Category: London Missionary Society

LMS Photo Album Pictures

At risk of copyright infringement, I wanted to highlight for my loyal readers a super cool book of photographs that I saw pop up on eBay, leading me to the wonderful-looking shop Globus Rare Books & Archives. If you click the link (provided no one has since bought it), you’ll find for sale at the bargain-basement price of $3,750 (man I wish I was rich) a “historically significant collection of original photos, illustrating the activities of the Central Africa Mission of the London Missionary Society.” It’s so cool man. So many photos of cool things I hadn’t seen before, and it amazes me that this sort of ephemera survives and makes its way out there into the world.

Since it’s a missionary photo album, most of the pictures are focused on daily missionary life, along with travel through places they would have seen on their way to and from the mission. There are also a number of photos of contemporary life in the area, such as this one labelled “Spirit Huts – Mambwe:”

I can’t tell who made the album, though the pictures seem to range around 1905-1910. There are a few different group photos of the missionaries. The below photo is labelled “Wright, Mrs. Clark, Clark, Ross, Mrs. Turner. 1906.” So that is Rev Robert Stuart Wright, Rev Earnest Howard Clark and Harriet Emily Clark, Rev James Arthur Ross, and Gertrude Alice Turner. When I was assembling the LMS biographies I couldn’t find a picture of either of the women, so the above is the best photo I’ve seen of either Harriet Clark or Gertrude Turner. In 1906, Wright was stationed at Niamkolo, Ross and the Turners at Kambole, and I think the Clarks might have been stationed at Kawimbe (they were married there, at least). All of which to say is the above photo could have been taken in a wide variety of places and it’s hard to tell. There are plenty of cliffs around the southern part of Lake Tanganyika though I wonder if maybe it was taken on a sightseeing trip to Kalambo Falls. They certainly seem to be having a rather grand time!

This set of photos is sadder. Our friends at Globus interprets the below two captions as “Mrs. McNeil’s grave, Kawimbe” and “May & Mrs. McNeil, Abercorn, 1907”:

I’m not sure who either of these women are. I can’t find a record of any McNeil being associated with the London Missionary Society, so it may be a member of another missionary society or the British colonial administration. I’d have to do more digging and I’m not familiar with all the records. However, if the graveyard pictured is the Kawimbe church graveyard, I have been to it! I wish I had known what I was looking at when I visited and one of these days I have to go back. When I visited it, it was overgrown, and I didn’t take pictures of every gravestone (and the ones I did take aren’t very good), but going through my files I have the two below. On the bottom left is a stone that I think says “In Loving Memory of Amy, the Beloved Wife of [] McNeil.” Of course it is a bad photo, I am bad at reading this particular type of writing, and also there is no gravestone in the picture of Mrs. McNeil’s grave. But maybe they added it later. The photo on the right I thought might be the gravestone pictured as being behind Mrs. McNeil’s grave since it’s a similar shape. It’s the gravestone of Dr. Charles Mather, who died in 1898.

Also included in the album are landscape shots, and having lived in the area it is entrancing to see people a century ago enjoying the same sights. The photo at the top is Kalambo Falls, where I have also been, and it was as impressive then as it is now:

Less touristy but just as interesting to me is a panorama shot labelled “View from Niamkolo Station.” The first time I tried to find the Good News, I wound up on the plain above Mpulungu and must have stood pretty close to the spot where that photo was taken (though not exactly the same). Since then, as you can barely see in my photo, Mpulungu has built up a lot more since then, but the distant shores of Lake Tanganyika fade away in just the same way.

Besides landscape shots, there are architecture shots. The below photo (as you can see) is labelled as the church in Kambole. Since the album spans about 1905-1910, this would have 10-15 years after the mission at Kambole first opened. USC Libraries has another collection of LMS Central Africa Mission photos, and this photo is also labelled as “The Church” in Kambole. It is from a different angle but looks like it could probably be the same building, except in the linked photo the church has a cross on the top which I don’t see in the above photo. The linked photo is labelled as being circa 1925, so another 10-15 years afterwards and has definitely gotten a new thatching job at the least. Still, pretty neat to see the same subject (potentially) a number of years apart.

