McKechnie, Alexander (1820-1901)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1870
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1902

Early years

Alexander was born in 1820 at Johnstone, nr Paisley, Scotland. He was educated through attending day schools, evening classes and the Mechanics Institute. Alexander was converted at the age of 17.

Initially Alexander was a member of the Relief Presbyterian Church. Study of the bible led him to reject the somewhat severe Calvinism of his church and accept a wider interpretation of the scriptures. Alexander joined the Paisley Primitive Methodists when they missioned Johnstone. After a short time as a local preacher, Alexander entered the ministry.

Ministry

Alexander’s obituary records that he was a man of distinct individuality, racy and terse in speech, vigorous in thought, clear in judgement.

J F Parrish writes; ‘He was unmoved by fear or favour, it was impossible by threats to intimidate him or by flattery to seduce him. Having once become convinced that a certain course was right and proper, he would pursue it to the end. The wisdom of his judgement might be questioned, but his integrity and uprightness were apparent to all.’

Family

Alexander married Elizabeth Dent (1830-1914) on 1 August 1849 at Middleton Tyas, Yorkshire. Census returns identify twelve children.

  • Alexander (1850-1883) – a clerk/book-keeper
  • Mary Jane (1852-1932) – married James Ellis Vero, a printer
  • Frances (1855-1921) – a teacher
  • Annie (b1857) -married Joseph Edward Day, an insurance agent
  • Elizabeth (1859-1946) – a teacher
  • Lily (1861-1921) – married John William Robson, a bank manager
  • Arthur (1863-1947) – a schoolmaster
  • Alice Flesher (1865-1956) – a teacher
  • Charles Henry (1867-1951) – a printer
  • Agnes (1869-1953) – married William Henry Moulden, a chemist and druggist
  • Kate (1871-1922)
  • Herbert Ellison (1873-1893) – a lithographic artist apprentice in 1891

Alexander died on 23 March 1901 at Keighley, Yorkshire.

Circuits

  • 1842 Berwick
  • 1843 Stockport
  • 1844 Alston
  • 1846 Middleham
  • 1848 Thirsk
  • 1849 Ripon
  • 1850 Keighley
  • 1852 Pickering
  • 1854 Pontefract
  • 1855 Barnsley
  • 1857 Leeds l
  • 1859 Bingley
  • 1862 Colne
  • 1864 Easingwold
  • 1866 Halifax
  • 1869 Barnsley
  • 1872 Leeds ll
  • 1875 Wakefield
  • 1878 Horbury
  • 1881 Barnsley
  • 1884 Bingley
  • 1888 Whitehaven
  • 1889 Normanton
  • 1892 Keighley (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1870 (portrait); 1902/620; 1914/328

PM Minutes 1901/30

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

Downloads

Comments about this page

  • This page was modified on 30 June 2017 to add a transcription of the obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1902.

    By Geoff Dickinson (30/06/2017)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.