Evans, William (1840-1910)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1899

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1910

Early years

William was born on 19 May 1840 at Shrewsbury to parents William and Mary. William senior was a shoemaker. Both parents were Primitive Methodists. The family moved to Knighton and it was there when aged 19 that William surrendered his life to Jesus Christ at a camp meeting.

The 1861 census shows William at Knighton, Radnorshire working as a general clerk for a solicitor. His widowed mother was working as a boot-binder.

Ministry

William’s obituary records that William held District offices and was ever loyal to his Church, but supremely he was a consistent, plodding, winsome and successful circuit minister. The great note of his circuit life and ministry was spiritual aggressiveness.

The basis of his character was sincerity, genuineness, and a definite and abiding experience of the serving grace of his Lord.

Family

William married Hannah Brown (b abt 1843) in the spring of 1869 at Wem, Shropshire. Census returns identify four children.

• Mary Jane (b1871)
• Sarah Ann (1874-1959) – married Frederick John Raybould, a life assurance agent
• Edith Hannah (b1875) – a milliner (1911)
• Florence Agnes (1878-1969) – a milliner (1911)

William died on 10 August 1910 at Macclesfield, Cheshire.

Circuits

• 1864 Presteign
• 1865 Cwm
• 1867 Hereford
• 1868 Whitchurch
• 1869 Prees Green
• 1872 Primrose Bank
• 1875 Peaton Strand
• 1876 Leintwardine
• 1880 Shrewsbury
• 1884 Oakengates
• 1887 Lymm
• 1891 Talke
• 1895 Derby lll
• 1898 Ilkeston
• 1900 Bromsgrove
• 1903 Macclesfield
• 1907 Stockport (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1899/883; 1910/908

PM Minutes 1911/22

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers