Stead, John Thomas (1847-1934)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1907

Early years

John was born in 1847 at Holbeck, Leeds, Yorkshire to parents Thomas and Martha. He was one of eight children.

At the age of nine, John started work in am large iron works at Oldham, Lancashire. So poor was the family, his mother was unable to provide decent clothing, so John attended a ragged school. With an improvement in family circumstance, John became a scholar in Hope Congregational Sunday school. He was induced to join a Band of Hope and signed the pledge in 1858. A year later, his mother placed him under the care of grand-parents at Canny Hill, near Bishop Auckland, and it was while attending a Wesleyan lovefeast that his heart was given to the Lord.

Returning to Oldham, John was invited to attend the Lees Road PM Sunday School and he also united with the Church. His name appeared on the preaching plan when he was seventeen years old.

Ministry

John held the secretaryships of the Furnishing, Orphanage, Building, District and Centenary Committees at various times.

John was described as an all round man – earnest and practical in the pulpit, distinctly evangelical and decidedly Methodistic, attentive to official duties, faithful in the administration of Connexional rule and in the exercise of discipline, frequently in the homes of his people and inspiring in his example to faith and good works.

Family

John married Mary Hannah Mannock (1850-1915) in the spring of 1874 at Oldham, Lancashire. Census returns identify six children.

  • John Edward (1875-1955) – an ironmonger’s clerk (1911); later a company director
  • Willie (1877-1959) – secretary of limited company of ironmongers (1911)
  • Emily Beatrice (1878-1918) – married Hedley Charles Trotman, a traveller in provision trade (1911)
  • Louisa Ruby (1880-1972) – married Leonard Sidney Hill
  • Edith Florence (b1884)
  • Mabel (1887) – a dressmaker (1911)

John died on 10 October 1934 at Southgate, Middlesex.

Circuits

  • 1871 Wigan
  • 1873 Liverpool I
  • 1874 Rochdale
  • 1876 Barrow in Furness
  • 1877 Manchester II
  • 1878 Wisbech
  • 1881 Spalding &c
  • 1886 Boston
  • 1889 Swinefleet
  • 1890 Motcombe
  • 1898 Oxford
  • 1901 Salisbury
  • 1903 Aylesbury
  • 1906 Wallingford
  • 1910 Cirencester
  • 1913 Oxford (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1907/759

Methodist Minutes 1935/196

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

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