Orchard, Henry Martin (1826-1864)

Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by J Stephenson

HENRY M. ORCHARD was born at Ilkeston, in 1826. He was brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, when a youth, and on giving his heart to God he gave his hand to his people. He united with the Primitive Methodists then worshipping in Slad chapel, Ilkeston.

He being a promising young man he was soon engaged in useful labour, as a teacher, in the Sabbath school, as a local preacher, and for a short time as a travelling preacher. In all these spheres of labour he was useful, and much, beloved by those among whom he laboured; but through loss of health he was obliged to relinquish the greater part of those important offices, but he was a member and assistant leader in Mr. Bailey’s class up to the day of his death. 

His afflictions were protracted several years, and at times painful to an extreme, but he was generally patient amid his sufferings. His attendance on the means of grace until laid aside by affliction was regular and devout; his attachment to the cause of God was proved by his cheerfully contributing to its support. 

As a husband he was kind and affectionate. The bereaved widow feels her loss keenly; but her loss is her husband’s gain. I frequently visited him, and generally found him in a devotional frame of mind, and especially a few days before his death.

His leader had frequent interviews with him, and always obtained entire satisfaction as to his state of mind. To Mrs. Bailey, the night before he died, he expressed his entire confidence in the God of his salvation, and that all was right between him and the Lord; he knew his peace was made with God. He died in triumph, February 22nd, 1864, aged thirty-eight years.

Family

Henry was born abt1826 at Portsmouth, Hampshire.

After leaving the ministry Henry worked as a grocer.

He married Sarah Whitfield (abt1816-1896) in late 1855 in the Spalding Registration District, Lincolnshire.

Henry died on 22 February 1864 at Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

Circuits

• 1852 Summercotes
• 1854 Donington
• 1856 disappears

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1865/104

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers