Charles Williams (THE MINISTER) (18 July 1796 - 18 June 1866)
Charles Williams was christened on 18 July 1796at St Margaret's Church, Westminster, London, England to parents Charles Williams and Martha Williams (nee Webb).
The 1798 Land Tax Redemption list has the Williams family at Green Court, Southwark, Surrey (became Green Walk around 1825) owning their house and paying 3 pounds a year in tax. There is an empty house on one side and ground on the other side owned by Mr Loaf.
After some elementary instructions from a dame schoolmistress, he was placed under the care of one Dr. Duncan, who had an establishment know as “The Ciceronian Academy,” at Pimlico and who obtained a diploma from Mr. Pitt as a reward for suggesting to the Government the levying of a tar on hairpowder. Charles seems to have held his own amid his schoolfellows ; for, in a sharp competition among fourteen or fifteen of them, Charles Williams won the prize of a Bible for learning the whole of the Assembly’s Catechism. The Academy was an educational establishment for young gentlemen. Dr. Duncan lived in Palace Street, Pimlico and was the late minister of the Scots Church, Peter Street, Golden Square. He died around 1814.
At eleven years of age he left school, and entered the extensive manufactory over which his father, Charles, had for some time been the foreman, and here he remained for several years.
Charles family are residing at 3 Cane Place, Gravel Lane, Southwark, London, England (this was at the south end of Grave Lane and the east end of Bennett's Row off Blackfriars Road) on 5 January 1810 when his father wins an award.
His father was granted a patent by them on 2 August 1810 for a machine for grinding or cutting Malt, splitting Beans, and any other kind of grain, and various other articles. He is listed as a millwright. In 1813, no London millwright earned less than seven shillings a day - equivalent to 42 shillings for the normal six day week.
In 1811, still residing at Gravel Lane, Charles, the father wins twenty guineas from the Royal Society of Arts for the invention of the method of boring the conical part of brass cocks.
In 1812, the Reverend Rowland Hill, whose large octagon chapel of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion used to be a well-known place in Christchurch parish, opened almshouses in Gravel Lane for 24 poor widows belonging to the congregation. Could this be why they moved?
In 1814 the father receives a prize of twenty guineas and a silver medal from the Society of Arts for inventing a portable corn mill for family use. He was listed at that time as being located at Hatfield Street (runs parallel to Blackfriars Road), Southwark, London, England.
As the family now lived in the neighbourhood of Surrey Chapel, some attended the ministrations of the gospel in that venerable sanctuary, around which cluster so many and such remarkable memories. In a pew in the gallery, on the left hand of the preacher, Charles might be seen with his sister Mary, in regular attendance. Subsequently, a gentleman and his wife, and a young man and a girl, took possession of a pew behind them. The young people became acquainted, and eventually Abraham Hopkins Davis married Mary Williams. On such a slender thread as what might seem the chance occupancy of two contiguous pews, hang the greatest events of life. Abraham became in after years well known as partner in the publishing firm of Westley & Davis, and he ended his days as a farmer, magistrate and man of letters, at Moore Farm, Adelaide, in his seventieth year, just ten days before his brother-in-law.
“My recollections of Surrey chapel”, wrote Charles, in after days, “are very interesting and very varied. One Tuesday I remember especially attending a tract meeting held in the school adjoining the chapel, and Mr. Sibree, of Frome, was addressing the meeting. ‘Young man,’ he said, looking towards me; ‘why were you not at the theatre to-night?’ I had frequently been there while I was on a visit to some friends in my early days. I thought to myself – I am better off here. But that remark clung to me, and produced a lasting impression. Meanwhile my future brother-in-law, Abraham Davis, had been asked to become a teacher at Surrey Chapel Sabbath School, and had consented; and had there been brought into intimacy with William Jones, afterwards of the Religious Tract Society, then an active and regular teacher, and also in contact with other young and with older men of standing and influence.” The associations into which Charles was thus brought the faithful preaching of the gospel, and especially the influence and prayers of a pious mother, led to the early devotion of his heart and life to the service of Christ.
“One Sunday morning,” says Charles, “I was asked to become a Sabbath School teacher, and I consented, and not long afterwards I joined the Church at Surrey Chapel. My sister had previously done so, and so had Abraham Davis and his father and mother. The first time I opened my mouth in prayer, in public, was at a prayer meeting of young men at that school. Soon afterwards, when I was about twenty years of age, Abraham said I must go with him to the White Cottage, out to the west of Clapham, where he, William Jones, and others, used to go in turn every Sunday evening, to preach to twelve or twenty persons, or more. At length I consented and I preached there for the first time from the text. The poor have the gospel preached to them.' I did my best, whatever that may have been, and that I can say of my public services since.”
Meanwhile Charles was regularly engaged at the foundry, and acquired much skill in working brass, iron, and wood ; but at length an opening presented itself, which must have been very attractive to the tastes of one who was destined to take a prominent place in the world of letters, and Charles accepted a situation in the bookselling establishment of Mr. Sharpe, close to the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, and soon the chief charge of this establishment rested upon him. Here he remained for about six years, till 22 years of age, when, having resolved to devote himself to the Christian ministry, he was admitted, for a preparatory training, to the theological academy at Rothwell, Northamptonshire, under the care of the Rev. Walter Scott, and afterwards to Hoxton College.
The vacation that followed Charles's third session at Hoxton he was appointed to spend at Newark-upon-Trent. The Independent Chapel in that town had been opened in the previous March, but the pastorate was vacant. Scarcely had Charles returned to college in order to commence his 4th session, than he received the unanimous invitation of the congregation to settle among them. Objection was naturally taken by the Hoxton authorities to so serious an abridgment of their curriculum аs was thus contemplated ; but after careful consideration of the peculiar circumstances, it was decided that in this case an exception ought to be made. Charles concurred, and about the beginning of November 1823, he commenced his stated ministry at Newark.
His labours were early attended with many encouraging results. A large congregation was gathered on the Sabbath evenings, consisting principally of those who were members of the Established Church, but in whom a deep interest in the gospel was awakened through the faithful ministrations of the young Nonconformist minister. So wide-spread became this new love for the preaching of the truth, that it is believed there were very few leading families in that high church and Tory town who did not, more or less, regularly attend, and the majority of whom took sittings in the chapel. Many striking instances of conversation might be recorded beyond the circle of those who identified themselves with the church ; and the weight of his personal and pastoral influence was acknowledged on every hand.
He was ordained 14 April 1825.
On the 6 June 1826, Charles Williams marries Mary Smeeton, then of Great Humby, a member of a Northamptonshire family who have for generations been honourably identified with Nonconformity. They are married at Newark-on-Trent at Nottinghamshire, England.
They have three sons:
In the autumn of 1833 he became pastor of the Church at Endless Street, Salisbury, and at the half-yearly meeting of the Wiltshire Association, held October the 30th, he was publicly recognized to that office, the Revs. Messrs. Saffery of Bristol, Curwen of Frome, Elliott of Devizes, and Robert Ashton of Warminster, taking part in the services. And “how holily and
Unblameably … he behaved himself among them," many of his former flock will still bear a cheerful and grateful testimony.
In addition to the onerous responsibilities of the pastorate, Charles had found play for that literary gift, by means of which he was destined to exercise so wide-spread an influence over the minds of the young and the inquiring. A series of volumes had already issued from his pen which won their way to a well-deserved popularity " The Seven Ages of England," " The Treasures of the Earth,” “Art in Nature,” “Facts, not Fables,” “Aerial Sights and Sounds,” etc, were the pioneers of a new order of literature.
His ministry at Salisbury continued till August 1835.
LAMBETH, SURREY, LONDON
His ministry at Salisbury continued till August, 1835, when Mr. Williams removed to London, and subsequently accepted the office of editor in the Religious Tract Society, a position which he retained for twelve years. Here a wide and congenial arena was afforded him for the development of his powers, both as editor and author, and the work he was enabled to accomplish was extraordinary, and probably unparalleled. In consequence of the illness of his friend and coadjutor, Mr. Lloyd, the entire weight of the editorship rested for months together, during successive years, upon Charles.
