Harrison, John (1836-1934)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1889
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1912

Early years

John was born on 23 May 1836 at Norton, nr Malton, Yorkshire to parents Thomas Harrison and Sarah Loccock. John was baptised on 12 June 1836 at Norton by Malton. Both parents were devout Christians.

At the age of two, the family moved to Sleights Bridge. Here John received a country school education. During boyhood, John was apprenticed to a ‘very wicked employer’, whose vile conduct would have ruined a less resolute spirit. The 1851 census records John working as a farm servant to Edward Smith Wormald, a farmer of 300 acres at Newholm cum Dunsley, Yorkshire.

John was converted in June 1853 and joined the Primitive Methodist Society at Malton. A year later his name appeared on the plan and he laboured as a local preacher until April 1859.

Ministry

Whilst in Scotland, John learned to read Greek and Hebrew scriptures.

His obituary records that as a preacher, John was evangelical, and was a familiar figure in the homes of the people.

In his will, he left the residue of his estate to assist worthy students in their college days.

John’s wife, Christiana, supported his ministry serving as a class leader for 50 years and local preacher for 43 years.

Family

John married Christiana Haigh (1833-1911) of Kirby Moorside in 1863. Census returns identify four children, although the 1911 census reveals that Christiana had six children.

  • Lucy Luccock (1867-1871)
  • John Jabez (1868-1946) – a PM Minister
  • Samuel Dunlop (1870-1880)
  • Ellen Fielder (1874-1882)

John died on 31 August 1934 at Scarborough, Yorkshire.

Circuits

  • 1859 Pontefract
  • 1860 Dewsbury
  • 1861 Pateley Bridge
  • 1862 Otley
  • 1863 Richmond
  • 1864 Motherwell
  • 1866 Wishaw
  • 1869 Paisley
  • 1870 Newtown
  • 1873 Abergavenny
  • 1875 Liskeard
  • 1879 Exeter
  • 1881 Redhill
  • 1883 Tamworth
  • 1884 Peaton Strand
  • 1885 Minsterley
  • 1886 Church Stretton
  • 1887 Horbury
  • 1890 Thirsk
  • 1892 Pickering (S)
  • 1898 Lowick
  • 1899 Manea

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1889/449; 1912/79 (Christiana)

Methodist Conference Minutes 1935/195

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

Comments about this page

  • Claudia,
    Thank you for the additional information.

    By Geoff Dickinson (16/05/2022)
  • The ‘missing’ two children of the couple’ s total six were their first-born THOMAS who died at Motherwell in 1865 aged 9 months and EVA who died in Newtown in 1872 aged 7 months. This information is taken from the family’s gravestone in York Cemetery, Cemetery Road. I could e-mail you a photo of the headstone if wanted.

    By Claudia Burdon (16/05/2022)

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