Birks, William (1829-1901)
Early Years
William was born on 29 November 1829 at Tideswell, Derbyshire.
William’s family moved to Marple when he was young. He attended a Wesleyan Sunday School, but it was through Primitive Methodists that he was converted in 1842. William moved to Stockport and, for several years, he was a Sunday School teacher and the Secretary of a Missionary and Revival Band. He became a class leader and local preacher.
Ministry
His obituary records that he was a careful, peaceful, plodding circuit preacher; a diligent, devout and faithful pastor; attentive to family visitation; and always eager to win the affection of the young.
Family
William married Jenifer Ann Renfry on 25 December 1856 at Liskeard, Cornwall. Census returns identify five children.
- Madeline Matilda Birks (b1859)
- William Antliff Orlando (b1862) – superintendent in assurance company (1891)
- Frederick George (1866-1936)
- Samuel Antliff Wesley (1870-1928) – a schoolmaster
- Jenifer Ann Birks (1877-1962) – a nurse
William died on 19 August 1901 at Stockport, Cheshire.
Circuits
- 1852 St Austell
- 1854 Bridgewater
- 1855 Gravesend & Aveley
- 1857 Hammersmith
- 1858 Ramsgate
- 1859 Bradford
- 1861 Halifax
- 1862 Leighton Buzzard
- 1865 High Wycombe
- 1867 Bedford
- 1870 Belfast
- 1872 Tamworth
- 1874 Rugby
- 1876 Clitheroe
- 1878 Helmshore
- 1880 Bolton ll
- 1881 Skelmersdale
- 1883 Pocklington
- 1885 Peterborough
- 1888 Newark
- 1891 Motherwell
- 1893 Stockport (S)
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1880 (portrait)
PM Minutes 1902/7
W Leary , Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits , 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
Comments about this page
I am the great great grandson of the Rev. William. I came across this today by accident, so a very pleasant surprise. Frederick George was my great grandfather. The family remained/returned to Northern Ireland following his time in Belfast. Well done for your efforts.
Birks was a name associated with Ashover and related areas of Derbyshire. There may well have been a distant relationship between the two men – but they were certainly not directly related. (William Birks b1843) was my great grandfather and I have done considerable research on his family.
Is William Birks related to Reverend William Birks (b.1843 in Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire) who was a Unitarian Minister. His father was William Birks (b. abt 1806 in Ashover, Derbyshire) also a Unitarian Minister?
Bob,
Thanks for your question.
I have seen no evidence in my brief family history search to suggest any relationship between the two.
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