Wesleyan Methodist Missionaries

[granthoskin]

One of my direct descendants has his occupation listed as “Wesleyan Methodist Missionary” on his son’s marriage certificate. I have him as being born and buried in Cornwall 1837-1872 which I understand was a main location for the Wesleyan Methodists. I’ve had a look online to see if I can find any trace of the family name in any of the Methodist literature such as meeting minutes, conference reports, etc, but I haven’t found anything yet.

Does anyone have any pointers or ideas?

Thanks!

[BumbleB]

Do you have a name for your Wesleyan Missionary, and where he travelled?  That might give us an indication of where to look.

I have a family member who was a Wesleyan Missionary in South Africa - leaving England in 1821 and dying in Pietermaritzburg in 1866.  Over the years I have accumulated a large amount of information, including books.

[granthoskin]

I have him as (William) Sydney Hoskin, born St Mewan/St Austell in Cornwall 1837, died 1872. I've ordered his birth certificates and death certificates but don't have them yet.

The only 'confirmed' information I have for him comes from his son Sydney's marriage certificates. One from 1895 where his profession is listed as Minister - Wesleyan Methodist Church, and the second from 1907 where he appears to be listed as a missionary. His name is given as Sydney Hoskin on both and he is noted as deceased on both. His wife was Harriet Woolcock/Wilcox. I have no idea where he traveled. Would be delighted to hear from anyone who had any info!

His son Sydney's marriage certificates are here:
https://imgur.com/a/BFzQrO3

Thanks!

[BumbleB]

Ah, so he's a Minister, rather than a Missionary - at least on one occasion.  Do you have him on any of the census returns, and what was his occupation?  I'm just wondering whether he might have been a "lay preacher" rather than a Minister.

[JenB]

I suspect he might have been a lay preacher.

This looks like him in 1871

RG 10 / 2264/ 57/21
13, Mevagissey Street, St Austell

Sidney Hoskin, head, m, 33, labourer, St Mewan
Harriet do, wife, m, 36, Egloshayle
William do, son, scholar, St Austell, Cornwall
Elizabeth do, daur, 8, do do
Emily do, daur, 6, do do
Sidney, son, 4, - do do
Mary e, daur, 2 months,  - do
Elizabeth Woolcock, relative, w, 59, cleaning the Parish Church of St Austell, do do

[JenB]

If I am on to the right family, in 1861 he is a 'clay labourer' living in St Austell.
Elizabeth's surname in this census is given as Willcock.
See RG 9/1548/61/30

[BumbleB]

JenB - I, too, had found those census returns. 

[granthoskin]

Thanks Jen - that matches the census records I have against him too but I was confused why there would be a mismatch between the profession listed on his son's marriage certificate and the census here. Would him being a 'lay preacher' account for that or is there a chance that his son has taken some poetic license with his dad's backstory? His son moved away, first to Edinburgh and then to Glasgow, was married at least twice, possibly three times, and his youngest child was born out of wedlock to a woman with a bit of a checkered past, so this could be feasible.

I noticed that Sydney died relatively young, would there be a possibility that he began his work with the church after the 1871 census and died in service?

[BumbleB]

I, personally, would be inclined to agree with your theory that the son took "poetic licence" BUT, of course, there is always the possibility of some truth.