in Chronicle, London Missionary Society 788 Words

LMS Biographies, Part XII

Reading this week:

  • Mlozi of Central Africa by David Stuart-Mogg

To make up for a whole bunch of blog posts, I am publishing in post format the biographies I compiled for my world-famous “The Chronicle of the London Missionary Society for all articles relating to their Central Africa Mission from 1876-1905.” I appreciate your patience!

Alfred James Swann
Born: September 14, 1855, at Shoreham
Died: 1928†

Mr. A.J. Swann was appointed Mate in the Marine Department of the Central Africa Mission, slated to join the “missionary vessel” [Jun 1882]. He departed England on May 17, 1882 [Jul 1882], arriving in Zanzibar on June 19 [Sep 1882]. He assisted in conveying the parts of the Morning Star to Ujiji, arriving on February 23, 1883. He took part in the construction of the Good News at Liendwe and then followed the steamer to Kavala Island. He departed Kavala Island on September 8, 1886, and arrived in England on furlough on January 28, 1887 [Mar 1887]. Mr. Swann married Jane Emmelar Housden on June 16, 1887 [Aug 1887], and the couple had a son, Harold Livingstone, on May 2, 1888 [Jun 1888]. Mr. Swann was appointed to take over the vessels of the London Missionary Society on Lake Tanganyika. On June 2, 1888, the family departed England [Jul 1888], and then departed Zanzibar for Ujiji on July 17 [Sep 1888]. On July 26 Harold died at Kikwazo [Oct 1888]. The Swanns arrived at Kavala Island on October 18 [Ninety-Fifth Report]. They eventually moved to Niamkolo, where they had a daughter, Eva, on November 23, 1890 [May 1891]. Eva died at Niamkolo on January 9, 1890 [Jun 1891]. On June 24, 1892, the Swanns had a son, Hector Lancelot [Dec 1892], who died on October 25, 1892 at Niamkolo [Apr 1893]. The Swanns arrived in England on September 2, 1893 [Oct 1893], and on March 20, 1894 the London Missionary Society accepted Mr. Swann’s resignation [May 1894] so he could join the administrative service of the British Central Africa Protectorate†.

Jane Emmelar Swann, née Housden
Ms. Housden married Mr. A.J. Swann on June 16, 1887 [Aug 1887], and the couple had a son, Harold Livingstone, on May 2, 1888 [Jun 1888]. On June 2, 1888, the family departed England [Jul 1888], and then departed Zanzibar for Ujiji on July 17 [Sep 1888]. On July 26 Harold died at Kikwazo [Oct 1888]. The Swanns arrived at Kavala Island on October 18 [Ninety-Fifth Report]. They eventually moved to Niamkolo, where they had a daughter, Eva, on November 23, 1890 [May 1891]. Eva died at Niamkolo on January 9, 1890 [Jun 1891]. On June 24, 1892, the Swanns had a son, Hector Lancelot [Dec 1892], who died on October 25, 1892 at Niamkolo [Apr 1893]. The Swanns arrived in England on September 2, 1893 [Oct 1893].

Rev. William Thomas
Born: February 8, 1859, at St. Clears, Carmarthenshire

Rev. W. Thomas studied at Carmarthen and Lancashire Colleges and served as a pastor in Oldham. Inspired by the Self-Denial Movement, he was appointed to the Central Africa Mission and departed England on May 9, 1893 [Jan 1893]. He reached Fwambo in October [Mar 1894] and settled at Niamkolo. Due to ill-health he returned to England, arriving on April 27, 1896 [Jun 1896] and resigned from the London Missionary Society [Sep 1896].

Rev. John Boden Thomson
Born: April 14, 1841, at Kirkpatrick, Kirkcudbrightshire
Died: September 22, 1878, at Ujiji [Feb 1879]

Rev. J.B. Thomson studied at Western College and Highgate. Originally appointed to Matabele Land in South Africa, he was ordained June 17, 1869, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne. He departed England for South Africa August 6, 1869. He arrived at Inyati on April 29 and after a short time opened the new station Hope Fountain. He returned to England to take part in the Central Africa Mission on January 20, 1877 and departed again May 6 [May 1877]. He arrived at Kirasa in November with the expedition where they waited for the next travel season. They departed Kirasa May 29, 1878 at arrived at Ujiji on August 23, 1878 [Dec 1878].

His wife was born Elizabeth Edwards in 1842 and she was with Rev. Thomson in South Africa. She did not join him in Central Africa and died at Peckham on September 16, 1900 [Nov 1900].

Dr. John Kay Tomory, M.B., C.M.
Born: July 21, 1860, at Constantinople

Dr. Tomory studied medicine at Edinburgh University and, appointed as a medical missionary on Kavala Island, he departed England on September 25, 1886 [Nov 1886]. A year later he departed to return to England via Lake Nyasa. En route, he joined a party to relieve missionaries besieged at Karongas. He arrived in England on April 17, 1888, and married Marie Werder in Edinburgh on July 3, 1888 [Aug 1888]. They had a child on March 26, 1889 [May 1889], but their connection with the London Missionary Society ceased on April 30, 1889.

Notes:

Unless otherwise noted, missionary biographies are derived firstly from London Missionary Society: A Register of Missionaries, Deputations, Etc. From 1796 to 1923, prepared by James Sibree, D.D., Fourth Edition, published by the London Missionary Society, London, 1923. Brackets with [Month Year] indicate the issue of The Chronicle of the London Missionary Society which records the preceding event. Information denoted by a dagger (†) is from Christian Missionaries and the Creation of Northern Rhodesia 1880-1924, by Robert I. Rotberg, published by Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1965. Other sources are denoted by a footnote.