Wallis, Samuel Joseph (1836-1923)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1891
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1923

Early years

Samuel was born on 25 November 1836 at Hessle, nr Hull, Yorkshire to parents William and Ann. William was an Anglican schoolmaster, clerk to the local bench of magistrates and also local collector of taxes. William was very much against Samuel joining the Ranters.

Samuel was converted aged 18, became a Sunday School teacher and was soon on the plan. He candidate for the ministry in 1859, but was placed on the reserve list. It was not long before a call came from the London I circuit.

Ministry

The 1891 biography in the Primitive Methodist Magazine records that his disposition was high strung, tender and affectionate, especially to little children, the suffering and the poor. He was witty, humorous and pathetic, so his audiences were frequently moved to smiles and tears.

Whilst at Reading Samuel made friends with the Palmer brothers, of biscuit fame, who helped him considerably in building works. The principal chapel in Reading was enlarged and an organ installed, Friars St Chapel was built at a cost of £1500 and a commodious school and minister’s house provided.

Samuel was a keen student of nature and was very fond of poets. His sermons were profusely scattered with poetical illusions and he was known to many as the ‘Poet Preacher’.

Family

Samuel married Elizabeth Holmes (abt 1832-1879) at the end of 1863 at Bethnal Green, London. Census returns identify one child.

  • Annie Marion (1864-1931)

Samuel married Caroline Flick, nee Kemp, (b1844) in early 1880 at Blean, Kent. Census returns identify one child.

  • May (b abt 1881)

Samuel died on 14 January 1923 at Hessle, Yorkshire.

Circuits

  • 1859 London l
  • 1860 Northampton
  • 1862 Saffron Walden
  • 1864 Stansted
  • 1866 Weymouth
  • 1870 Northampton
  • 1873 Reading
  • 1877 Ramsgate
  • 1879 Guernsey
  • 1881 High Wycombe
  • 1883 Sheerness
  • 1886 Chalfont St Giles
  • 1889 Sheffield l
  • 1892 Chesterfield lll
  • 1895 Kimberley
  • 1899 Chesterfield (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1891/129; 1923/585

PM Minutes 1923/287

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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