Morley, George (1856-1903)

Transcription of Obituary In the Christian Messenger

MR. GEORGE MORLEY, a local preacher of Newark, was born at Bingham, Notts., 47 years ago. Little is known of his early life except that he grew up a wild and dissolute youth. He was converted to God at Claypole 23 years ago. The change was a very marked one. The thoughts of his former life made him sad and humbled him. But he could rejoice in realising, like Paul, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” Over 20 years ago he removed to Newark, where he resided at the time of his death. All who knew him believed him to be a sincere and earnest Christian man.

Of preaching he was very fond, and, possessing a capital voice and much religious enthusiasm, he was generally regarded as one of the few “old-fashioned” Primitive Methodists. Requests for his services came from far and near, especially in relation to Camp Meetings.

For nearly six weeks before his death, after an attack of influenza, Brother Morley lay ill with a complication of heart and lung affections. He suffered intensely, and seasons of unconsciousness were frequent. When conscious, however, he was able to assure us that “the religion he had for years recommended to others was a great joy and support to him then.” For this we thank God. The end arrived just before 6 p.m. on Sunday.

We miss him in the church, especially from the prayer meetings, where his voice and manner were most familiar. He is missed in the home, where he has left a widow and several children to mourn his loss. But our comfort is that he has reached the home above – the “House of many mansions.” May we all meet him there. A memorial service was conducted by the Circuit minister in our Parliament Street Church on the Sunday following his death, and was of a very impressive character.

Family and other information

George was born in 1856 at Claythorpe, Lincolnshire, (near Bingham, Nottinghamshire) to parents James and Ellen. James was a miller’s carter (1861).

Census returns identify the following occupations for George.

• 1871 farm servant
• 1881 labourer
• 1891 horse shunter
• 1901 railway shunter

George married Sarah Ann Holden (1854-1903) in the summer of 1875 in the Nottingham Registration district. Census returns identify eight children.

• Thomas William (abt1877-1951) – an engineer fitter (1911)
• Susan (1879-1897)
• Annie (1883-1910) – a dressmaker (1901); married George Frederick Thompson, a wood machine fitter, in 1908
• Sarah Jane (1886-1975) – a dressmaker (1901); married George Sydney Etoe, a carpenter, in 1905
• Walter (1888-1958) – a brewer’ labourer (1911)
• Gertrude (1891-1963) – a pea picker (1911)
• Edith May (b1893)
• Mabel Ellen (b abt1899)

George died in early 1903 at Newark, Nottinghamshire.

References

Christian Messenger 1904/95

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers