| Description | Memorandum from J.Williams [Revd. John Williams, 1796 - 1839, missionary to the south Seas, 'killed by cannibals in the New Hebrides', 20 Nov. 1839 - see D.N.B] at 2, Denmark Street, Ratcliff, to Revd. J. Arundel at Mission House, referring to a 'princely donation' from a 'benevolent nobleman'. |
| AdminHistory | John Williams' principal link with East London is his commemoration at the Abney Park Cemetery in Hackney. The young John was influenced by his mother's Methodist beliefs early on, yet was raised in the Congregationalist tradition. He trained as a foundry worker and motor mechanic. Following an evangelical conversion in 1814, he volunteered for service with the London Missionary Society. He and a group of fellow-missionaries travelled to the Polynesian Islands shortly after Tahiti had nominally converted to Christianity in 1815. The group moved on to Tasmania, where it pursued its evangelical mission, often in liaison with other denominations from the dissenting tradition. Rev. Williams continued to preach publicly despite local opposition (1).
As his meetings drew large audiences, Rev. Williams, on his own initiative, took up trading in sugar cane and tobacco. He gave evidence to the House of Commons Committee on Aborigines and became instrumental in the establishment of the Aborigines Protection Society (2). His violent death in the New Hebrides in November 1839 caused considerable impact wherever he was well known, while giving a boost to Australian Congregationalism (3).
Rev. Williams' wife and son are buried in the Abney Park Cemetery. His name and the record and manner of his death are placed on the most prominent side of the stone monument.
Sources of information
1/2/3 'Rev. John Williams' in Volume 2, Australian Dictionary of National Biography 1967
britishmuseum.org (including Objects re. Rev. John Williams) |