Subsequently another gentleman was appointed to aid in the work ; but there still devolved upon Charles the editing of the monthly periodicals called "The Visitor," and the " Christian Spectator," of a school series of books, of a series of fifty monthly volumes, and of the annuals entitled the " Christian Almanack," and the " Scripture Pocket Book." He also compiled and wrote for " The Companion to Leisure Hours," " The Christian Gleaner," two " Juvenile Gift-Books," and two volumes of " Cowper," for the monthly series. In addition to all this, ho wrote no fewer than 77 distinct publications which were published by the Society, of which we can name the titles of only a few : "Light," "Heat," "British Quadrupeds," " British Birds," " History of Insects," " Kind Words," "Philosophy of Common Things," " Curiusitiea of Animal Life," "Allions," "Magie," " Scenes, Characters, and Incident of the Reformation ; " and there were a host besides of interesting, instructive, and popular works. The fact that all these publications were issued under the veil of the anonymous, has prevented the public being aware of the debt of obligation under which Charles placed the Society.
In the 1841 census, Charles (44) is listed living at Brunswick Terrace, Kennington, Lambeth, Surrey with his wife Mary (47), son Charles (13) and Frederick (12) and Alfred (9). Charles is listed as a Minister.
ST. JOHN'S WOOD, LONDON
In the year 1850, on one of his sons, Frederick Smeeton, entering New College as a student for the ministry, Charles removed to St. John's Wood, where, though now unconnected with the Religious Tract Society, he laboured on for the religious instruction of the people.
In the 1851 census, Charles (57) is listed living at 1 College Crescent, Hampstead, Middlesex with his wife Mary, son Frederick Smeeton (21) a student at New Independent College at St. John's Wood, son Alf (18) and a designer on wood, 5 visitors and a servant. His occupation is Independent Minister, but from impaired health, chiefly engaged in historical and other literature.
SIBBERTOFT, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Subsequently he changed the scene, though not the nature of his labours, to Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire, in the neighbourhood of which many members of his family circle reside. Here, on the Sabbath evenings, he gathered a crowded congregation in his spacious kitchen and hall ; here he ministered the word of life with much faithfulness and with many tears ; here the work he founded is still sustained ; and here the memory of his disinterested toil is deeply graven upon many grateful hearts.
In the 1861 census, Charles is listed living at Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire, England with his wife Mary and two visitors. He is listed as 64 years of age and an Independent Minister.
The two closing years of his life were spent in the scene of one of his former pastorates – Salisbury. At an age when he might have justly sought an honourable repose, and under circumstances that precluded the supposition that he could have been influenced by secondary motives, he still pursued his untiring and unobtrusive labours for the good of others. He died at the post of duty – working still. His very last hours of health were employed in conducting the week-night service in the sanctuary where, thirty years before, he had been the pastor. In concluding his sermon he pointed on to the future, and uttered, with marked and touching emphasis, the prayer:
“Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies :
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee :
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me”
As he returned home he felt a chill, and said to a friend, "This east wind has caught me at last." With the exception of a walk in the garden on the following day, he did not again leave the house. Inflammation of the lungs had set in, and this was attended by other symptoms, which, at the outset, appear to have left upon his mind the impression that the result might be critical and even fatal. In this anticipation he disclosed to Mrs. Williams, more fully even than was his wont, the state of his mind in regard to its highest interests. He assured her of his entire acquiescence in the will of the Lord concerning himself, that his desire had been to labour for Christ as long as he could do so with efficiency, and then, as he expressed it, to be "removed to the higher service above." In reviewing the past, he mentioned that his early conviction of the Divine authority and blessings of Christianity had never wavered amid all the changes and trials through which he had been called to pass, and that they were now more deeply than ever engraven upon his heart. A few days afterwards his strength rallied; and as he spoke of the possibility of recovery, but of the probability of months of weakness, he said, "I think God has more work for me to do, and I will do it more earnestly than I have ever done." And in the prospect of life or of death the same strong faith continued. On the Wednesday night before ho died he said to one of his sons: " If I should pass away tonight, I know that, though absent— exiled— from the body (and with great emphasis of manner he added), I shall be present with the Lord." His illness continued rather more than a fortnight. He suffered little, and slept much both by day and night, though his slumbers frequently yielded but little rest, in consequence of the ceaseless activity of a brain that had laboured so long and well, and which now worked on, though with a profitless intensity. "I have preached three sermons in these few minutes' sleep," he would say; and he would ask to be kept awake, by conversation, in order to give his brain reposo. In these intervals all was calm and clear, and three days before his death he turned over a portfolio of MSS to select some articles for early publication in the '• Christian's Penny Magazine." Sleep, however, would supervene, and then the loom of the mind would resume its hum of toil — a shuttle without a weft.
