Midland Churches: A History of the Congregations on - General ...

done g this division had not happened.* He continued to <strong>of</strong>ficiate so long
as he was able, hzghly esteemed 6y his flock and ttzz~ch respected ziz <strong>the</strong> towlz,
resigned in 1784, and died on 14 December, 1785, zt. 60, being interred
in <strong>the</strong> new burying ground neari WaZsal2, where a tomb covered ajit/l a flat stone
was e~ected to his memory.
Belsham, in his list <strong>of</strong> Daventry Academy students,.i- notes Beasley as
at Uxbridge-
where he keeps a very respectable school.
During his short ministry at Walsall he preached three times at <strong>the</strong> MonthZy
Meeting, <strong>the</strong> first being at Kidderminster on 8 August, 1786, <strong>the</strong> minutes
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> meeting held on 4 April previously at Stourbridge recording that,
I?z conlpliance with Rev. Mr. Gentlema;tz's request me agreed fo meet at Kidder-
tttimter in Aztgust, and at Kidderminster <strong>the</strong> minutes say :--0tz account <strong>of</strong>
WaZsaZZ market we appointed to meet on Wedfzesday, 4 October, which was
accordingly done on <strong>the</strong> date fixed, it being <strong>the</strong> first occasion for <strong>the</strong>
Month& Meetiflg to be held at Walsall. He was present with Dr. Priestley .
and o<strong>the</strong>r ministers at <strong>the</strong> Dudley Double Lecture on 29 May, 1787, and
one <strong>of</strong> its preachers in 1789.
Bowen was-
<strong>the</strong> founder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> general library at Walsal!, and established <strong>the</strong> first Sunday
School at that place.$
With <strong>the</strong> exception <strong>of</strong> a very brief period at Ilminster, <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> his
long active ministry was devoted to Walsall. He preached <strong>the</strong> Dudley
lecture in 1795 and in 1806, and <strong>the</strong> Oldbury lecture in 1798, 1816, and
1830. He preached several times at <strong>the</strong> JhntAL7y Meetijzg, <strong>the</strong> first being
on 4 November, 1823, at <strong>the</strong> Old Meeting, Birmingham, when, after service,
<strong>the</strong> ministers adjaurned to <strong>the</strong> habitatio~z <strong>of</strong> Rev. Ja~ties Yates.
A memorial <strong>of</strong> Edward Myers' ministry here is to be found in <strong>the</strong>
WakaZZ Free Press, <strong>the</strong> oldest Walsall newspaper now existing, <strong>of</strong> which
he was originator and first editor.
John Omer Squier was an Oldbury lecturer in 1861.
*James Scott's MSS.
J.M.R., 1822, p. 285.
SC.R., 1852, p. 324.
Mr. Dean, prior to entering <strong>the</strong> ministry, was lecturer (1861-64) for
<strong>the</strong> East Cornwall Temperance Association, and (1864-70) for <strong>the</strong> Worth
<strong>of</strong> England Temperance League. During his long residence in Walsall he
has taken an active part in all movements for <strong>the</strong> advancement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> town,
outside <strong>the</strong> more immediate sphere <strong>of</strong> duties connected with his congrega-
tion ; for eleven years he has been a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> School Board; is a
member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Executive Committee <strong>of</strong> Walsall Hospital-<strong>the</strong> scene <strong>of</strong>
Sister Dora's well-known labours ; one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nonconformist chaplains <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> cemetery ; and it1 close touch with <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temperance and
liberal associations.
JOHN GODLY, ed. Layden University ; min. Walsall, -1710-171 j-[1727- 1.
(1. 1729.
cf. <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> Walsall, Thomas Pearce, 1813, 13. I 12 ; <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> Walsall, Frederic
W. Willmore, 1877, p. 351 ; Seedsowe7; 1894, p. 40.
JAMES WARNER, ed. Sheriff Hales Academy, by John Woodhouse ; min. Tewkesbury,
Walsall, -1737-1741.
d. 1741.
c$ Toulmin's, Protestant Dissenters, 1814, p. 561 ; Seen'sozveer, 1894, p. 40 ; Noah Jones'
MS. List <strong>of</strong> Academies, as abstract in James Scott's MSS.
JOHN DOBSON, ed. Sheffield Academy, by John Wadsworth; min. Ross, -1720- ;
Shrewsbury, King's Head Passage, -1741 ; Walsall, 1741-1743 ; "2. (18 August,
1720) Hannah, daughter <strong>of</strong> Timothy Wood, <strong>of</strong> Little Town.
d. 3 March, 1743.
cf. MS. note by Edward Myers, 1896; Noah Jones' List <strong>of</strong> Academies, as above ;
Dickenson's Register, pp. 215, 333 ; Congregationalism in Shropshire [18gS], p. 18.
JOHN WINTER, ed. Sheffield Academy, by John Wadsworth ; min. Walsall.
cf. Noah Jones' List <strong>of</strong> Academies, as above ; James Scott's MS. ; Seedsower, 1894,
P. 40.
DAVID JONES, min. Walsall, -1762.
d. 1762.
cf. M.S.C., p. 165 ; James Scott's MSS.
NOAH JONES, see Cradley.
THOMAS EBENEZER BEASLEY, 6. [1763] ; ed. Daventry Academy, 1780- , by Thomas
Robins ; min. Walsall, 1786-1789 ; Uxbridge, where kept school.
d. 1824, aet. 61, at Uxbridge.
cf. M.R., 1822, p. 285 ; 1824, p. 425 ; Walsall, Old Meeting-house Register.
BEN~AMIN DAVIS, see Evesham.