Robson, William Ewart (1876-1947)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1932
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1932

Early years

William was born in 1876 at Westgate, Co Durham, to parents John and Mary. John was a joiner.

William was brought up at Nenthead and as a youth undertook a joinery apprenticeship. He was converted when eighteen years of age and soon became a local preacher. William entered Hartley College in 1900.

Ministry

William served as District Christian Endeavour Secretary and District Temperance Secretary.

After retiring, William immediately began to work in the Ellesmere Port Circuit as an active supernumerary.

His obituary records that in all his circuits William left behind the record of a faithful minister of the Word and a true pastor. Possessed of an understanding sympathy, young and old alike shared in the treasures of his mind. He was of a retiring nature, but when anyone pierced the veil of shyness they found a man true as steel. He was one of the choice souls in whose heart love had gained a great victory and whose life gave witness to the conquest in a character combining strength with gentleness and modesty with courage. No man ever possessed a more compelling sense of duty, and few discharged it with greater consistency and faithfulness.

Family

William married Agnes Elizabeth Barnett (1879-1958) in late 1906 in the Bishops Stortford Registration District. Census returns and birth records identify four children.

  • John William (b1907) – an insurance clerk (1958)
  • Ivan George (1909-2004)
  • Harold Joseph (b1910)
  • Annie I (b1913)

William died on 30 April 1947 at Warrington, Lancashire.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1902 Hull V
  • 1903 Saffron Walden
  • 1904 Weymouth
  • 1906 Halstead
  • 1909 Louth
  • 1912 Gainsborough
  • 1916 North Cavenham
  • 1920 Shipley
  • 1924 Nottingham I
  • 1927 Sheffield III
  • 1932 Sheffield Hoyle
  • 1936 Clay Cross
  • 1940 Worksop
  • 1944 Ellesmere Port (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1932/255

Methodist Minutes 1947/150

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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