Then there are some more adventure-oriented photos. The stern-on shot at left at bottom is labelled “LMS Canoe T’yika.” There were a few different canoes owned and operated by the LMS through the years. This one doesn’t seem to have had a name, but looks to be the same canoe pictured in the story “Afloat and Ashore in Central Africa,” by the Rev. R. Stewart Wright published in the November 1905 edition of the Chronicle:

And then speaking of boats, here are two more! Neither of them are in our usual area of operations for this blog, but are neat nonetheless. The ship on the left below is identified as the SS Clement Hill at its launch. The Wikipedia article differs, but according to The Lake Steamers of East Africa by L.G. “Bill” Dennis she was launched on December 21, 1906 in Kisumu (Lake Victoria), and she carried 250 tons of cargo and passengers in “elegant accommodation.” On the right is the SS Queen Victoria, a cute little boat not covered in Lake Steamers but which makes an appearance in this pdf. According to that pdf she was put into use on Lake Malawi by 1898, making her probably around a decade old in the above photo, give or take.

Anyways, as long as it hasn’t been sold yet you should def check out the album, there are more pictures of Zambia, Zanzibar, and Uganda, and it’s all super cool. And then someone should give me enough money to buy the thing. If you’re reading this from Globus Books then please don’t be mad at me, I just want everyone to know about this fantastic photo album you have.

LMS Biographies, Part XIV

Reading this week:

  • Dragon Rouge by Fred E. Wagoner
  • Dragon Operations by Major Thomas P. Odom
  • Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton
  • Getting Past No by William Ury
  • Seasons in Hippoland by Wanjikũ wa Ngũgĩ

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!

Rev. William Charles Willoughby
Born: March 16, 1857, at Redruth

Rev. W.C. Willoughby studied at Spring Hill College and was ordained on May 1, 1882 [Jul 1882], slated for Urambo [Jun 1882]. He departed England on May 17, 1882 [Jul 1882], arriving at Zanzibar on Jun 19 [Sep 1882] and at Urambo on October 31, 1882 [Jun 1883]. Due to failing health, he returned to England, arriving August 21, 1883 [Nov 1883]. He resigned from the London Missionary Society in December, but was eventually reappointed to South Africa.

Dr. George Ashton Wolfendale, L.R.C.P. & L.R.C.S.
Born: November 18, 1868, at Tutbury, Staffordshire

Dr. G.A. Wolfendale studied Medicine at Edinburgh, under the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society and was appointed medical missionary to Urambo. He departed England on June 9, 1890 [Jul 1890] and arrived at Urambo by December 24 [Feb 1891]. Due to ill-health he returned to England, arriving on July 23, 1892 [Sep 1892] and resigned from the London Missionary Society [May 1893].

Rev. Alfred John Wookey
Born: March 4, 1847, at Llanelly, Brecknockshire
Died: January 15, 1917, at Mowbray, Cape Town

Rev. A.J. Wookey studied at Lancashire College and Highgate. Originally appointed to the Bechuana Mission, he was ordained May 4, 1870, at Chase Side Church. He departed England for Bechuanaland on May 18, 1870. Eventually returning to join the Central Africa Mission, he was slated to work at Ujiji and again departed England on April 16, 1880 [May 1880]. He departed Zanzibar on June 14, 1880 [Aug 1880], and arrived at Urambo on September 11 [Nov 1880] and then Ujiji on October 3 [Dec 1880]. Due to repeated attacks of fever [Nov 1881], he returned to England and arrived August 14, 1881 [Sep 1881]. Rev. Wookey was then re-appointed back to Bechuanaland [Apr 1882]. His wife was born Jane Bevan. She joined him in Bechuanaland but did not join him in the Central Africa Mission [Apr 1880].

Rev. Robert Stuart Wright
Born: March 28, 1858, at Edinburgh
Died: 1926, in New Zealand†

