Person:William Beales (12)

1851 - With parents on the Green, North Lopham, aged 11 months.

1860 - Jointly baptised with brothers Stephen and Samuel. Entry records birth date, making it clear that there was a previous son William who must have died.

1877 - Entered the Methodist ministry. (Diss Express 1933)

1881 - Visiting the household of John Evison, a farmer, in Ramsey, Huntingdon. Wesleyan minister. Unmarried, aged 30.

1885-1888 - William Beales conducted 61 baptisms, the first on October 1st 1885 the last on April 18th 1888. It seems that they then left for Yorkshire as per 1891 census but returned to Notts, as per 1901 census.

1886 - Resident at 2 Wesley Villas, Bingham, Nottinghamshire. (Child's baptism)

1891 - With wife and 3 sons at Sedbergh, Yorkshire. Aged 40.

1901 - Living 23 Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire with wife. Wesleyan minister.

1933 - Died, aged 82. Buried with his wife at North Lopham following a service at the Wesleyan Chapel. His death announcement indicated that he'd asked that there should be no mourning. (Diss Express 17 Feb 1933)

Probate records: B. Beales the reverend William of the Limes, North Lopham, Clerk, died 11th February 1933. Probate London 4th April to William Harold Beales Wesleyan minister, Hugh Lancelot Beales, lecturer, and Percy Stephen Beales, arts and craftsman. Effects. £1,429- 8s-9d.

The following is part of an obituary that appeared in the Diss Express on Friday 17 February 1933: The passing of the Rev. William Beales in his 83rd year removed a notable and much respected figure from the village. Born there in 1850, he was the son of William and Lois Beales, the latter a member of the old Buckenham family. He was thus connected on both sides with the ancient, hand-woven linen industry for which the village was renowned. He went to the village school, but was so keen to advance himself in learning that he taught himself Latin and Greek in Lopham lanes. This determination and studiousness brought him under the particular notice of the Rev. William Bateman who was Rector at that time. So impressed was he with the boy's promise that he would willingly have sent him to the university at his own expense with the hope that he would enter the Church of England. The boy, however, elected to remain true to his nonconformist upbringing, commenced preaching at an early age and entered the methodist ministry in 1877. He quickly became a forceful and popular preacher both with adults and children, amongst his circuits being Middlesbrough, Newark-on-Trent, Chelmsford and Cheltenham, his administrative powers leading to special work into the amalgamation of country circuits into mission areas. After half a century he fulfilled his life-long wish to end his days in his native village. At the time of his death he had completed a ministry of 56 years....