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John Broadley Wilson

John Broadley Wilson (1764–1835) was an English dockyard ordnance official. After an adult baptism, he became a philanthropist involved in the finance and governance of a wide range of evangelical Christian societies.

Background and early life

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John Broadley Wilson was the son of the philanthropist Francis Wilson (1737/8–1814), of Broadlands (or Park House), Clapham Common;[1] his paternal grandmother was Frances Broadley, third daughter of Thomas Broadley (died 1784) of Kingston upon Hull, and his wife Ann Grundy.[2] Frances Broadley married in 1736 Capt. John Wilson RN (died 1797), as his first wife.[3]

Wilson was therefore great-nephew of Henry Broadley RN of Kingston upon Hull,[4] and cousin once removed of Henry Broadley the younger, Member of Parliament, whose diary mentions Wilson's widow in the 1840s; she was then receiving an annuity from the Broadley family.[5] The elder Henry Broadley died in 1797; he was the brother of Robert Carli(s)le Broadley, a banker in Hull.[6]

Wilson was a protégé of George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, who served as Master-General of the Ordnance in the first part of the 1780s. He had a position in the ordnance department of Plymouth Dock, later known as Devonport.[7] He resigned a commission as second lieutenant in 1791.[8]

Around 1803 Wilson went to hear Isaiah Birt (1758–1837) preach; Birt was a Baptist minister at Plymouth Dock.[9][10] Brought up in the Church of England, which he did not leave, Wilson underwent a believer's baptism from Birt. In religion he was a Calvinist, and in politics a liberal and admirer of the resistance of George Washington.[9] Birt later dedicated a work on baptism to him.[11] He was a member of the Surrey Chapel Independent congregation of Rowland Hill, at the time of Birt's ministrations, and remained so, the Chapel being at least in name Anglican.[12][13]

Supporter of religious societies

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Ford K. Brown wrote that Wilson "probably made heavier contributions and subscriptions to moral and reforming societies of the day than any other person with the possible exception of Wilberforce.[14] He was involved with 36 societies.[15]

Baptist Missionary Society

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Wilson was Treasurer of the London Baptist Missionary Society from 1826 to 1834.[12] This period covered a major split from the Society of the mission to Bengal based at Serampore in what was then Danish India. The mission broke away from the Society in 1827.[16] Of the original Serampore Trio, William Ward had died in 1823; Joshua Marshman came to the United Kingdom in June 1826. In negotiations that became known at the time as the Serampore controversy, he represented the missionaries.[17][18]

There are accounts of the negotiations given by John Foster, a supporter of Marshman. The controversy was carried on in public from 1828. By 1831 Samuel Hope (1760–1837), a Liverpool banker and the mission's home treasurer,[19] had offered to act as an arbitrator in the disputed matters. The context was a letter of March 1830 from Marshman, his son John Clark Marshman and William Carey, proposing an arbitration committee of six, naming Hope plus two others to be chosen on their side, and Wilson with two others to act for the Society.[20] John Clark Marshman wrote later that Wilson was thought by the Serampore side "a man devoid of all jesuitism or diplomacy, and in whose justice and impartiality they felt great confidence."[21] On the Council of the Society, Wilson was in a dovish group including also Olinthus Gregory, Joseph Gutteridge (1752–1844), Joseph Ivimey and Benjamin Shaw. On the financial matters in dispute, they took the view that some dependence of missions on the home organisation was to be expected.[22]

Wilson chaired a meeting of the Society's Council in February 1831 objecting to continuing campaigning by the mission's supporters.[23] That year Ivimey published Letters on the Serampore Controversy, dedicated to Wilson and addressed to Christopher Anderson.[24] A comprise solution to the Serampore situation was reached only in 1837, after the deaths of a number of the principal figures.[25]

Religious Tract Society

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Wilson was Treasurer of the Religious Tract Society from 1827 to the end of his life. Interested in reprinting works of the English Reformers in others, he paid for stereotype plates for works published by the Society, and donated those, as well as bequeathing a sum in Consols.[26]

Benefactor

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Memorial to John Broadley Wilson at St Paul's Church, Clapham, by Francis Chantrey[27]

Rowland Hill said of Wilson, "I have but one thing to desire—that he may be kept out of heaven a good long time, he is so much wanted on earth."[28] Referring to Wilson, John Angell James wrote:

