Willetts, Samuel (1843-1914)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1907

Early years

Samuel was born on 23 October 1843 at Old Hill, nr Rowley Regis, Staffordshire to parents Elisha Willetts and Phoebe Forrest. Elisha worked as a coal miner. Phoebe died in 1844 and Elisha married Abigail Round in 1848. Samuel was baptised on 24 December 1843 at Rowley Regis.

Samuel was sent out to work at the age of seven. He was converted age the age of seventeen during a revival conducted by Rev R Poole in the Old Hill chapel. He began to attend evening classes and started to distribute tracts. Within three years his name appeared on the plan.

Ministry

As a preacher, Samuel was intensely evangelical, homely and pithy in his utterance. As a pastor he was both diligent and faithful. His kindness and cheerful spirit, his unfailing courtesy and his ready sympathy endeared him to the people.

During his ministry, Samuel superintended the erection of six chapels, two new schoolrooms and a manse. He was also involved in many debt reduction schemes.

Samuel served his district as Sunday School Secretary for ten years and also served as Orphanage Secretary.

Family

Samuel married Betsey Lusher (1843-1931) in late 1874 at Kings Lynn, Norfolk.

Samuel died on 17 April 1914 at Attleborough, Norfolk.

Circuits

  • 1869 Hadleigh
  • 1870 Bury St Edmunds
  • 1872 Colchester
  • 1873 Watton
  • 1875 Rockland
  • 1878 Yarmouth
  • 1882 Wymondham
  • 1885 Thetford
  • 1888 Lowestoft
  • 1891 Colchester
  • 1895 Acle
  • 1899 Rockland
  • 1902 N Walsham
  • 1906 Beccles
  • 1908 Rockland
  • 1910 Rockland (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1907/171; 1914/660

PM Minutes 1914/48

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

Comments about this page

  • My thanks to Lynda Organ for correcting Samuel’s parentage and providing information about his baptism.

    By Geoff Dickinson (04/01/2023)

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