Rooke, William (1808-1877)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1857
Copy provided by Steven Carter

William was born on 26 February 1808 at Bideford, Devon to parents Alexander and Jane. He was baptised on 20 March 1808 at Bideford.

Ministry

At the age of 19, the death of a friend by drowning was the trigger for William’s conversion. He joined the Wesleyans and was a local preacher for two years. He was expelled by the Wesleyans after attending a Primitive Methodist camp meeting in Barnstable. He found himself drawn to the Primitives and for two years laboured in local ministry in Barnstable.

His obituary reads; ‘As a man, physically and mentally, he was of an iron type, and his Christian life was largely complexioned by this peculiarity of his nature. As a preacher he was more adapted to storm a citadel than to pour oil of gladness into the broken hearted.’

Family

He married Sarah Speake (b1808) at Ellesmere, Shropshire in 1842.

William died on 18 August 1877 at Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Circuits

  • 1834 St Austell
  • 1835 Prees
  • 1836 Ramsor
  • 1837 Birmingham
  • 1839 Coventry
  • 1840 Hadnall
  • 1842 Longton
  • 1843 Dudley
  • 1845 Kidderminster
  • 1847 Coventry
  • 1850 Dawley Green
  • 1851 Lichfield
  • 1854 Macclesfield
  • 1856 Kidderminster
  • 1858 Bromyard
  • 1860 Ramsor
  • 1864 Minsterley
  • 1866 Church Stretton
  • 1867 Shrewsbury (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1878/247

PM Minutes 1878/8

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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