Whittock, James (1849-1924)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1909

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1909

Early years

James was born in 1849 at Midsomer Norton, Somerset to parents Job and Mary. Job was a coal miner.

James went to work in a coal mine before the age of eleven. When fourteen, James yielded himself to Christ during a cottage service. At first he became a member of the Wesleyan Church, where he had previously been a Sunday School scholar. At the age of nineteen he was drawn to the Primitive Methodists and joined the Welton Society in the Radstock circuit. A year later he was on the plan as an exhorter. In the Tredegar circuit, James qualified for full plan. Books became his companions even in the darkness of the coal-pit.

Ministry

The greater portion of his ministry was spent in the South Wales District. James served as District Equalisation Fund Treasurer, District Sunday School Secretary, District Missionary Committee Secretary and District Committee Secretary. James represented the Primitive Methodist Church at the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Carnarvon Castle.

His obituary records that James had a sunny winsome disposition, a heart of gold, and a mind stored with valuable information. He was deeply spiritual in his outlook, and had to the end a quenchless passion for souls.

Family

James married Sarah Ann Strong (1852-1926) in the summer of 1875 at Newport, Monmouthshire. Census returns identify six of twelve children.

• Eleanor Gertrude (1876-1922) – a draper’s assistant (1901); married John O Rees
• Mary Elizabeth (b1879)
• Emily Strong (1881-1904) – a draper’s assistant (1901)
• May (b1884)
• James Graham (1887-1976) – a carpenter (1911)
• William Robert (1892-1965) – an outfitter’s assistant (1911)

James died on 28 July 1924 at Camerton, Somerset.

Circuits

• 1872 Hereford
• 1874 Pontypool
• 1877 Bath
• 1878 Chippenham
• 1881 Lydney
• 1884 Kingswood
• 1887 Cardiff
• 1888 London I
• 1889 Holloway
• 1892 Ryde & Ventnor
• 1895 Blaenavon
• 1897 Abertillery
• 1900 Cardiff
• 1902 Pontypridd
• 1909 Tredegar
• 1912 Aberdare
• 1914 Cardiff II (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1909/759; 1925/287

PM Minutes 1925/275

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers