Transcript

of

The Rev. John Erskine Risk [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. XXXIX, (1907), pp. 41-42.

by

J. Brooking-Rowe (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1907 Axminster meeting. The Rev Erskine Risk’s name also appears as a Lecturing Member on page 73, of the Annual Report and Transactions of the Plymouth Institution and Devon and Cornwall Natural History Society, 1866-7, available here. Several of his papers have been either transcribed or indexed for the GENUKI collection. Typical examples are his 1896 paper on the history of Stockleigh parishes, and his 1901 paper on Apprenticeship indentures from Stockleigh English Parish Church. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

The Rev. John Erskine Risk. Mr. Risk was born in Ireland about the year 1827. He was an Honours man of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1847, and took his M.A. degree from that University. He was ordained deacon at Neath in 1853 and priest at Killaloe in 1854. Coming to England in 1854, he was curate of Christ Church and St. Mark's, Liverpool, 1854-5, and in 1856 curate at Crosby, which he left for Plymouth, taking a curacy at St. Andrew's Church, with the vicar, the Rev. John Hatchard. There he remained until 1868, when Mr. Hatchard presented him with the incumbency of the St. Andrew's Chapel-of-ease, now St. Catherine's Church. Here he continued for twenty-seven years, and in 1895 he was presented with the Crown living of Stockleigh English. He died the 26th June, 1907, at the rectory, having been in failing health, though not seriously ill, for some time before. The Rev. J. Erskine Risk was one of the oldest members of the Association. He was one of the very few left now who helped to found it in 1862. Only the names of four who were members in 1862 now appear in our list of members. For many years he attended the meetings regularly. Mr. Risk was an intelligent, well-read man and the author of several papers contributed to our "Transactions," as well as many read at the meetings of the Plymouth Institution.