Maxwell, William Hamer (1875-1943)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

WILLIAM HAMER MAXWELL: born at Huddersfield in 1875. He accepted the call to the Primitive Methodist Ministry in 1905. During his faithful ministry his chief interests were with young people, who always found in him a wise counsellor and friend; he was an able and passionate advocate of temperance and the great social questions. Many times he was urged to enter political life, but though social problems were on his heart he felt that his supreme business was to do the work of an evangelist.

Throughout his ministry he fought bravely against sickness, and his own weakness made him tender in his dealings with all who were in trouble. In 1931 he was compelled through ill-health to become a supernumerary, but after two years’ rest he returned to the full work for a further seven years. Though naturally of a reserved nature, his generous spirit, the brave way in which he overcame physical weakness, and his faithful presentation of the Gospel made him friends wherever he served.

He entered into life on September 6, 1943, in the thirty-ninth year of his ministry.

Family

William was born on 6 July 1875 at Huddersfield, Yorkshire, to parents Gilmer, an iron polisher (1881), and Rebecca.

William was a builder’s clerk before entering the ministry (1901).

He married Lilian Hollingsworth (1876-1965) in the summer of 1909 in the Glanford Brigg Registration District, Lincolnshire. Census returns identify two children.

Phyllis Hollingsworth (1910-1987) – married John Herbert Roworth, a transport manager for agricultural fertiliser manufacturer and cattle feed distributor (1939), in 1936
Kenneth Gilmer (1917-2006) – a gold beater (1939)

William died on 6 September 1943 at Bolton, Lancashire.