Rev. R. Stewart Wright’s father was a master boot-maker and the family lived in Newcastle-upon-Tyne†. Rev. Wright left school at fourteen, becoming an office boy with a local railway and draper’s assistant before studying at Rotherham College†. He was ordained on May 5, 1887 [Jul 1887], and departed England on May 11, 1887 [Jun 1887]. He arrived at Fwambo on September 21, and then in March 1888 went to Kavala Island and then to Niamkolo. Due to ill-health, he returned to England, arriving December 13, 1890 [Jan 1891]. In 1892 he accepted a temporary pastorate [Mar 1892] but resigned from the London Missionary Society in December 1893 [Feb 1894]. He worked for the African Lakes Company on Lake Nyasa from 1896-1899, and then for the British Central Africa Protectorate in Blantyre†. Reappointed in 1902, Rev. Wright departed England on April 30 [Jun 1902], and was assigned to Kawimbe [Jan 1903], reaching there on August 3, 1903. He arrived in England on furlough on August 31, 1905 [Oct 1905], departing again on July 9, 1906. He was transferred to Niamkolo, visited England again from August 6, 1910 to September 2, 1911, and returned England again from Central Africa on May 27, 1915. He retired from the London Missionary Society in 1916, but then visited Australia on a Deputation in 1920, subsequently settling at Maungaturoto in New Zealand.

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.

LMS Biographies, Part XIII

Reading this week:

  • Go As a River by Shelley Read
  • The Women I Think About at Night by Mia Kankimäki
  • Kongo: Power and Majesty by Alisa Lagamma
  • Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel García Márques
  • Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald

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!

Bernard Raleigh Turner
Born: July 4, 1878, at Hackney College
Died: 1943†

Mr. Bernard Turner apprenticed and worked as a builder, with additional experience in printing and brick and tile-making [May 1903], as well as studying at the Haberdasher’s Guild School† and taking courses in medicine and surgery at Livingstone College [May 1903]. Inspired by Rev. William Thomas, he became a missionary and departed for Central Africa on April 10, 1903 [May 1903]. He arrived at Kawimbe on June 24 [Aug 1903] and was appointed to Kambole on January 12, 1904 [Feb 1904]. There, he had building responsibilities and was in charge of Industrial Training. On June 27, 1905, he married Gertrude Alice Coates at Mbala (then Abercorn) [Aug 1905]. They worked in Central Africa until 1940†.

Gertrude Alice Turner, née Coates
Ms. Coates departed for Kambole on April 8, 1905 [May 1905] and married Mr. Bernard Turner on June 27, 1905 at Mbala (then Abercorn) [Aug 1905]. They worked in Central Africa until 1940†.

Dr. Harold Edgar Wareham, M.B., Ch.B.
Born: January 8, 1873, at Guildford
Died: 1955†

Dr. H.E. Wareham studied at George Watson’s College and worked in a mercantile office before studying Theology at Edinburgh Congregational Hall and Medicine at Edinburgh University [May 1902]. He married Rebecca Purves Stewart on April 19, 1902 [Jun 1902]. With Dr. Wareham appointed as a medical missionary, the couple departed England on April 30, 1902 [May 1902], slated for Kambole [Jan 1903]. The couple had a daughter on March 18, 1903 [May 1903]. In October they transferred to Kawimbe. They worked for the London Missionary Society until 1931 at Kawimbe and Mbereshi, and founded a station at Kafulwe in 1922.

Rebecca Purves Wareham, née Stewart
Ms. Stewart married Dr. H.E. Wareham on April 19, 1902 [Jun 1902] and departed with him for Central Africa on April 30, 1902 [May 1902]. The couple had a daughter on March 18, 1903 [May 1903]. In October they transferred to Kawimbe. They worked for the London Missionary Society until 1931 at Kawimbe and Mbereshi, and founded a station at Kafulwe in 1922.

Rev. David Williams
Born: February 10, 1856, at Llangadock, Carmarthenshire.
Died: September 24, 1881, at Urambo [Dec 1881]

Rev. D. Williams studied at Carmarthen and Western Colleges and was appointed to Urambo in the Central Africa Mission. He was ordained April 9, 1880 [May 1880] and departed England for Zanzibar on April 16 [May 1880]. He left Zanzibar June 14 [Aug 1880] and arrived at Urambo September 11, 1880 [Nov 1880].

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.

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.

LMS Biographies, Part XI

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!

Rev. James Arthur Ross
Born: March 25, 1877, at Kipton
Died: 1958†

Rev. J.A. Ross studied at Nottingham Institute and was ordained on March 21, 1904 [May 1904]. He had been inspired by the death of his friend Rev. James Lawson [May 1904] and was also a skilled carpenter†. He departed England on April 21, 1904 [Jun 1904] slated for Kambole. On September 20, 1908, he married Maria Smith. He conducted training of evangelists and preachers and did work in experimental agriculture as well as industrial work.

