Last week I wrote about the Wareham family which split between England, Australia and New Zealand after the death of George Wareham, a butcher. I expressed surprise that a 16 year old boy should be left in England by his mother when she emigrated with some of his siblings in 1854. This is a story about that boy who became an important figure in the missionary movement.
Edward Allport Wareham was born in April 1838 and was the youngest of eleven children. He spent his childhood in Hampton Wick near Kingston in south London - aged 3 in 1841 he was living at The Green and ten years later in Teddington Road. He was baptized at home in 1843 at the same time as his brother Thomas (b1836).
According to an article he contributed to sixty years later, he left home at the age of 14 and became an apprentice to a Woolwich firm of drapers.
He must have been extremely strong willed to have taken the decision to remain in England after his father had died when he was only 13 in 1851 and his mother had emigrated three years later. Why did he stay ? Was it because he was bound under the terms of the apprenticeship ? We don't know how long he remained as an apprentice but in 1861 he was studying at Homerton College in Hackney, a training school for teachers - knowing what he did subsequently it would seem likely that he was doing one of their theological courses.
According to an article he contributed to sixty years later, he left home at the age of 14 and became an apprentice to a Woolwich firm of drapers.
He must have been extremely strong willed to have taken the decision to remain in England after his father had died when he was only 13 in 1851 and his mother had emigrated three years later. Why did he stay ? Was it because he was bound under the terms of the apprenticeship ? We don't know how long he remained as an apprentice but in 1861 he was studying at Homerton College in Hackney, a training school for teachers - knowing what he did subsequently it would seem likely that he was doing one of their theological courses.
Edward Wareham (from the SOAS archives) Three more children were born over the next few years :
It seems likely that his request was granted as Edward and his family (not Ada) were still living in Edinburgh in 1881 at 3 Windsor Street and they had a live in domestic servant. In 1891 his occupation was described as a "Congregational Church Minister" and about 1897 they moved to 27 Mayfield Terrace in Edinburgh - still employing a live in servant.
- Harold Edgar Wareham (b1872) born in Guildford - he became an important figure in the LMS and I will be blogging about him shortly.
- Arthur George Wareham (b1874) born in Perth, Scotland.
- Harry Dunlop Wareham (b1875) born in Perth Scotland - he emigrated to Australia on the "Orient" in 1895, presumably to join the rest of the family.
It seems likely that his request was granted as Edward and his family (not Ada) were still living in Edinburgh in 1881 at 3 Windsor Street and they had a live in domestic servant. In 1891 his occupation was described as a "Congregational Church Minister" and about 1897 they moved to 27 Mayfield Terrace in Edinburgh - still employing a live in servant.
1884 Newspaper Article Edward had applied to join the London Missionary Society (LMS) on Christmas Eve 1860 with a preference for foreign service and he was ordained on 23rd June 1864. The LMS was a protestant society formed in 1795 'to spread the knowledge of Christ among heathen and other unenlightened nations'. Two weeks later he married Susannah Rock Carling at The Bunyan Meeting House in Bedford - a baptist church named after John Bunyan of Pilgrim's Progress fame who was imprisoned in Bedford and became a minister there in 1672.
The young couple sailed for Belgaum, which is on the eastern side of India, almost immediately after their marriage.
During their time in India they had three children :
Edward (Senior) suffered from sunstroke and they all returned to England in 1871. He must have been well thought of as in 1872 he was appointed the LMS District Agent for Scotland and Ireland - he would later be appointed Secretary for both countries and travel to all corners of the United Kingdom spreading the word.
The young couple sailed for Belgaum, which is on the eastern side of India, almost immediately after their marriage.
During their time in India they had three children :
- Edward Carling Wareham (b1866) - he became an insurance clerk in Edinburgh.
- Ada Mary Wareham (b1868) - she married Henry Nutter who was also a missionary in the LMS.
- Herbert Frank Wareham (b1869) - he was an exporter of general merchandise
Edward (Senior) suffered from sunstroke and they all returned to England in 1871. He must have been well thought of as in 1872 he was appointed the LMS District Agent for Scotland and Ireland - he would later be appointed Secretary for both countries and travel to all corners of the United Kingdom spreading the word.
This is a photograph of Edward with his wife and their six children presumably taken just before Harry emigrated to Australia in 1895.
Standing back row : Ada, Harry, Herbert, Edward
Sitting front row : Edward Allport, Arthur, Susannah, Harold
the group photo was taken after Harry left for OZ and a photo of a 15year old Harry was superimposed, so the story goes. Interesting, our branch is the only one who has a copy of this photo. Our copy shows that Harry’s head is out of proportion, larger than his brothers. Apparently, photographers did this superimposing at the time to allow relatives to keep in touch
An example of how times have changed was an article I found in a newspaper dated 14th November 1901. It recounts a lecture Edward gave entitled "Life amongst the Cannibals" in which he "gave an interesting account of the operations of the society in the foreign mission field and described chiefly the progress of missionary enterprise amongst the savage people of New Guinea, the subject being illustrated by a large map of that country." There is no evidence that he ever travelled to New Guinea, an island just to the north of Australia, so quite how he had the expertise to make such assertions is not known.
Edward retired from the LMS in 1908. He was appointed an honorary director in recognition of his 36 years service to the Society.
Edward retired from the LMS in 1908. He was appointed an honorary director in recognition of his 36 years service to the Society.
Maybe temporarily, maybe not, on the 1911 census, 72 year old Edward had left Edinburgh and was living with his wife at a seven roomed house at 34 Orpington Road, Winchmore Hill in London. His occupation was described as a retired congregational clergyman. He is certainly on the 1912 electoral register at this address ...... without his wife as women were not eligible to vote.
Back at Mayfield Terrace in Edinburgh, Edward died on 26th March 1926 aged 87. His cause of death was "acute abdominal crisis, stricture maintained 4 hours, senile degeneration". Probate was granted but strangely there is no indication of the value of his estate. His wife died nearly four years later.
Back at Mayfield Terrace in Edinburgh, Edward died on 26th March 1926 aged 87. His cause of death was "acute abdominal crisis, stricture maintained 4 hours, senile degeneration". Probate was granted but strangely there is no indication of the value of his estate. His wife died nearly four years later.
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