Swift, William (1843-1863)

Ministry

A transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by Thomas Large is attached. He concludes as follows:

‘It would perhaps ill become us to indulge in any laudatory remarks of a person so young, and one who had seen so little service, but thousands who live to riper years are not so well worthy of our imitation and admiration as the youth whose death we record; and though his sun went down ere it was mid-day, his light will long shine in the circles where he was known. One circumstance will show the influence he exerted in the town where he last lived; he had been there only a few days more than three months, and the doctor said to his host on one of his visits, “Who is this young man, Mr. Bell? everybody is asking how he is.” That a youth should go into a town like Newark, an entire stranger, and in addition to traversing an extensive circuit, should have made himself so thoroughly known and respected in the town in so short a, time, shows him to have been an extraordinary youth. Having known our brother for some years, and seen in him those traits of character which cannot fail to recommend themselves, I may be pardoned if I say of him, as Shakespeare has said, He was a youth, “take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.” That God may raise up an army of young men for our ministry of similar piety, talents, and industry, is the prayer of THOMAS LARGE.’

Family

William was born on 31 December 1843 at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, to parents Henry, a shoemaker, and Sarah.

Before entering the ministry William worked as a shoemaker (1861).

William died on 1 November 1863 at Newark, Nottinghamshire..

Circuits

• 1863 Newark

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1864/293

PM Minutes 1864/8

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers