Harvey, William (1811-1902)
William was born at Bilston, Staffordshire, on 30 October 1811 to parents Thomas and Elizabeth.
Ministry
Petty relates that one of the first tasks for William from the Shefford circuit was to mission the Abingdon area, which he commenced in January 1835. He formed a small society in a dwelling-house at Abingdon. William reports that the work of God prospered in the midst of continuing persecution in some places.
In 1836, William gave assistance to the mission to Aylesbury. During the week commencing 17 July 1836, William preached nine times, led three classes, attended five prayer meetings and visited about fifty families.
Family
William married Jane Woolford (1815-1891) in the spring of 1838 at Wallingford, Berkshire. Jane was an itinerant preacher from 1835 until she married. Census returns identify seven children.
- Tryphena (1840-1876)
- Thomas Fletcher (1843-1932) – civil engineer
- William Francis (1845-1933) – a draper shopkeeper
- Asarelah (1849-1918) – a draughtsman in iron works
- Lucas Jason (1851-1828) – a PM Minister
- Augustus Butler (1855-1876) – a clerk at blast furnace
- Lois Claudia (1856-1939) – married Alfred William Houlson, an accountant
William died on 27 September 1902 at Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire.
Circuits
- 1834 Shefford
- 1838 Bristol
- 1840 Faringdon
- 1842 Micheldever
- 1845 Poole
- 1847 Frome
- 1849 Pontypool
- 1851 Hereford
- 1853 Redruth
- 1856 Tredegar
- 1860 St Austell
- 1861 St Ives
- 1863 Tredegar
- 1867 Pillowell
- 1869 Monmouth & Lydbrook
- 1870 Radstock
- 1874 St Day
- 1875 Redruth
- 1876 Monmouth
- 1878 Aberdare
- 1880 Aberdare (Sup)
- 1881 Merthyr Tydfil
- 1883 Aberdare
- 1888 Merthyr Tydfil
- 1892 Tredegar
- 1893 Hanley
- 1897 Darlaston
References
J Petty, The History of the PM Connexion, new ed. 1880, pp.324, 357
PM World, 1900, p.472
Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1858, p.257; 1903, p.238
PM Minutes, 1903, p.17
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
Comments about this page
This page was modified on 15 September 2017 to add a transcription of William’s obituary, published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1903.
Antliff 1892 (pages 298-9) records some reminiscences, written by William Harvey of the Mitcheldever Circuit, of a visit by Hugh Bourne to his home in the winter of 1843-4. Bourne baptised Harvey’s son at the North Waltham chapel, and administered the Lord’s Supper. “He preached eight or nine times, and the large audiences were much blessed.” In conversation he often spoke familiarly of PM pioneers, including John Ride.
Add a comment about this page