Wilson, Benjamin (1883-1965)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

BENJAMIN WILSON: born at Hotham in the North Cave Circuit in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the year 1883. He came of farming stock and carried a love of the countryside and country people to the end of his day. It was however as an apprenticed joiner that he heard the call which was to take him into the ministry. Entering Hartley College in 1907, he quickly established himself as the friend of his fellow students, and this capacity for human relations was to be a distinguishing mark of his whole ministry. 

His probation was spent at Dartford, Teignmouth and Liskeard. Thereafter he travelled in the following circuits: Scotter, Market Rasen, Patrington, Winterton, Peterborough, Gloucester, Boston (West St.), Chesterfield (Mt Zion), and Ashby-de-la-Zouch (St John’s). For a time he was Synod Secretary in the Hull District, a position which he filled with distinction. Nevertheless his love was for circuit work. 

Wherever he travelled he won the esteem and affection of his people. They became not merely members for pastoral care, but friends. And although he was a preacher of considerable passion and power, he is remembered chiefly for his loyalty and gift for friendship. He retired to Christchurch in 1948. It was here that he nursed his wife with great devotion until her death five years ago. In the last few months of his life he came to reside with his daughter at Bognor Regis, where he died peacefully on Christmas Eve 1965, in the eighty-third year of his life and the fifty-sixth of his ministry.

Family

Benjamin was born on 7 February 1883 at Hotham, Yorkshire, to parents William Wilson, a huckster (1891), and Sarah E. Richardson.

Before entering the ministry Benjamin worked as a bricklayer (1901).

He married Eva Rose Webb (1885-1961) in the summer of 1914 at Christchurch, Hampshire. Birth Records identify three children.

• Eva Eileen W (1915-1998) – a teacher of domestic science (1939); married Thomas C Crompton in 1946
• Leslie Benjamin W (1915-1985) – a schoolmaster (1939)
• Alan R (b1923)   

Benjamin died on 24 December 1965 at Bognor Regis, Sussex.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1910 Supply
• 1911 Dartford
• 1912 Teignmouth
• 1913 Liskeard
• 1914 Scotter
• 1917 Market Rasen
• 1920 Patrington
• 1926 Winterton
• 1931 Peterborough
• 1935 Gloucester
• 1938 Boston West St
• 1941 Chesterfield Mt Zion
• 1946 Ashby de la Zouch St John
• 1948 Bournemouth (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1966/199

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Note: A huckster was a person who sold small items door-to-door or from a stall.