Rev. Thomas Francis Shaw
Born: January 13, 1856, at Birmingham

Rev. T.F. Shaw studied at Glasgow and Spring Hill Colleges and was ordained May 4, 1882 [Jul 1882]. Slated to be stationed at Urambo, he departed England on May 17, 1882 [Jul 1882], reaching Zanzibar June 19 [Jul 1882]. He arrived at Urambo on October 31, 1882 [Jul 1883]. He returned to England on furlough April 23, 1887 [Jun 1887], and married Ada Stewart on June 12, 1888 [Jul 1888]. They departed England again June 29, 1888 [Aug 1888], and arrived at Urambo November 2 [Ninety-Fifth Report]. They had a daughter, Iris, on August 11, 1891, at Urambo [Jan 1892]. The family arrived back in England on November 21, 1895 [Jan 1896]. In 1898 Rev. Shaw resigned from the London Missionary Society on medical grounds.

Ada Shaw, née Stewart
Ms. Stewart married Rev. T.F. Shaw on June 12, 1888 [Jul 1888]. They departed England on June 29, 1888 [Aug 1888], and arrived at Urambo November 2 [Ninety-Fifth Report]. They had a daughter, Iris, on August 11, 1891, at Urambo [Jan 1892]. The family arrived back in England on November 21, 1895 [Jan 1896].

Dr. Ebenezer John Southon, M.D. (U.S.A.)
Born: August 23, 1850, at Gosport
Died: July 26, 1882, at Urambo [Oct 1882]

Dr. Southon studied medicine at Edinburgh and was appointed a medical missionary for the Central Africa Mission. He departed England on April 18, 1879 [May 1879], arrived in Zanzibar May 27 [Jul 1879], and set out for Lake Tanganyika on June 13 [Aug 1879]. He arrived at Ujiji on September 23, 1879 [Jan 1880], but departed again on October 10 to arrive in Urambo on October 26 and establish a station [Mar 1880]. He died of complications from a gunshot wound to his arm [Oct 1882].

Rev. James Phillips Southwell
Born: July 25, 1862, at Haverfordwest

Rev. J.P. Southwell studied at Memorial College in Brecon and was ordained on March 24, 1891 [May 1891]. He left England on May 29, 1891 [Jul 1891], but returned due to ill-health [Feb 1892], arriving back in England on October 18, 1891 [Dec 1891]. He then resigned from the London Missionary Society.

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.

LMS Biographies, Part X

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!

Adam Darling Purves
Born: March 18, 1865, at Dunse, Berwickshire, Scotland
Died: November 18, 1901, at Mbereshi [Jan 1902]

Mr. A.D. Purves married Elizabeth Ward on January 15, 1886. Appointed as an artisan missionary and leaving his wife behind, he left England on April 30, 1892 [Jun 1892]. He arrived at Fwambo in August 1892 [Jan 1893] and settled at Niamkolo. He was joined by his wife in 1894 and in 1897 the couple returned to England on furlough, arriving on August 19, 1897 [Oct 1897]. They departed England again on June 7, 1899 [Jul 1899]. He and his wife founded the mission station at Mbereshi, where he died of malaria [Jan 1902].

Elizabeth Purves, née Ward
Joining her husband two years after he first left for Central Africa, Mrs. Purves departed England on May 8, 1894 [Jun 1894] and reached Fwambo on August 29 [Jan 1895]. Mrs. Purves helped found the station at Mbereshi. Following the death of Mr. Purves, she returned to England, arriving September 6, 1902 [Oct 1902].

Rev. Bowen Rees
Born: March 16, 1857, at Lanybie, Carmarthenshire

Rev. Bowen Rees studied at Bala College and was ordained on May 22, 1884, at Pentteg, Ystalyfera [Jul 1884]. He departed England on June 11, 1884 [Jul 1884], intending to travel to Lake Tanganyika via Lake Nyasa. The route was blocked by fighting, and so he travelled to Zanzibar and arrived there September 26, 1884 [Feb 1885]. He arrived at Ujiji on February 12, 1885, but resigned [Nov 1885] and arrived back in England on December 30, 1885 [Feb 1886]. He was reappointed to South Africa.

