Stansfield, George (1807-1891)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1853

Early years

George was born in Yorkshire in 1807. He was converted in 1820 under a sermon preached by Mr John Raymond of Leeds. He was a local preacher for a number of years before entering the ministry.

Ministry

When George was appointed to Ramsgate in 1842, the work in Kent was at a low ebb. To redress the situation, George had to recourse to open-air services. The magistrates at Margate were determined to suppress these efforts in the town. George was summonsed on 7 March, accused of committing a nuisance. Despite support from the public in the courtroom he was fined a shilling plus costs totalling 6s 6d, or in default of payment 7days in Dover jail. He was given 7 days to pay the fine. Not paying the fine, he was duly sent to prison where he interested himself in the welfare of his fellow prisoners. So dignified and respectable was his appearance that his fellow prisoners took him for a prison inspector. On release, a gentleman generously paid for his coach fare from Dover back to his family at Ramsgate.

George was elected a Deed Poll member of Conference.

His obituary records that over 1000 souls were added to the church through his work.

Family

George married Sarah Watson (1793-1878)

Whilst in Pontefract, they had a third set of twins, which was widely reported in the northern press. Census returns only identify two children.

  • Sarah Jane (1834-1918)
  • George Watson (1834-1888) – a commercial clerk

George died on 30 January 1891 at Manchester, Lancashire.

Circuits

  • 1829 Sunderland
  • 1830 Hexham (6 mths)
  • 1830 Glasgow (6 mths)
  • 1831 Hull
  • 1834 Huddersfield
  • 1835 Swinefleet
  • 1837 Pontefract
  • 1839 Whitby
  • 1842 Ramsgate
  • 1843 Sheerness
  • 1845 Brighton
  • 1846 Oldham
  • 1848 Manchester
  • 1849 New Mills
  • 1851 Manchester ll
  • 1853 Manchester l
  • 1855 Chester
  • 1859 Preston
  • 1861 Manchester l
  • 1864 Liverpool ll
  • 1866 St Helens
  • 1869 Rochdale
  • 1871 New Mills
  • 1873 Preston Brook
  • 1875 Wrexham
  • 1877 Stalybridge
  • 1878 Clitheroe
  • 1880 Clitheroe (s)
  • 1881 Buckley
  • 1882 Manchester l

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1853/385 (portrait); 1879/179 (wife); 1891/754

PM Minutes 1891/16

J Petty, The History of the Primitive Methodist Connexion, 1880, p421

H B Kendall, Origin and History of the PM Church, vol 2, p348

Joseph Ritson, The Romance of Primitive Methodism , 1909, p 171

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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