George Greatbatch 1779-1864
Born Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire
Boothroyd-Johnstone Ancestry tree
Nightingale quote: "He was born at Shelton, in the Potteries, in October, 1779, his father being a respectable person, who had made considerable sacrifices for Evangelical Protestantism, and one of his ancestors, was a famous preacher in Cromwell s army"
1779. George Greatbatch was born to the Rev. James Greatbatch & Mary Ridgway Shelton/Hanley , Stoke, Oct 1779. Baptised 24/10/1779
1795. He joined Hanley Congregational Church of the Rev. James Boden .Having been converted through Boden, his first wish was to go- out as a missionary in connection with the newly formed London Missionary Society, and so it was pro posed that he enter Mr. Haldane's Institution at Edinburgh, but his mind was changed
1799. George Greatbatch married Sarah Greatbatch on 11/5/1799 in St Bartholomews Norton. le Moors, Anglican . Both of Stoke - FMP
1801. He was sent as minister to North Meols- but was so horrified that he commuted the 15 miles and lived with his family in Newburgh - Article
1802-1807 . Lived in Newburgh - 5k from Ormskirk. Itinerant at first, riding a horse to the various locations. Often got home late at night because, apart from Ormskirk, accommodation was not available. Wife always had food waiting for him and his horse
1802. Anna Ridgeway Greatbatch born - died 1885, aged 83 - on gravestone
1806 He was the first minister of North Meols Independent Chapel, newly built. The Church Street Chapel later changed its name to Churchtown Congregational Church, and is now the URC, Churchtown
At the beginning of the first Register kept at the Dissenting Chapel, North Meols (now the URC on Botanic Road, Churchtown) George Greatbatch wrote
“The following facts are thought worth preserving.
Viz. In the beginning of the year 1806 – it being pretty generally known in the Parish that the Protestant Dissenters intended baptising their own children; there was considerable opposition made against it by the Minister of the Parish Church. He caused it to be made known that none of the children so baptised should be buried in the usual way – and one person (W. Sutton, Shoe Maker, Mill Lane) was so alarmed that the said Minister was sent for to re-baptise his child while it was in dying circumstances.
In consequence of all this stir, it was thought prudent to write to the Minister. He failed to reply, but did therafter bury children baptised by Greatbatch
1808. Report for 1808, previously referred to, states that Mr. Greatbatch had as preaching stations, besides Churchtown, " Crossens, Southport, Blowick, Ormskirk, Newburgh, Scarisbrick, 2 Bretherton, &c.," and that at the first 2 he had Sabbath Schools
1810. Sarah Ann Greatbatch was born to George & Sarah
Another 4 children were: George Shelley; Ebenezer; son and Mary Ann . . . Son G S Greatbatch died 1828- on gravestone
1813. Family still living at Newborough/Newbro page 17 of "Lancashire nonconformity...."
1820. He was Secretary to the "Strangers Charity/Convalescent Hospital: "On the Promenade by the sea. He was seen as warm and kind".
1822-1826 . Guardian of George van Diemen, who was taken to England by Capt. William Kermode, for his education, then returned to Tasmania
1823. Formally ordained on 23/11/1823 in Orrell : "He had been ministering 20 years already, but this was his formal Ordination. Clergy from Wigan, Liverpool, Manchester, Rainford, and Hindley present, with Mr. Roby of Manchester leading".
1823. A Tabernacle was built in East bank Street, Southport.(A "Lord of the Manor" (Robert Hesketh Esq.) realised he had been wrong and granted the land. The building was called "The Southport Tabernacle".). He was its first Minister. It later became Chapel Street Congregational Church (demolished 1863)
1830. He laid the foundation stone for a new and larger church at Churchtown 27/10/1830
1834. His daughter, Sarah Ann, married Samuel Boothroyd
1836. A new neat Chapel was opened in Newburgh : served 6000 people. The village was lived in 30 years ago by the Rev. Greatbach and served as the centre of his itinerant labours, before he moved to North Meols - the Evangelical Magazine & Missionary Chronicle, Google
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1841C. George Greatbatch, 60, dissenting minister, is living Lords Street, Meols North, Ormskirk. Same street as his married daughter, Sarah Ann Boothroyd
| George | Greatbatch | Male | 60 | 1781 | -dissenting minister |
| Sarah | Greatbatch | Female | 70 | 1771 | -ind. |
| Ann | Greatbatch | Female | 35 | 1806 | - |
| George | Greatbatch | Male | 15 | 1826 | draper Lancashire, England |
| Ann | Cartman | Female | 50 | 1791 | Lancashire, England |
1847. Failing health led to his resignation from pastoring the Southport Chapel. Succeeded by John Egarr Millson on 1st Sunday in April 1847.
1851. Wife, Sarah Greatbatch, 81, dies 15/1/1851Ormskirk Mar 1851
1851C. George Greatbatch, 71, Retired Independent minister, is living Lords Street, Wilberforce Terrace, Meols North, Ormskirk
| George | Greatbach | Head | Widower | Male | 71 | 1780 | Retired Independent Minister | Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England |
| Anna Ridgway | Greatbach | Daughter | Unmarried | Female | 49 | 1802 | Gentlewoman | Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England |
1861C. George Greatbatch, 81, is living 176 Lords Street, Meols North, Ormskirk
| George | Greatbach | Head | Widower | Male | 81 | 1780 | Indept Minister Retired Some Years Ago | Staff Lanley- |
| Anna R R | Greatbach | Daughter | Unmarried | Female | 56 | 1805 | Spinster . . Staff. Hanley? |
1864. The Rev. George Greatbatch, 84, died 5/3/1864 Southport. Probate <£100 , executor his son in law, Samuel Boothroyd
Samuel Boothroyd his son in law
9/3/1864 . First buried in Chapel Street Churchyard. Funeral a public one. Resident in the parish for 58 years. 57 years the hon. sec. of the Strangers' Charity, the name of which, shortly before his death, changed to "Convalescent Hospital and Sea-Bathing Infirmary