Rev. William Govan Robertson
Born: August 27, 1869, at Whithorn, Scotland
Died: 1928†

Rev. W.G. Robertson had been a lay missionary with the Livingstonia Mission since February, 1891. In 1897 the London Missionary Society accepted his offer of service [Jul 1897]. He married Christian Tregorson Sim on June 23, 1897 [Aug 1897], and they departed England on July 7 [Aug 1897]. The couple had a son on August 11, 1898 [Oct 1898], but Christian died shortly thereafter on August 24 [Dec 1899]. Rev. Robertson sent his son to Scotland [Dec 1899]. Rev. Robertson returned to England on furlough, arriving on November 26, 1902 [Jan 1903]. On January 16, 1904, he married Edith Moorhouse [Mar 1904] and the couple departed England on April 21 to settle at Kawimbe [Jun 1904]. He was connected with the London Missionary Society until his death†.

Christian Tregorson Robertson, née Sim
Born: Oban, Scotland
Died: August 24, 1898, at Kawimbe [Dec 1898]

A good student in school and Bible-class, she married Mr. W.G. Robertson on June 23, 1897 [Aug 1897] and departed England with him for Central Africa on July 7 [Aug 1897]. At Kawimbe she taught children hymns with the aid of an organ [Dec 1898]. She gave birth to a son on August 11, 1898 [Oct 1898], but died shortly thereafter.

Edith Robertson, née Moorhouse
She married the widower Rev. Robertson on January 16, 1904 [Mar 1904] and on April 21 departed England with him to settle at Kawimbe [Jun 1904].

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.

LMS Biographies, Part IX

Reading this week:

  • Conflict Minerals Inc. by Christoph N. Vogel
  • A Pattern of Islands by Arthur Grimble

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!

William Harwood Nutt
Born: February 11, 1869, at Beeston, near Nottingham

Mr. W.H. Nutt was appointed as an artisan assistant missionary and departed England on April 30, 1892 [Jun 1892]. He arrived at Fwambo in August 1892 [Jan 1893]. In September 1894 he settled at Kambole and then in 1896 returned to England due to ill-health, arriving on March 15 [Apr 1896]. He resigned from the London Missionary Society in November [Jan 1897].

Rev. Henry Cecil Nutter
Born: July 17, 1873, at Thwaites Brow, Yorkshire
Died: 1942†

Rev. H.C. Nutter originally apprenticed at an architecture firm before studying at Harley House and Livingstone College, including some medical training [Jul 1901]. He was ordained on May 6, 1901 and departed England on May 24 [Jul 1901]. He married Frances Shorter on July 16, 1902, at Blantyre [Aug 1902] and the couple settled at Mbereshi [Jan 1903], where Mrs. Nutter died the following year. Rev. Nutter returned to England on furlough, arriving on August 30, 1905 [Oct 1905]. On April 18, 1906, he married Ada Mary Wareham, the sister of Dr. Harold Edgar Wareham, and the couple departed England on May 25, 1906. They worked primarily at Mbereshi until 1930†.

Frances Nutter, née Shorter
Died: August 27, 1903, at Mbereshi [Oct 1903]

Ms. Shorter was dedicated to missionary service with the London Missionary Society on March 19, 1902 [May 1902] and departed England on April 30 [Jun 1902]. She married Rev. H.C. Nutter on July 16, 1902, at Blantyre [Aug 1902] and settled with him at Mbereshi where she died the following year.

Dr. Walter Stephen Palmer, L.R.C.S.I., L.K. and Q.C.P.I.
Born: July 7, 1858, at Newry

Dr. Palmer studied Medicine in Dublin and was appointed as a medical missionary. He left England on April 16, 1880 [May 1880] and arrived in Zanzibar May 29 [Aug 1880]. He departed for Lake Tanganyika on June 14, 1880 and arrived at Ujiji October 3 [Dec 1880] and the western side of the lake on October 21. Suffering from repeated attacks of fever [Nov 1881], he departed June 26, 1881 and arrived in England December 1 [Jan 1882]. He was reappointed to the Amoy Mission and married Julia Clara Baxter on October 29, 1884.

Rev. John Penry
Born: May 7, 1854, at Tirmawr, Llandilo
Died: April 21, 1883, at Kisokwi and is buried at Mpwapwa [Jul 1883]

Rev. John Penry studied at Lancashire College and was ordained April 11, 1882 at the Tabernacle, Llandilo [May 1882]. He departed from England May 17, 1882 [Jul 1882]. He arrived at Zanzibar June 19 [Sep 1882] and departed on July 10. Making it as far as Urambo, he departed there again for the coast on March 5, 1883 due to failing health [Jul 1883], but died on the way.

