Stafford, Samuel (1827-1890)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1884

Early years

Samuel was born on 11 November 1827 at Woodley, Cheshire to parents William Stafford, a cotton weaver (1841), and Mary Sikes. Samuel was the youngest of four brothers.

Samuel was converted shortly after he and number of friends were caught in petty vandalism on their way home from a Sunday morning bible class and challenged about their behaviour. With several others, Samuel formed a Juvenile Missionary and Revival Band. He developed into a class leader, local preacher and then into the itinerant ministry.

Ministry

Samuel’s obituary records that he was a man of quiet unassuming disposition. He betrayed no servility to those whose worldly circumstances were superior to his own, nor, on the other hand, did he display undue assumptions towards any with whom he had to associate in Christian life and work.

As a pastor, he lived among his people, he visited them regularly and frequently gave counsel and admonition where needed, and manifested practical sympathy in cases of distress; and to the credit of his catholic spirit, we may state that his generous aid was not confined to members of his own community.

In his pulpit ministrations there was no affection; his sermons, however, were thoughtful, calculated to instruct the mind, to affect the heart, and to reform the life; and so we find him successful in the conversion of sinners in all the circuits in which he travelled.

Family

Samuel married Ann Higginbotham in late 1852 in the Stockport registration district. Samuel was a widower in 1856. Ann died circa 1853/4.

Samuel married Lydia Law (1837-1919) in the spring 1861 at Bury, Lancashire. Census returns identify three children.

  • William (1863-1908) – an estate agent (1901)
  • James Henry (1865-1928) – a plumber and decorator
  • Mary (b1870)

Samuel died on 11 January 1890 at Glossop, Derbyshire.

Circuits

  • 1856 Manchester lll
  • 1858 Bury
  • 1861 Castletown
  • 1864 Glossop
  • 1868 New Mills
  • 1871 Chorley
  • 1874 Stalybridge
  • 1877 Blackpool
  • 1880 Lymm
  • 1883 Manchester lll
  • 1886 Bath ll
  • 1887 Radstock
  • 1888 Glossop

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1884 (portrait); 1891/49

PM Minutes 1890/14

H B Kendall, Origin and History of the PM Church, vol 2, p50

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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