In recounting the very
early years of Bible Students in Britain, Bruce and Rachael wrote about Tom
Hart and Jonathan Ling. Both names were mentioned in the 1973 Yearbook history
of Britain. A paragraph about Ling was extended as a result of research made on
Ancestry and also a reference found in Tony Byatt’s book on the history of
Bible Students/Witnesses in London.
The combined
information reads:
(quote) Thom Hart was born in Calcutta, India, in 1853. At the time
of the 1881 Census he had moved his family from the Islington address to 5
Lavinia Grove, Middlesex, London. He was “a carman” for one of the railroads. In
another place he called “a railroad shunter.” He and his wife had three
children, two sons and one daughter, all under the age of four. Jonathan Ling
was born in Blaxhall, Suffolk, early in 1858. The 1891 census has him as a
railway guard at Islington, an occupation he still had in 1901. He was married
Elizabeth, maiden name unknown, and they have seven children, ranging in ages
from one month to 17 years old. He died June 20, 1922. We lack an exact date
for Ling’s conversion, but it appears to be early. Ling’s daughter Ruth
remembered that their meetings were held in the common room of the King’s Cross
hostel, a layover spot for railway workers. (end of quote)
As a result of contacts via Ancestry, I have made contact
with one of Ling’s great grand-daughters, Elizabeth. Although the census return
referred to above gave Jonathan Ling seven children, it appears he eventually
had ten. His wife, Elizabeth, was originally Elizabeth Moody and lived to be 100.
The modern Elizabeth’s branch of the family did not remain with the Bible
Students.
Great grand daughter Elizabeth (from the line through
Jonathan’s son, Lewis Charles Ling) has very kindly supplied the two
photographs below, and has given permission for them to be reproduced here. I have
not cropped them but just reproduced them as received. Elizabeth has also given
permission to reproduce the photographs in the second volume of Separate
Identity if required, with just an acknowledgement requested.
4 comments:
Good work Jerome. Somehow Bible Student names come to life when you can attach a picture to them!
Ancestry contacts is a rich source of information which will no doubt bring many more pictures. Elizabeth Horne anyone?
Son of Ton
Excellent Jerome. Thanks
I first associated with Jehovah's Witnesses with the Wood Green Congregation in London in 1972. I met Ruth Naomi Ling there at that time. She was nearly 80 yrs of age. She had married and her married name was Fenwick although I am not sure of the spelling. Her husband, John Fenwick, had died before I met her.
She spoke often of her experiences in the early days, about her father Jonathan and his friend Tom Hart. She told us she had met Charles Taze Russell and served as an usherette at the Photo-Drama of Creation when it was shown at the Royal Albert Hall in 1914. She was a charming personality, with sparkely eyes. We would meet at her little flat in Lakefield Road N22 most Saturday afternoons after ministry and have tea and cake while she would regaile us with stories, experiences and bible sermons until it got dark. When I left, I still met her 6 monthly at circuit assemblies until she died some years later.
Welcome to the blog, and it is nice to have some first hand experiences from those who have met close relatives of those from the very early days like Jonathan Ling.
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