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.

LMS Biographies, Part VIII

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!

Rev. John May, B.A.
Born: August 19, 1866, at Saltcoats, Ayrshire
Died: August 21, 1901, at Kawimbe [Oct 1901]

Rev. John May originally trained as a marine engineer before studying at Cheshunt College to become a missionary, earning a B.A. degree in 1894 [Oct 1901]. At Cheshunt College he met Elizabeth Ross Burton, who he married on May 4, 1897 [Jun 1897]. He was ordained two days later on May 6 [Jun 1897], and the couple departed England on June 8, slated for Kawimbe [Jul 1897]. He used his marine engineer training to help repair the Morning Star, and at Kawimbe focused on developing the industrial department and improving the mission’s elementary schools [Oct 1901]. On June 12, 1898, the couple had a still-born son [Nov 1898]. On March 8, 1900, Mrs. May gave birth to a second son, John [Jun 1900], who died on December 17 of that year [Feb 1901]. Following Rev. May’s death, Mrs. May gave birth to a daughter on November 6, 1901 [Dec 1901].

Elizabeth Ross May, B.A., née Burton
Ms. Burton studied at Cheshunt College, earning her B.A. in 1894. She married her classmate Rev. John May on May 4, 1897 [Jun 1897]. The couple departed England on June 8, slated for Kawimbe [Jul 1897]. On June 12, 1898, the couple had a still-born son [Nov 1898]. On March 8, 1900, Mrs. May gave birth to a second son, John [Jun 1900], who died on December 17 of that year [Feb 1901]. Following the death of her husband, she had a daughter on November 6, 1901 at Kawimbe [Dec 1901]. She requested to stay in the Central Africa Mission [Oct 1901], but returned to England, arriving September 13, 1902 with her daughter [Nov 1902]. In England she collected and revised Scripture translations Rev. May had worked on, publishing a small book titled “Mukyele Utiswe.” She became a Director of the London Missionary Society in 1908, and was elected Chairman of the Examination Committee in 1920.

Dr. Wilfrid McFarlane, M.B., Ch.B., M.C.
Born: January 2, 1878, at Edinburgh

Originally working in an insurance office†, Dr. W. McFarlane studied Medicine at Edinburgh University. He was appointed as a missionary on November 10, 1903 [Dec 1903] and married Ella Robertson on February 25, 1904. They departed for Central Africa on April 21, 1904 [Jun 1904]. The couple had a daughter, Marion Alexis, at Mbereshi on August 19, 1905 [Nov 1905]. Dr. McFarlane resigned in 1914 over a disagreement with London Missionary Society policy. He was in active service for five years during World War I and was awarded the Military Cross. Afterwards, the McFarlanes were with the Church of Scotland mission in Blantyre from 1920-1936†.

Ella McFarlane, née Robertson
Mrs. Robertson was from Edinburgh [May 1904] and worked with her husband in Central Africa 1904-1913, and then with the Church of Scotland Mission in Blantyre from 1920-1936†. The couple had a daughter, Marion Alexis, at Mbereshi on August 19, 1905 [Nov 1905].

Dr. Sidney Herbert Morris, M.B., Ch.B.
Born: May 11, 1875, at Market Harborough
Died: January 11, 1918

Dr. S.H. Morris studied at Edinburgh University and then worked as house surgeon at the Poplar and Greenwich hospitals [Jul 1901]. Appointed as a medical missionary, he departed England on May 24, 1901 [Jul 1901]. In September 1902 he resigned from the London Missionary Society to enter government service [Nov 1902].

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.

LMS Biographies, Part VII

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!

Dr. James George Mackay, L.R.C.S. & L.R.C.P.
Born: July 9, 1860, at Inverness

Dr. J.G. Mackay studied Theology at the East London Institute and Medicine at the London Hospital. Originally appointed to Madagascar, he married Kathleen Priscilla Hedges on July 27, 1886. They returned to England on furlough in 1895 and due to French regulations were unable to return to work in Madagascar [Jun 1897]. He was reappointed to the Central Africa Mission in 1897 [Apr 1897] and the couple departed England on June 8, 1897, slated to work at Kambole [Jul 1897]. He resigned due to a disagreement with London Missionary Society policies†, and they returned to England on July 18, 1901 [Sep 1901].