Thus did half a century of consistent Christian life and labour draw to its close. With a disposition singularly affectionate in health, and full of tenderness and gratitude to all around him for their offices of love in sickness ; with a Christian reputation which had never been sullied ; with a noble Christian work, completely but unobtrusively accomplished, the last waves of life broke feebly and yet more feebly on the shores of time, and then all was still in the calm rest of immortality. Who would not say,— "May my last end be like his ! "
Charles Williams died at Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire on 18 June 1866.
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| Charles Williams 1796-1866 |
The 1798 Land Tax Redemption list has the Williams family at Green Court, Southwark, Surrey (became Green Walk around 1825) owning their house and paying 3 pounds a year in tax. There is an empty house on one side and ground on the other side owned by Mr Loaf.
After some elementary instructions from a dame schoolmistress, he was placed under the care of one Dr. Duncan, who had an establishment know as “The Ciceronian Academy,” at Pimlico and who obtained a diploma from Mr. Pitt as a reward for suggesting to the Government the levying of a tar on hairpowder. Charles seems to have held his own amid his schoolfellows ; for, in a sharp competition among fourteen or fifteen of them, Charles Williams won the prize of a Bible for learning the whole of the Assembly’s Catechism. The Academy was an educational establishment for young gentlemen. Dr. Duncan lived in Palace Street, Pimlico and was the late minister of the Scots Church, Peter Street, Golden Square. He died around 1814.
At eleven years of age he left school, and entered the extensive manufactory over which his father, Charles, had for some time been the foreman, and here he remained for several years.
Charles family are residing at 3 Cane Place, Gravel Lane, Southwark, London, England (this was at the south end of Grave Lane and the east end of Bennett's Row off Blackfriars Road) on 5 January 1810 when his father wins an award.
His father was granted a patent by them on 2 August 1810 for a machine for grinding or cutting Malt, splitting Beans, and any other kind of grain, and various other articles. He is listed as a millwright. In 1813, no London millwright earned less than seven shillings a day - equivalent to 42 shillings for the normal six day week.
In 1811, still residing at Gravel Lane, Charles, the father wins twenty guineas from the Royal Society of Arts for the invention of the method of boring the conical part of brass cocks.
In 1812, the Reverend Rowland Hill, whose large octagon chapel of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion used to be a well-known place in Christchurch parish, opened almshouses in Gravel Lane for 24 poor widows belonging to the congregation. Could this be why they moved?
The vacation that followed Charles's third session at Hoxton he was appointed to spend at Newark-upon-Trent. The Independent Chapel in that town had been opened in the previous March, but the pastorate was vacant. Scarcely had Charles returned to college in order to commence his 4th session, than he received the unanimous invitation of the congregation to settle among them. Objection was naturally taken by the Hoxton authorities to so serious an abridgment of their curriculum аs was thus contemplated ; but after careful consideration of the peculiar circumstances, it was decided that in this case an exception ought to be made. Charles concurred, and about the beginning of November 1823, he commenced his stated ministry at Newark.
His labours were early attended with many encouraging results. A large congregation was gathered on the Sabbath evenings, consisting principally of those who were members of the Established Church, but in whom a deep interest in the gospel was awakened through the faithful ministrations of the young Nonconformist minister. So wide-spread became this new love for the preaching of the truth, that it is believed there were very few leading families in that high church and Tory town who did not, more or less, regularly attend, and the majority of whom took sittings in the chapel. Many striking instances of conversation might be recorded beyond the circle of those who identified themselves with the church ; and the weight of his personal and pastoral influence was acknowledged on every hand.
He was ordained 14 April 1825.