I knew a Christian philanthropist who set out in life by consecrating a tenth of his income to God. He did this when he had but a hundred a year. He became at length possessed of eight thousand a year, and having no children, he did not then satisfy himself with the tithe, as he had commenced—but spent less than two thousand a year on his own simple and graceful home, and gave all the rest away.[29]

The Baptist minister William Newman (1773–1836) of Stepney College wrote ""Mr Broadley Wilson has a noble, princely mind. His questions are only, Is the object good?—Can it be obtained by effort and perseverance? Difficulties are no objections."[30]

Benefactions included:

The original St Peter's Church at Southborough, Kent, designed by Decimus Burton, had a tablet to Wilson, "the principal projector of the edifice".[41][42]

Death

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Wilson's funeral sermon at St Paul's Chapel, Clapham was preached by the minister there, William Borrows, on 1 March 1835.[43]

Family

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Lydia Gwennap, age about 13, portrait by John Opie

Wilson married Lydia Gwennap (died in 1854) on 22 October 1806, at Stoke Damerel Church.[44][45] Lydia was the daughter of John Gwennap of Falmouth, Cornwall, and niece of the minister Joseph Gwennap, then of Walworth. The couple were married by the Church of England priest John Martyn Hitchin(g)s, a graduate of Exeter College, Oxford, and curate at Devonport St John the Baptist Chapel.[46][47][48]

