Greener, Thomas (1798-1856)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1854
Copy provided by Steven Carter

Early years

Thomas was born on 14 July 1798 at Newburn, Northumberland to parents Nicholas Greener and Ann Nelson. He was baptised on 9 September 1798 at Newburn, Northumberland. Nicholas was a coal miner and Thomas followed his father down the pit by the age of 7.

In 1807, Thomas started to attend the Sabbath School at Chester le Street where he was taught to read and write. In 1814 the family moved to North Shields where Thomas was converted through the Wesleyans. By 1821, he had a good knowledge of arithmetic, book-keeping, mensuration, geometry, land surveying and English grammar. In April 1822 Thomas started to teach in a day school. Around that time he started to preach.

Thomas joined with the Primitive Methodists following  marriage to his second wife who was a PM.

Ministry

Mr J Ritson, the father of Joseph Ritson (The Romance of Primitive Methodism), was converted at Keenly under the ministry of Thomas Greener. Ritson senior became an influential layman in West Allendale.

His obituary records that Thomas was distinguished by great simplicity, considerable energy and fidelity. He could not do anything by halves; in whatever he engaged he did it with his might.

Family

Thomas first married Miss Wilkinson.

He later married Eleanor Wrightson (1803-1878) on 16 April 1823 at Tynemouth, Northumberland. Records identify eleven children.

  • Jane Wrightson (1825-1868) – married William Parrott, a builder
  • Nicholas (1826-1827)
  • Margaret (1829-1914) – married John Jessop, a cloth dresser
  • Eleanor Wrightson (1830-1899) – married Thomas Hodgson, a wood turner
  • Thomas (1833-1915) – a letter press printer and local preacher
  • George Joseph Smith (1835-1908) – a tinner and brazer
  • Ann( b1837)
  • Christopher Wrightson (1838-1873) – a barman (1871)
  • John Hall (1841-1911) – a master embosser
  • Isabella Mona (1844-1860)
  • William Thompson (1846-1880) – an embosser

Thomas died on 11 January 1856 at Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

Circuits

  • 1830 Hull
  • 1835 Liverpool
  • 1837 Oldham
  • 1839 Chester
  • 1842 Ramsey
  • 1844 Warrington
  • 1846 Huddersfield
  • 1848 Leeds South
  • 1849 Bradford
  • 1851 Halifax
  • 1853 Wakefield
  • 1855 Huddersfield (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1854/65 (portrait); 1856/321

H B Kendall, Origin and History of the PM Church, vol 2, p157

R Davies, A funeral sermon occasioned by the death of the Rev. T. Greener: The substance of which was preached in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Huddersfield, January 1856: to which is added a brief memoir of his life, labours, and death, 1856

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Comments about this page

  • Hi I justwanted to know if Eleanor Greener (nee Wrightson) parents were called Christopher Wrightson and Eleanor Hall? I am a decendent to Eleanors brother George Wrightson. I’m now trying to do research on George’s siblings. Thank you very much for any information. Thank you Alyce

    By Alyce Menhinnitt (24/03/2014)
  • Alyce, 

    Thank you for your comment. My information, based on familysearch.org, is that Eleanor Wrightson was born on 27 January 1803 and baptised on 10 April 1803 at Christ Church, Tynemouth. Her parents are listed as Christopher Wrightson and Eleanor Hall.

    By Geoff Dickinson (24/03/2014)

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