Morgan, William (1840-1935) - briefly a minister

William Morgan 1840-1935 was briefly a minister in the Southampton Circuit, 1863-1865. Here is the story of how he left the Primitive Ministry.
The Quarterly Meeting of the Southampton Primitive Methodist Circuit began a new minute book (Southampton City Archives D/METH 3/2/2) on 7 June 1863. Present at the first recorded meeting were “Messrs Wright, Morgan, Ellery, Millward, Wyeth, Grace, Williams, Musselwhite, Matthews, Jas Judd, Mansell, W King, Harris, Perrin, G Moody, W Holloway, G Bessant, J Sait, T Lavington.” Amongst other resolutions, the meeting agreed “That Mr William Morgan and Miss Sillence preach the Anniversary sermons of Shirley chapel.” Just over a year later, a more dramatic series of events began to unfold.
5 September 1864:
34. That as Mr Morgan has been suspended from preaching, and 2 years added to his probation by the District Committee for breaking off (without justifiable reasons) the courtship with a young lady in Poole, we ask the General Missionary Committee to take him and find him a station on the Missions.
35. That if the G.M. Committee accept him, we endeavour to obtain the sanction of the General Committee to take out a preacher.
36. That the District Committee be respectfully desired to remit a part of their sentence on Mr Morgan.
The meeting was adjourned to 27 September:
4. That soon after the correspondence had ceased between Mr Morgan and Miss Jacobs, it was known that he was paying his addresses to Miss Ellery of Shirley in the Southampton Circuit.
5. That Miss Ellery was not a member of our Society, she made no profession of religion, neither have we any evidence she was converted to God. She is not a member at present.
6. That when Mr Morgan was remonstrated with, at an official meeting, and was given to understand that his conduct would be reported to the District Committee, he made statements which led the meeting to believe that he would at once break the connection with Miss Ellery. Upon hearing the statements the meeting immediately expressed its satisfaction and decoded to let the matter drop.
7. That Mr Morgan continued the correspondence in defiance of the circuit authorities, and was seen walking about Shirley and Southampton with Miss Ellery. He also slept at her residence night after night instead of remaining at his lodgings. His conducting Miss Ellery from place to place in our circuit has made a bad impression.
8. That the following resolutions be forwarded to the District Committee.
9. That, in the opinion of this meeting, the conduct of Mr Ellery in allowing Mr Morgan to sleep, night after night, at his residence is very censurable.” Mr Ellery was a local preacher.
21 December:
1. That the vote of censure passed on Mr Ellery at the adjourned quarterly meeting of 27th September last be confirmed.
2. That as Mr Ellery persists in the inconsistent course already censured, and which has had a bad effect on the interest of Primitive Methodism in the Southampton circuit, his name be removed from the plan.
6. That Mr Morgan’s name stand next to Mr Wilshaw’s on the plan, until the case of the former has been decided by the General Committee.
10 January 1865
10.1.1865
1. That the case of Mr Ellery and his wife having been transferred by the leader and Society Steward of Shirley to this meeting, we decide that, in consequence of Mr Ellery persisting in the course which led to his being censured, and subsequently removed from the plan, and having in the absence from home of the chapel steward at Shirley, obtained from his wife the chapel book under the plea of copying therefrom, and now refusing to deliver it up, we consider him unworthy of a place amongst us, and therefore expel him from Society; and that as the leader states Mrs Ellery informed him she should come amongst us for some time at least, and having attended the church, and the Wesleyan Chapel, her name shall be removed from the class book.
5. That Messrs Grace, Butt, and Trowbridge be appointed to wait on Mr Ellery and demand the chapel book, and inform him he is no longer a member of our Society.
There was a letter attached in the minute book from the Primitive Methodist Missionary Committee, dated 8 January, saying there was no money for an extra preacher. “PS “Will you be kind enough to say how Morgan is doing and where he is.”
13 March:
1. That we inform the General Committee and the General Missionary Committee, that Mr Morgan still pays his addresses to and lives in the same house as Miss Ellery, who is not converted, nor a member of any Xtian body. Mr Morgan only occasionally attends our regular services, and has not met in class since his suspension. He also demanded salary and board and lodging to the amount of £3 17 – and threatens the Circuit Steward with legal proceedings in a fortnight if the money be not paid.
2. That we forward to the General Committee Mr Morgan’s letter, and ask their advice respecting it.
adjourned to 28 March
That Mr Wright apply to the General Missionary Committee for a young man as 3rd preacher and that he be not under 20 years of age.
Another letter was attached in the minute book, dated 15 March, saying that the Primitive Methodist General Committee approved a third preacher “according to the conditions you name,” and that “Mr Lupton will send you the £17 for Mr Morgan, as he belongs to the Missions; with all necessary instructions how to settle with him”

Family

William Morgan, of full age, clerk, of Shirley, father Edward Morgan, labourer, married Sarah Ann Ellery, aged 19, spinster, of Shirley, father Henry Ellery, painter at Shirley Parish Church, by licence, 9 May 1865. Their daughter Anna Matilda Morgan was baptised 5 May 1866, aged 3 months and 6 days, at Shirley Wesleyan Chapel; and their son William Edward Morgan was also baptised there 5 October 1868. By the 1871 census the family had moved to Watford, where William’s occupation is given as “Painter etc Tobacconist etc.” Sarah Ann’s mother, Sarah Ellery, is also present on the night of the census. William was now 30, and born at Mere in Wiltshire. By 1901, William, Sarah and daughters Mary and Beatrice had returned to Southampton, to Winchester Road, Bassett, then just outside the borough boundary, and that is where William died at Iona, 430 Winchester Road Bassett Southampton 9 June 1935 (Probate Calendar 1935) His effects amounted to £2553 1s.
William was baptised in Mere parish church 7 June 1840, the son of Edward and Ann Morgan, and the 1851 census shows him wiorking alongside his father as an agricultural labourer. On the 1861 census he is boarding with Samuel Butt, baker, in Gillingham, Shaftesbury, aged 20 and now a “Traveling Methodist Preacher.”