Notes

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  1. ^ Survey of London: Battersea, pt. 2. Houses and Housing. University of London for the London County Council. 2013. p. 368. ISBN 978-0-300-19617-7.
  2. ^ Burke, John Bernard; Burke, Sir Bernard (1898). A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland. Harrison. p. 171.
  3. ^ Palmer, Charles Ferrers Raymund (1845). The history of the town and castle of Tamworth : in the counties of Stafford & Warwick. Tamworth and London: Jonathan Thompson, J.B. Nichols. p. 286.
  4. ^ The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for the Year ... Edw. Cave, 1736-[1868]. 1835. p. 443.
  5. ^ Broadley, Henry (1987). The Diary of an Honourable Member: The Journal of Henry Broadley MP 1 January 1840 to 17 March 1842 : the Everyday Working Life of an East Riding MP. Humberside Leisure Services. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-904451-35-1.
  6. ^ Burke, Bernard (1868). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland. Harrison. p. 153.
  7. ^ Cox, Francis Augustus; Peggs, James (1842). History of the Baptist Missionary Society, from 1792 to 1842 : to which is added a sketch of the General Baptist Mission, in two volumes. London: T. Ward & co., and G. & J. Dyer. p. 435.
  8. ^ Engineers, Great Britain Army Royal; Connolly, Thomas William John (1898). Roll of Officers of the Corps of Royal Engineers from 1660 to 1898. Royal Engineers Institute. p. 1.
  9. ^ a b The Baptist Magazine. 1838. pp. 199–200.
  10. ^ "Birt, Isaiah from the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia". McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia Online.
  11. ^ Birt, Isaiah (1833). Personal Religion Vindicated in relation to Christian Baptism. Paternoster Row, London: Bagster & Wightman. p. 3.
  12. ^ a b Whelan, Timothy D. (2009). Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845. Mercer University Press. p. 468. ISBN 978-0-88146-144-2.
  13. ^ Thompson, Philip E.; Cross, Anthony R. (2005). Recycling the Past Or Researching History?: Studies in Baptist Historiography and Myths. Paternoster. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-84227-122-3.
  14. ^ Brown, Ford K. (1961). Fathers of the Victorians: The Age of Wilberforce. CUP Archive. p. 235.
  15. ^ Brown, Ford K. (1961). Fathers of the Victorians: The Age of Wilberforce. CUP Archive. p. 235.
  16. ^ Stanley, Brian. "Carey, William (1761–1834)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4657. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  17. ^ Cox, Francis Augustus; Peggs, James (1842). History of the Baptist Missionary Society, from 1792 to 1842 : to which is added a sketch of the General Baptist Mission, in two volumes. London: T. Ward & co., and G. & J. Dyer. p. 290.
  18. ^ Laird, Michael. "Marshman, Joshua (1768–1837)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/18163. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  19. ^ Whelan, Timothy D. (2009). Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845. Mercer University Press. p. 403. ISBN 978-0-88146-144-2.
  20. ^ Ivimey, Joseph (1831). Letters on the Serampore Controversy, addressed to the Rev. Christopher Anderson, etc. p. 190.
  21. ^ Marshman, John Clark (1859). The Life and Times of Carey, Marshman, and Ward: Embracing the History of the Serampore Mission. Longman. p. 431.
  22. ^ Marshman, John Clark (1859). The Life and Times of Carey, Marshman, and Ward: Embracing the History of the Serampore Mission. Longman. p. 210.
  23. ^ Marshman, Joshua (1831). Reply to ... J. Dyer's Letter to J. B. Wilson. By J. Marshman ... Together with Thoughts upon the discussions which have arisen from the separation between the Baptist Missionary Society and the Serampore Missionaries; by W. Carey. ... Also a Communication on the same subject by ... W. Robinson of Calcutta. And an Appeal, by the Serampore Missionaries, on behalf of the labours in which they are engaged. p. 100.
  24. ^ Ivimey, Joseph (1831). Letters on the Serampore Controversy, addressed to the Rev. Christopher Anderson, etc.
  25. ^ Stanley, Brian (1992). The History of the Baptist Missionary Society, 1792-1992. T&T Clark. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-567-09614-2.
  26. ^ Jones, William (1850). The jubilee memorial of the Religious Tract Society : containing a record of tis origin, proceedings, and results, A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1849. London: The Society. pp. 63–64.
  27. ^ Yarrington, Alison (1994). An Edition of the Ledger of Sir Francis Chantrey, R.A., at the Royal Academy, 1809-1841. Walpole Society. p. 297.
  28. ^ Sidney, Elizabeth (1835). The Life of the Rev. Rowland Hill. p. 347.
  29. ^ James, John Angell (1860). The works of John Angell James. pp. 250–251.
  30. ^ Pritchard, George (1837). Memoir of the Rev. William Newman D.D. London: Thomas Ward & Co. pp. 303–304.
  31. ^ Scott, George Gilbert (1879). Personal and professional recollections. London: S. Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington. p. 53.
  32. ^ Brownell, Kenneth Gordon (1982). Voluntary saints : English Congregationalism and the voluntary principle, 1825-1962 (Thesis). University of St Andrews. p. 30. hdl:10023/3706.
  33. ^ White, William (1837). History, Gazetteer and Directory of the West-Riding of Yorkshire, with the City of York and Port of Hull, Etc. W. White. p. 440.
  34. ^ Independent Academy, Idle, England (1824). Reports. p. 30.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ The Baptist Magazine. 1831. p. 291.
  36. ^ Periodical Accounts Relating to the Missions of the Church of the United Brethren Established Among the Heathen. Brethen's Society for the Furtherance of the Gospel. 1834. p. xviii.
  37. ^ The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle. 1855. p. 351.
  38. ^ The Rath; or Burmese Imperial State Carriage, and Throne ... captured in the present Indian war, which is now exhibiting as drawn by elephants, at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. First edition? With a plate. Proprietors. 1826. p. 32.
  39. ^ University College London (1827). Statement by the Council of the University of London, explanatory of the nature and objects of the Institution. (Proprietors of Shares.). Richard Taylor. p. 20.
  40. ^ An account of the Infirmary. ... Annual report for 1827. London: H. Teape & Son printer. 1827. p. 30.
  41. ^ Howard Colvin (1978). A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840. John Murray. p. 171. ISBN 0-7195-3328-7.
  42. ^ Greenwood, Christopher (1838). An Epitome of County History. Published for the proprietor, at the office of the author. p. 124.
  43. ^ Borrows, William (1835). Christ Magnified in the Life and Death of His Saints. A Funeral Sermon, Occasioned by the Decease of the Late John Broadley Wilson, Esq. Preached at St. Paul's Chapel, Clapham, Surrey, March 1st, 1835, by the Rev. William Borrows, M.A. Minister of the Chapel, and Sunday Evening Lecturer of St. Luke's Church, Middlesex. 187, Piccadilly, London: J. Hatchard and Son.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  44. ^ "Marriage of John Broadley Wilson Esquire of Gunwharf in Stoke Damerel, bachelor to Lydia Gwennap of Gunwharf in Stoke Damerel, spinster". devon-cat.swheritage.org.uk.
  45. ^ "Deaths". Patriot. 17 April 1854. p. 8.
  46. ^ "record 1791603, Cornwall OPC Database". www.cornwall-opc-database.org.
  47. ^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1891). "Hitchings, Thomas Martyn" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: James Parker – via Wikisource.
  48. ^ "Hitchins, John Martyn (1790–1831)". The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835. CCEd Person ID 21583. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
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