They have three sons:
- Charles Williams (1827 born at Newark-on-Trent and died 1889). He was a minister in the Congregational Church, but is best known for his books on the early history of the railway. He studied at
University College New College London - Frederick Smeeton Williams (1829 born at Newark and died 1886)
- Alfred Williams (4 May 1832 born at Newark and died 1905)
In the autumn of 1833 he became pastor of the Church at Endless Street, Salisbury, and at the half-yearly meeting of the Wiltshire Association, held October the 30th, he was publicly recognized to that office, the Revs. Messrs. Saffery of Bristol, Curwen of Frome, Elliott of Devizes, and Robert Ashton of Warminster, taking part in the services. And “how holily and
Unblameably … he behaved himself among them," many of his former flock will still bear a cheerful and grateful testimony.
LAMBETH, SURREY, LONDON
His ministry at Salisbury continued till August, 1835, when Mr. Williams removed to London, and subsequently accepted the office of editor in the Religious Tract Society, a position which he retained for twelve years. Here a wide and congenial arena was afforded him for the development of his powers, both as editor and author, and the work he was enabled to accomplish was extraordinary, and probably unparalleled. In consequence of the illness of his friend and coadjutor, Mr. Lloyd, the entire weight of the editorship rested for months together, during successive years, upon Charles.
Subsequently another gentleman was appointed to aid in the work ; but there still devolved upon Charles the editing of the monthly periodicals called "The Visitor," and the " Christian Spectator," of a school series of books, of a series of fifty monthly volumes, and of the annuals entitled the " Christian Almanack," and the " Scripture Pocket Book." He also compiled and wrote for " The Companion to Leisure Hours," " The Christian Gleaner," two " Juvenile Gift-Books," and two volumes of " Cowper," for the monthly series. In addition to all this, ho wrote no fewer than 77 distinct publications which were published by the Society, of which we can name the titles of only a few : "Light," "Heat," "British Quadrupeds," " British Birds," " History of Insects," " Kind Words," "Philosophy of Common Things," " Curiusitiea of Animal Life," "Allions," "Magie," " Scenes, Characters, and Incident of the Reformation ; " and there were a host besides of interesting, instructive, and popular works. The fact that all these publications were issued under the veil of the anonymous, has prevented the public being aware of the debt of obligation under which Charles placed the Society.
In the 1841 census, Charles (44) is listed living at Brunswick Terrace, Kennington, Lambeth, Surrey with his wife Mary (47), son Charles (13) and Frederick (12) and Alfred (9). Charles is listed as a Minister.
ST. JOHN'S WOOD, LONDON
In the year 1850, on one of his sons, Frederick Smeeton, entering New College as a student for the ministry, Charles removed to St. John's Wood, where, though now unconnected with the Religious Tract Society, he laboured on for the religious instruction of the people.
In the 1851 census, Charles (57) is listed living at 1 College Crescent, Hampstead, Middlesex with his wife Mary, son Frederick Smeeton (21) a student at New Independent College at St. John's Wood, son Alf (18) and a designer on wood, 5 visitors and a servant. His occupation is Independent Minister, but from impaired health, chiefly engaged in historical and other literature.
SIBBERTOFT, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Subsequently he changed the scene, though not the nature of his labours, to Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire, in the neighbourhood of which many members of his family circle reside. Here, on the Sabbath evenings, he gathered a crowded congregation in his spacious kitchen and hall ; here he ministered the word of life with much faithfulness and with many tears ; here the work he founded is still sustained ; and here the memory of his disinterested toil is deeply graven upon many grateful hearts.
In the 1861 census, Charles is listed living at Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire, England with his wife Mary and two visitors. He is listed as 64 years of age and an Independent Minister.
The two closing years of his life were spent in the scene of one of his former pastorates – Salisbury. At an age when he might have justly sought an honourable repose, and under circumstances that precluded the supposition that he could have been influenced by secondary motives, he still pursued his untiring and unobtrusive labours for the good of others. He died at the post of duty – working still. His very last hours of health were employed in conducting the week-night service in the sanctuary where, thirty years before, he had been the pastor. In concluding his sermon he pointed on to the future, and uttered, with marked and touching emphasis, the prayer:
Charles Williams died at Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire on 18 June 1866.
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