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William Threlfall was born in Hollowforth, Lancashire, on 6 June 1799, the son of Richard Threlfall, a tanner. Threlfall, when eighteen, believed he had been called by God to evangelise in Madagascar and sought thereafter to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, his desire did not meet the then needs of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society who persuaded him that his service was required in South Africa. Consequently, Threlfall was ordained on 25 October 1821 and departed for South Africa aboard the 'Sun' at the end of December 1821 (arriving at Cape Town on 4 April 1822). He joined William Shaw at Salem [Eastern Cape] in June 1822 and assisted him with his work amongst the British settlers. As his desire to preach in Madagascar was unlikely to be met in the near future [in fact the WMMS never succeeded in founding a mission to Madagascar] he requested to be allowed to preach amongst the indigenous population and he was sent to assist Barnabus Shaw at Lily Fountain in Khamies-berg [Lilifontein, Kamiesberg, Northern Cape Province]. However, not long after his arrival an opportunity arose to start a new mission at Delagoa Bay [Maputo Bay, Mozambique]. Shaw and Threlfall, despite the belief that an 'unhealthy' climate existed in the area, agreed that Threlfall should go and, without having obtained the formal permission of the WMMS in London, he reached his destination on 21 July 1823. The mission did not proceed well. Threlfall became ill in August (probably malaria) with his condition worsening when he contracted dysentery in October. Work became impossible and he deteriorated rapidly with one ship refusing to relocate him due to the severity of his condition. However, he secured passage on the 'Nereid' and finally left for Cape Town in April 1824.
By the end of 1824 Threlfall had returned to Lily Fountain and was recovering well. For some time there had been a desire, and even the odd attempt, to preach north of the Fish River in Namaqualand [Great Fish River, Namibia]. On Threlfall's recovery it was agreed that he would lead a party to assess whether a mission would be possible. Threlfall left in late June 1825 with Rev Jacob Links, an indigenous minister, and Johannes Jager, a local missionary assistant. On route they were discouraged from progressing further and found it increasingly difficult to procure a guide. However, at Warm Bath [Warmbad, Namibia] they acquired the assistance of Nauwghaap (alias Hans Jantje) as a guide. One or two days after leaving Warm Bath (around 10 August) they were joined by a group of local bushmen and whilst camping that evening, at the instigation of Nauwghaap, Threlfall and his two companions were murdered for their possessions. Nauwghaap, along with his conspirators, were tried and executed at Silver Fountain [Silverfontein, Cape Province] on 3 September 1827.
Further Reading:
Birtwhistle, N A, William Threlfall: a study in missionary vocation (1966);
Broadbent, S, The missionary martyr of Namaqualand : memorials of the Rev. William Threlfall, late Wesleyan missionary in South Africa, who was murdered in Great Namaqualand, together with two native converts, Jacob Links and Johannes Jager (1860);
Cheeseman, T, The story of William Threlfall, missionary martyr of Namaqualand, with some account of Jacob Links and Johannes Jager, who fell with him (1910);
Hardyman, J T, Methodist plans for a mission in Madagascar 1816-1828 (1969);
Moister, W, Missionary martyrs; being brief memorial sketches of faithful servants of God who have been put to death whilst endeavouring to propagate the Gospel of Christ, chiefly among the heathen, in different ages and countries (1885). |
William Threlfall was born in Hollowforth, Lancashire, on 6 June 1799, the son of Richard Threlfall, a tanner. Threlfall, when eighteen, believed he had been called by God to evangelise in Madagascar and sought thereafter to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, his desire did not meet the then needs of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society who persuaded him that his service was required in South Africa. Consequently, Threlfall was ordained on 25 October 1821 and departed for South Africa aboard the 'Sun' at the end of December 1821 ( ... View more |
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for William Threlfall whilst working in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape/FBN 7). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
Typescript copies of correspondence (1820-1825) between Threlfall and his family, friends & colleagues are also available (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 1, item 8)
A privately produced brief history of William Threlfall's family in Lancashire is available (MMSL MSS 061).
A typescript manuscript written by J T Hardyman on Threlfall and Madagascar can be found within PP MS 63 Box 5. |
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for William Threlfall whilst working in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape/FBN 7). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
Typescript copies of correspondence (1820-1825) between Threlfall and his family, friends & coll ... View more |
