Blake, Ephraim (1822-1906)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1874
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1907

Early years

Ephraim was born on 12 October 1822 at Bury St Edmunds, to parents Abel and Elizabeth. Abel was a labourer in 1841. Ephraim was taught to read and write by his father during the long evenings of winter.

Ephraim was converted aged 15. He immediately became a Primitive Methodist member and teacher in the Sunday School. He became a local preacher when he was 21.

Ministry

His obituary records Ephraim as being of a pleasant and genial disposition with a smile and kindly word for everybody; and never put out, he made few, if any, enemies.

Gifted with a mellow, musical voice, he was fervent and evangelical as a preacher and won many souls to Christ.

Family

Ephraim married Elizabeth Abbs (1831-1905) in 1850 in the Erpingham Registration District. Census returns identify twelve children.

  • Arthur Ephraim (1851-1898) – a brewer’s agent
  • Augusta Elizabeth (1853-1928) – married Alfred Smith, a tailor’s cutter
  • Emma Maria (1855-1916) – married William John Henderson, a sewing machine agent
  • Alfred George (1857-1882)
  • Walter Frank (1859-1913) – an NSPCC Inspector
  • Laura Pamela (1860-1861)
  • Laura Pamela (1862-1906) – married Charles Drake, an ironmonger; the 1891 census also records he was a sub-postmaster, rate collector and registrar of births, marriages and deaths
  • Henrietta Kate (1864-1952) – married Arthur Jary, a master carpenter and builder
  • Edith Jane (1866-1948) – married John Learmonth, a PM Minister
  • Julia Alice (1867-1930) – married Albert Lionel Cossey, a house furnisher’s manager
  • Louisa Mary (1869-1946) – married Sidney Morgan Gosling, a grocer
  • Rose Lilian (1872-1958) – married Edward Walter Flaxman, a bricklayer

Ephraim died on 17 November 1906 at Gorleston, Suffolk.

Circuits

  • 1846 Ipswich
  • 1847 Aylsham
  • 1849 Norwich l
  • 1851 Cambridge
  • 1853 Wangford
  • 1855 Fakenham
  • 1857 Ipswich
  • 1859 Docking
  • 1863 Yarmouth
  • 1866 Bury St Edmunds
  • 1869 Watton
  • 1872 Wisbech
  • 1875 Lowestoft
  • 1879 Norwich
  • 1882 E Dereham
  • 1884 Ely
  • 1889 Yarmouth (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1874 (portrait); 1906/156 (Elizabeth);1907/822

PM Minutes 1907/11

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Downloads

Transcription of Obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine 1907.

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