Wheeler, John Neasham (1854-1886)

Ministry

A transcription of the obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by W.W. is attached. The writer records the following.

“His diligence, prudence, and increasing interest in the work of the circuit secured for him the utmost confidence, the highest respect, and the warmest affection of all the officials and members under his charge. Moreover, his labours were by no means confined within the limits of his own church, for all good objects found in him a willing response and ready assistance. He was closely identified with the temperance movement, and he rejoiced greatly in the good work done by all kindred associations.”

 Family

John was born on 20 March 1854 at Durham, Co. Durham, to parents George, a wool sorter (1871), and Ellen. He was baptised on 9 April 1854 at Durham.

Before entering the ministry John was a plasterer (1871).

He married Mary Jane Willey (1857-1883) in the summer of 1882 in the Durham Registration District, Co. Durham. Birth Records identify one child.

• Lilian Jane (1883-1883)

He married Mary Ann Cruikshank (b1862) in the summer of 1884 in the Islington Registration District, London.

John died on 14 June 1886 at Gravesend, Kent.

The 1891 census return records Mary Ann as an evangelist. I have not been able to identify her after 1891.

Circuits

• Sunderland
• 1878 Canterbury
• 1880 London VI
• 1882 Croydon
• 1883 Gravesend

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1888/177

PM Minutes 1886/20

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Note: Records spell John’s second name variously as ‘Neesham”, “Nesham” and “Neasham”.