Kathleen Priscilla Mackay, née Hedges
Born: October 3, 1861, at Bow

Mrs. Mackay joined her husband in both Madagascar and Central Africa.

Rev. George Mackendrick
Born: March 25, 1869, at Overtown, Wishaw, Lanarkshire
Died: April 15, 1901, at Niamkolo [May 1901]

Having been pastor of an Evangelical Union Church in Scotland, he was appointed to the Central Africa Mission [Feb 1900] and had a dedication service on June 6, 1900. He departed England on June 21 and reached Kawimbe on September 22, 1900 [Feb 1901], before settling at Niamkolo.

Dr. Charles Benjamin Mather, L.R.C.S. & L.R.C.P.
Born: December 7, 1858, at Tunbridge, Kent
Died: July 11, 1898, at Kawimbe [Sep 1898]

Dr. C.B. Mather studied Medicine at Edinburgh and, appointed as a medical missionary, departed England on June 2, 1888 [Jul 1888]. He reached Lake Tanganyika on October 18 [Ninety-Fifth Report], and went to Fwambo and then Niamkolo. He married Henrietta Sarah Mawson on September 25, 1891 [Feb 1892]. Mrs. Mather then died in childbirth in December 1892 [Apr 1893] [Jun 1893] [Jun 1899]. He arrived in England on furlough on January 15, 1895 [Feb 1895], and departed again on May 15, 1896 [Jun 1896] to work at Kawimbe.

Henrietta Sarah Mather, née Mawson
Died: December 18, 1892, at Niamkolo [Apr 1893]

Intending to marry Dr. Mather, Miss Mawson departed England on May 29, 1891 [Jul 1891]. After marrying Dr. Mather at Zomba and then the Church of Scotland Mission in Domasi (first legally by H.H. Johnston and then by Rev. Dr. Scott), she proceeded with him to Fwambo and then Niamkolo. She died in childbirth, alongside her son.

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.

LMS Biographies, Part VI

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!

Rev. James Lawson
Born: March 6, 1874, at Blackburn
Died: August 28, 1903, at Mbereshi [Oct 1903]

Rev. J. Lawson originally worked with a firm of engineers but to become a missionary he studied theology at the Nottingham Institute as well as taking courses in surgery and medicine at the Manchester Royal Infirmary and Livingstone College [May 1902]. He was ordained on April 7, 1902 [May 1902], and departed England on April 30 [Jun 1902], slated for Niamkolo [Jan 1903]. He married Ada Mary Harwood on May 27, 1903, at Blantyre [Jun 1903]. Rev. Lawson died three months later on a visit to Mbereshi.

Ada Mary Lawson, née Harwood
Ms. Harwood departed England on March 7, 1903 [Apr 1903], slated to marry Rev. J. Lawson. They wed on May 27, 1903, in Blantyre [Jun 1903]. Her husband died three months later while they were visiting Mbereshi. She returned to England, arriving on December 26, 1903 [Feb 1904].

Rev. George Henry Lea
Born: August 11, 1857, at Leeds

Rev. G.H. Lea studied at the Bristol Institute and was ordained on April 30, 1886 [Jun 1886]. He departed England on May 12, 1886 [Jun 1886], departed Zanzibar on June 22 [Sep 1886], and arrived in Ujiji on September 23 [Feb 1887]. Due to failing health, he departed Kavala Island on May 13, 1887, and arrived back in England on November 27 [Jan 1888]. He then accepted a Pastorage in Jamaica [Apr 1889].

Dr. Ernest Winbolt Lewis, M.B., Ch.B.
Born: May 22, 1876, at Madras [May 1902]

Dr. E.W. Lewis studied at Edinburgh University and, appointed as a medical missionary, departed for India enroute to Central Africa [May 1902]. Originally stationed at Mbereshi, he transferred to Kawimbe in 1904. Due to ill-health he returned to England, arriving July 31, 1905 [Sep 1905]. He married Merlin Alice Cripps on January 3, 1906, and the couple departed England for Central Africa on February 13, 1906. They worked at Kawimbe and Mbereshi before returning to England in 1910 and severing their connection with the London Missionary Society.

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.