I am researching Abraham Hall WALTON, born in Evenwood in 1883.In 1901, Abraham was a grocer's assistant in Hartlepool, by 1911 he is a Wesleyan Methodist Minister.Does anyone know if there was a Wesleyan College in Durham where he might have trained, I would like to know when this was as rumour has it he went as a Missionary to the Gold Coast (Ghana)Many thanksJanie See below for my research interests: CORNWALL: Hancock, Prynn DERBYSHIRE: Fox, Hawley, Kitson, Naylor, Salsbury, Shimmel, Skidmore DURHAM: Longstaff, Munn, Plews, Walton, Watson IRELAND, County Down: Munn NOTTS: Bower, Challens, Fox, Pitt, Smith NORFOLK: Daniels, Gotts, Grimes, Marshall, Slaughter, Wright YORKSHIRE Eland, Longstaff _________________________________________________________________ http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/ We want to hear all your funny, exciting and crazy Hotmail stories. Tell us now

Janie, I can't help directly, but................................ My grandfather also trained for the Methodist ministry. Many years ago I tracked down his training record in an old book/register held at the University of Manchester, John Rylands Library, Special Collections section in Deansgate, Manchester. I found the librarians most helpful. They have many old Wesleyan and Methodist records. See; http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/ I knew he hadn't completed the training, but had gone on to be a very active lay preacher. I was fascinated to see the record and only regret it had taken me so long to find it that I only made basic notes, although I don't think the book said any more.. Today I'd have found a way to copy it, but that wasn't allowed then. More records were available, including lists of all Methodist ministers at the time of the union in 1932. I wrote "1897 training for Methodist Ministry Chester-le-Street Circuit. Candidate 89. Described as lay agent. 7 years in Society. 3.75 years local preacher. Not married. Education, elementary, Health unsatisfactory. Offer - general. Didn't complete final exams. Declined on the ground of health." Apparently he had flat feet and other issues which also helped him avoid the First World War - yet he lived an active life of 80 years! He grew up in Warrington and worked as a grocer's boy/assistant. After his failure in Chester-le-Street he seems to have gone back to Warrington, but then popped up in Fareham, Hampshire as a timber salesman. He married the bosses daughter, probably because he was friendly with his eldest son, also a Methodist lay preacher and son-in-law of Methodist Rev Mole. By 1907 my grandparents had moved to Jesmond where he continued as a lay preacher in the Brunswick circuit until after the 2nd War, based at Jesmond Methodist in Clayton Road. My grandmother was training to be a missionary in London in 1891; presumably home missions! They were great campaigners in the Temperance movement so would have their work cut out in the heavy drinking north! My grandfather walked or cycled to the chapels in the South-east Northumberland coal field, rather than taking a bus on the Sabbath. Apparently his sermons sometimes got cries of "hear, hear" from members of the congregation. He may have been a Liberal heckler at Tory political meetings. You may be lucky and at least find his training record. You may be luckier still as I feel sure there will still be some records of his service in the Wesleyan/Methodist church. For starters try looking at Hill's Arrangement, but don't be put off by this page and the lists that don't record him; http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/specialcollections/collections/methodist/using/indexofministers/ Just because he isn't here doesn't mean the story is untrue. He may have left the ministry before his death. My grandfather isn't there either, but Rylands had the record. They may have more about your Abraham. Good luck. Chris Morgan Sheffield PS. My grandfather's brother went to Monrovia, Liberia as manager of the Bank of West Africa and died there in March 1915 as he prepared to sail home to enlist! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mrs Watson" <familytree29@hotmail.com> To: <dur-nbl-l@rootsweb.com>; <eng-durham-l@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:23 PM Subject: [DUR-NBL] Wesleyan Methodist Ministers in Durham > > I am researching Abraham Hall WALTON, born in Evenwood in 1883.In 1901, > Abraham was a grocer's assistant in Hartlepool, by 1911 he is a Wesleyan > Methodist Minister.Does anyone know if there was a Wesleyan College in > Durham where he might have trained, I would like to know when this was as > rumour has it he went as a Missionary to the Gold Coast (Ghana)Many > thanksJanie