest devoted worker and his ministry generally was highly successful.

Family

William married Mary Ann Lynn (1825-1884) in Teesdale in 1865.

William married Sarah Parrott (1841-1917) at Stockton, Co Durham in 1892.

William died on 25 January 1901 at Stockton, Co Durham.

Circuits

  • 1838 Brompton
  • 1839 Sunderland
  • 1840 Edinburgh
  • 1841 Sunderland
  • 1842 Newcastle
  • 1843 Shotley Bridge
  • 1844 Pateley Bridge
  • 1845 Stockton
  • 1847 Penrith
  • 1848 Alston
  • 1850 Berwick
  • 1851 N Shields
  • 1855 Whitehaven
  • 1856 Wolsingham
  • 1857 Penrith
  • 1861 Sunderland
  • 1864 St Helen’s Auckland
  • 1865 Darlington
  • 1866 Hartlepool
  • 1868 Hartlepool (Sup)
  • 1892 Stockton (Ac)
  • 1900 Stockton (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1863 (portrait); 1901/706

PM Minutes 1901/6

W Leary,Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits , 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Downloads

Comments about this page

  • This page was modified on 31 January 2017 to add a transcription of William’s obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine 1901.

    By Geoff Dickinson (31/01/2017)

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