Mole, William (1797-1868)

Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by Joseph Mole

Local preacher and class leader, of Clowstop, Kidderminster Station, left this mortal shore for the regions of bliss, September 22nd, 1868, in the seventy-first year of his age. The first twenty-five years of his life were spent in sin. About the year 1822, the Primitive Methodists visited the neighbourhood. Mrs. Mole’s house was opened for preaching, and a home made for the preachers. Under their preaching he was awakened to a sense of his guilt, and was led to form resolutions to amend his life, which were happily carried into effect. After contending for some time with the powers of darkness, he took hold of the promises, ventured on the atonement, and obtained the knowledge of salvation by the remission of all his sins. 

He was a studious reader of the Scriptures, and having good natural abilities was soon called upon to exhort others to flee from the wrath to come. His name appeared upon the Hopton Bank—now Ludlow—circuit plan. Soon after he was called to take the work of one of the travelling preachers for a quarter in his own station. The following year he was urged to enter the ministry. After much prayer for Divine direction he obeyed the call, and travelled in the following stations:—Hopton Bank,—now Ludlow—Preston Brook, Chester, and the Isle of Man. His labours were not without fruit. After travelling eleven years, for some cause unknown to us, he resigned the itinerancy, married, and returned to his native place, and entered the ranks of his local brethren. 

As a preacher he was well received: his sermons were original and plain, powerful and argumentative. When we built our chapel he gave £11 and a considerable amount of labour towards its erection, became a trustee, and filled the office of treasurer. His house was a home for both travelling and local preachers, who were always made welcome at his table.

During the last nine months he was so afflicted with rheumatism in his limbs that he was unable to attend the means of grace. As the end drew near, his reply to his wife’s interrogations satisfied us that he had a firm confidence in the Redeemer, and knew in whom he had believed. During the last two days he lay almost motionless, and without a word, sigh, or groan he passed from earth to a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Family

William was born abt 1797 at Bayton, Worcestershire, to parents Joseph and Mary.

Census returns identify the following occupations for William.

• 1841 miner
• 1851 farmer of 20 acres
• 1861 farmer of 20 acres, grocer and local preacher

He married Catherine Christian (abt1806-1863)   on 5 October 1831 at Braddan, isle of Man. Census returns identify ten children.

• Matthew (b1833) – a coal miner (1881)
• Keziah (1834-1852)
• Josiah (1835-1920) – a stocktaker (1871); emigrated to USA in 1882; a farmer 1900
• William (b1837)
• Cornelius (1839-1875) – a butcher (1861)
• Catherine (b abt1842)
• Luke (b abt1843)
• Eleanor Jane (1844-1857)
• Mark (b1846) – farmer’s son (1861)
• Alfred (b1849)

He married Fanny Vinall (1832-1893) on 2 April 1866 at Bayton, Worcestershire. Records identify one child.

• Fanny Jane (1867-1871)

William died on 15 September 1868 at  Cloys Top, Bayton, Worcestershire.

Fanny married John Baldwin in b1869 after William’s death.

Circuits

• 1826 Tunstall
• 1827 Chester
• 1828 Preston
• 1829 Bolton
• 1830 Isle of Man
• 1832 resigned

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1869/681

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers