Causland, James (1831-1894)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1880
Martha McCausland
Photo supplied by Viv Hulme

Early years

James was born on 20 July 1831 at Cawnpore, India. The family returned to England when James was a small child surviving a shipwreck off the coast of South Africa. The family settled in Yorkshire.

James was brought up as a Roman Catholic. He was converted through Primitive Methodist open-air preachers and joined the PM society at Goole. There he became a local preacher.

Ministry

At the request of the Missionary Committee James was stationed in Australia for ten successful years. James & his wife Martha left London on 17 November 1858 on board the vessel Catteaux Wattel & travelled to Port Jackspn, New South Wales Australia, a no doubt long & arduous journey made all the more difficult by Martha’s pregnancy. Eventually arriving at their destination on 17 February 1859.Their first child was born on 21 March – just over four weeks after their arrival in Australia!

His obituary records that James was a man of ability, possessing a keen intellect. His mind was well furnished. His preaching was evangelical and forceful. He was loyal to the Connexion, and strongly defended his faith. His capacity for business was proved by the offices entrusted to him by his brethren from time to time.

Family

James married Martha Booth (1835-1920) on 21 June 1858 at the Baptist Chapel, Wellington, Shropshire. Records identify seven children.

  • Mary Ann (1859-1939) – married Thomas Millington, a soap labourer (1901)
  • Ellinor (1861-1863)
  • Tryphena (1863-1937) – married Fred West, an Inland Revenue officer
  • James Dominic Booth (1865-1901)
  • Florence Beatrice (1868-1871)
  • Florence Beatrice (1872-1951) – married Joseph Chadwick, a joiner
  • Veronica Helena (1869-1876)
  • Eleanor Flora McDonald (1874-1962) – married Edward Denham Osborn, a Customs and Excise officer

James died on 28 January 1894 at Oswestry, Shropshire.

Circuits

  • 1854 Oswestry
  • 1855 Presteign
  • 1856 Knighton
  • 1857 Wrockwardinewood
  • 1859 Morpeth NSW
  • 1860 Goulburn
  • 1863 Ballarat
  • 1867 Tarnagulla
  • 1869 Bromyard
  • 1871 Wolverhampton
  • 1873 Wrockwardinewood
  • 1876 Oswestry
  • 1879 Prees Green
  • 1882 Minsterley
  • 1883 Coventry
  • 1885 Preston Brook
  • 1888 St Helens
  • 1890 Kidderminster
  • 1892 Welshpool
  • 1893 Oswestry (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1880 (portrait)

PM Minutes 1894/12

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Booth/McCausland tree on Ancestry.com

(Note: In some records the family name is recorded as McCausland)

 

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