James Pollitt (clergyman)

James Pollitt (3 April 1813 – 15 August 1881) was an Anglican missionary to South America and pioneering minister in South Australia.

History

Pollitt was born in Worsley in historic Lancashire a son of John Pollitt.[1] and having at an early age decided on the life of a missionary, trained at the Church Missionary Society College, Islington and in 1834 sailed for Jamaica, where his son Henry was born either in 1837[1] or 1840.[2] His health suffered and in 1841 he returned to England where he spent some time recuperating in the Channel Islands.[3] After further preparation, including a course of medical studies at King's College Hospital, at the end of 1842 he embarked for British Guiana, where he was promptly ordained Deacon by Bishop Austin and sent up the Essequibo River with his wife and two sons to mission to the Carib Indians. While there he met Sir Robert Schomburgk and his brother Dr. Richard Schomburgk, later the curator of Adelaide Botanic Garden.[3] After less than a year he was forced by ill health to return to England and spent some time recuperating on the Isle of Man. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Sumner, of Chester, and appointed assistant curate to the church of St. Paul's, Lindale, in Westmorland.

South Australia

Pollitt heard that Anglican ministers were urgently needed in the newly proclaimed colony of South Australia, and under the auspices of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts embarked with his family on the Emu, arriving in Adelaide in May 1846. He was appointed the first minister of St. James's Church, Blakiston,[4] where he served until late 1849, when he was appointed to Kooringa, which had suddenly become important for its proximity to the Burra Burra mines, and was replaced by Rev. George C. Newenham. In 1854 he was elected first rector of St. Luke's Church in Whitmore Square.[5] In 1864 he was unanimously elected to Christ Church, North Adelaide,[6] where Archdeacon Woodcock, a fellow passenger on the Emu, had been officiating. Nevertheless, Pollitt remained at St. Luke's. In 1870 he spent fifteen months in England for the sake of his health and returned much recovered. His wife died in 1877 and he remarried in January 1880, and he resigned in June 1881, vacated the parsonage, fell ill and died shortly after.[3]

The Rev. James Pollitt was an eloquent preacher of the Evangelical school, noted for his charity to the poor of all religions and greatly loved by those who knew him best. He was an effective and successful advocate for State aid until the Act which provided support to the Established Church was overturned by the Legislative Council. He was noted for his "low church" anti-ritualistic views, which brought him into conflict with the Synod and powerful "high church" Anglicans of Trinity Church.[7]

Family

Pollitt married Ellen Maria Williams Moate (c. 1809 – 16 April 1877) in 1835. She was a daughter of Robert Moate (1779–1825) and Mary Anne Moate, née Williams. Among their family were:

  • Edith Marion Pollitt (1868 – 1953)
  • Henry Carleton Pollitt (1869 – 1925) married Florence Hamilton Ayliffe (1872 – 1948) on 18 May 1917. He was a first officer on P & O liners.
  • James Pollitt (16 July 1872 – ) moved to Western Australia.
  • Mary Alice Carleton Pollitt (1874 – ) married Francis Bentley Davison ( – ) on 6 December 1921
  • Winifred Amy Carleton "Winnie" Pollitt (1876 – 29 August 1942) was a student at the Advanced School for Girls.
  • Cyril Arthur Pollitt (1878 – 1942) married Hermine Wanda Sobels ( – ) in 1911. They had two daughters and two sons.
  • Helen Seline/Selene Pollitt (1880 – 1959)
  • Irene May Pollitt (1879 – 3 November 1946) married Henry Joseph Perkins ( – 9 March 1926) in 1901, lived in Port Pirie. They had three daughters and two sons
  • Franklin John Arthur Charles Pollitt (1885 – 1955) married Elaine Thompson ( – ) in 1906. They had a daughter and four sons.
  • Robert Eldred Llewellyn Pollitt (1888 – )
  • Hector Elwyn Pollitt (1890 – 1951) married Elsie May Goble ( – 1966) in 1916. They had a daughter and three sons.
  • Alexander Gerald Pollitt (1894 – 1970) married Eva Alice Goble ( – 1963) in 1930
  • Blanche Pollitt (1875 – )
  • Winfrid Jervois Pollitt (1879 – )
  • Florence Cecilia Pollitt (1881 – )
  • Henry Walter Pollitt (1893 – )

He married again, to Cecile Seline Nagel (c. 1837 – 28 July 1902) on 8 January 1880. He died at his home, Sturt Street, Adelaide. She married again to Charles Comport Cobb (c. 1830 – 3 July 1899) on 16 January 1883

References

  1. 1 2 3 Geoffrey Frogley. "Jamaicans found in Australia records". Retrieved 14 September 2016. Another reference mentions an elder son who died early. It is likely that the 1937 birthdate for Henry Martyn Pollitt properly refers to him.
  2. ↑ "Death of Canon Pollitt". The Advertiser (Adelaide). LI, (15,644). South Australia. 7 December 1908. p. 7. Retrieved 14 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. 1 2 3 "Obituary". Evening Journal (Adelaide). XIII, (3839). South Australia. 16 August 1881. p. 3. Retrieved 14 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "Local Intelligence". Adelaide Observer. IV, (183). South Australia. 26 December 1846. p. 5. Retrieved 14 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Election of Incumbent for St. Luke's Church, Adelaide". Adelaide Times. VIII, (1294). South Australia. 30 September 1854. p. 3. Retrieved 14 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Churches and Chapels". Adelaide Observer. XII, (589). South Australia. 7 October 1854. p. 3. Retrieved 14 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "The Advertiser". The South Australian Advertiser. XXIV, (7122). South Australia. 16 August 1881. p. 4. Retrieved 14 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
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