Symonds, John (1812-1849)

Ministry

A transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by H. Knowles is attached. He summarises John as follows.

“As a spiritual ruler, he endeavoured to maintain discipline. As a colleague, he was kind and affectionate, and was always ready to assist his brethren in affairs belonging to the circuit. As a preacher, he possessed a mind well stored with information ; but he had not the happiest method of expressing his ideas, yet he was generally acceptable. He was an eminent family visitor, and was much esteemed by, and often made a blessing to, those whom he visited. His liberality was exerted to the utmost of his means to help on every good work that came in his way. Whenever he met with any persons that gave promise of usefulness, he would give them some encouraging advice, or lend them suitable books. At Louth, he was accustomed to meet, on a sabbath morning, at seven o’clock, eight or nine young men, with whom he read, and to whom he explained, the Scriptures. Those youths occupy a place on the preachers’ plan, and they made considerable improvement by the instructions he gave them. For the conducting of their meetings, they had rules drawn up, and a fine was levied on those who failed in their attendance, which fines were put into a missionary box. His death is much lamented by those young men, they having received such tokens of kindness from him. He was a great admirer and a faithful practiser of the temperance principles. As a husband he was kind and affectionate; as a father he was tender, but firm, and laboured to instruct his children in the great principles of the religion of Jesus Christ.”

Family

John was born on 21 April 1812 at Whitwell-beck, nr Reepham, Norfolk, to parents Mark Symonds, who worked the land, and Ann Beans. He was baptised on 26 April 1812 at Hackford with Whitwell, Norfolk.

John’s obituary records he left a widow and six children. I have not been able to identify them in online records. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

John died on 31 October 1849 at Louth, Lincolnshire.

Circuits

• 1835 Fakenham
• 1836 Upwell
• 1837 Norwich
• 1838 Brandon
• 1841 Yarmouth
• 1843 Ipswich
• 1846 Norwich I
• 1848 Louth

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1850/321

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers