Mrs. Macro, David Randall, James Nunn, George Buck and William Betts

"For all Thy Saints"

Transcription of Obituaries In the Christian Messenger

We bless God for five of them who used to labour in the Diss Circuit (Norfolk), and who have during recent days entered into rest. Mrs. Macro, a true mother in Israel, had been a member of our Wilby Society for forty-seven years. Her home was always open to preachers of the word. Her heart was full of love for our little cause. The first ten shillings of her old-age pension was given to God’s work. One of her boys passed through our college, but was called home just as Conference had made his first appointment. Mother and son are now re-united, and both will understand.

David Randall, also of Wilby, used to go with his father to cottage prayer-meetings before the chapel was built. He and his brothers helped to prepare the foundation-stones for the little building. One of his duties in the early days of the chapel was to snuff the candles during divine service. He helped to found the Sunday School, was for some time its secretary, and one of its teachers for over thirty years. James Nunn, of Wortham, a local preacher with us for over sixty years, was a man who walked thousands of miles, preaching in the open air, and in all kinds of buildings in the villages of this Norfolk and Suffolk border The writer knew him only in days of feebleness, but the spirit of the man revealed no sign of decay. He possessed humour that was racy of the soil. How he revelled in the telling of a good story, one of those he used to tell in more vigorous days! His memory is a benediction to many.

George Buck was another local preacher belonging to the same society, who was bed-ridden for some time before the end came, but who, in spite of feebleness of body and mind, maintained his faith in God and his interest in His cause.

And now most recent of all, William Betts, of Winfarthing, whose connection with our cause there goes back to early days. An agricultural labourer, but a man of fine presence, a typical village Methodist, a genuine soul. What a gap in the life of a circuit! What severance from the associations of the past! They cannot be replaced, but their places must be filled. May the spirit in which they lived and laboured inspire our young people to continue their work!

W. J. H.

Family and other information

Sarah Ann Macro, nee Lake, was born in 1844 at Thompson, Norfolk, to parents Isaac and Hannah. Isaac worked the land.

She married John Macro (abt 1840-1907), a bricklayer, in late 1863. Census returns identify six children.

  • Beatrice (abt1866-1935) – a housekeeper (1911)
  • Edith (1867-1900) – a domestic servant (1891); married Herbert Barker, a shepherd, in 1892
  • Emma (abt1869-1954)
  • Herbert John (1870-1925) – a builder
  • Ernest William (abt1876-1903) – studied at Hartley
  • Frederick George (1886-1962) – a bricklayer

Sarah’s death was registered in the first quarter of 1916.

David Randall was baptised on 10 February 1827 at Wilby, Norfolk. His parents were James and Phoebe. James worked the land.

David worked the land for a living.

He married Sarah Holland (abt1828-1885) in early 1850 at in the Guiltcross Registration District, Norfolk. Census returns identify six children.

  • Georgiana (b1851) – a servant (1871)
  • Sarah Holland (1853-1939) – married Henry Hilton, a farm labourer, in 1875
  • Charles Holland (abt1856-1931) – a horsekeeper on a farm (1901)
  • Robert Jabez (1860-1917) – a blacksmith
  • Miriam Elizabeth (1862-1941) – married James George Page, a porter, in 1883
  • William Eber (abt1866-1928) – a farmer

David married Mary Ann Moore, nee Brown (abt1834-1892) in late 1885 in the Guiltcross Registration District, Norfolk.

David married Martha Ann Brown (b abt1845) on 29 April 1893 at Old Buckenham, Norfolk.

David’s death was registered in the first quarter of 1916.

James Nunn was baptised on 18 July 1830 at Burgate, Suffolk. His parents were William Nunn, an agricultural labourer, and Hannah Darle.

James followed his father in working the land. He married Charlotte Harbyn (abt1832-1899) in early 1855 at Burgate, Suffolk. Census returns identify four children.

  • Maria (1857-1865)
  • Eliza (b1859) – married Arthur Simpkin, a railway platelayer, in 1880
  • Jane (1865-1941) – married Robert Boyce, a railway platelayer in 1892
  • William George (1868-1942) – a farm horseman (1901)

James death was registered in the first quarter of 1916.

George Buck was born abt 1827 at Wortham, Suffolk. He worked as a farm labourer. I have not been able to unambiguously identify his immediate family members from census records.

His death was registered registered in the first quarter of 1916.

William Betts was born abt 1837 at North Lopham, Norfolk. He married Hannah Ayres (abt 1826-1915) in late 1856 at Tibenham, Norfolk.

His death was registered in the spring of 1916.

References

Christian Messenger 1916/284

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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