Ford, John (1832-1902)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1887
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1903

Early years

John was born on 30 April 1832 at St Helens, Lancashire.

During his boyhood and youth, John attended Church of England services and was a Sunday School teacher. He was induced to attend some revival services at Lowton PM Chapel and was converted. He joined the Primitive Methodists. He became a PM Sunday School teacher at St Helens and joined the class of Mr John Drought. He was soon a local preacher and was instrumental in introducing Primitive Methodism to Rainford. On Easter Monday 1857 he became a hired local preacher at Burnley. In July 1857 he moved to London as a hired local preacher.

Ministry

At Settle, John had the unusual circumstance of being the superintendent in his first appointment.

During his placement at Alloa, both membership and income on the station were doubled.

Whilst superintendent at Congleton, John superintended the building of the chapel at Mow Cop where the first camp meetings were held.

Within John’s obituary, Rev John T Horne writes: ‘ he was a good man and diligent in his circuit work, thoughtful in his preaching and altogether a successful minister.’

Family

John married Louisa Boys Doe (1837-1922) in the spring of 1861 at Maidstone, Kent. Census returns identify seven children.

  • Edwin Thomas (1862-1879)
  • Louisa (1864-1939) – married George Norris, a joiner
  • John (b1865) – a schoolteacher
  • Anne Mary Charlotte (1866-1968) – married William Henry Grosvenor, a fish dealer
  • George Doe (1869- 1953) – a schoolteacher; emigrated to South Africa
  • Ada Priscilla (1871-1874)
  • Joseph (b1873) – an engine fitter (1891)

John died on 15 September 1902 in the Grantham Registration District

Circuits

  • 1858 Settle
  • 1859 Croydon & Redhill
  • 1861 Alloa
  • 1863 Belfast
  • 1864 Thornley
  • 1865 Brough
  • 1867 Watton
  • 1869 Downham
  • 1872 Yarmouth
  • 1875 Colchester
  • 1876 Thetford
  • 1879 Rockland
  • 1881 Congleton
  • 1884 Ludlow
  • 1886 Wolverhampton
  • 1889 Bottesford
  • 1891 Peterborough ll
  • 1893 Fakenham
  • 1895 Aylesham
  • 1900 Bottesford (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1887 (portrait); 1903/993

PM Minutes 1903/13

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

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Comments about this page

  • This page was modified on 31 August 2017 to add a transcription of John’s obituary, published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine 1903.

    By Geoff Dickinson (31/08/2017)

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