Transcript

of

William Laidlay [Obituary]

By Rev. W. Harpley

Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1884, Vol XVI, p.66.

Prepared by Michael Steer

Born in London, Middlesex, on 14 Feb 1821 to John Laidlay. William Laidlay married Margaret Sarah Thomas and had 13 children. He passed away on Oct. 27, 1883 in Ware, Hertfordshire. His obituary was presented at the Association’s June 1883 Newton Abbot meeting. The article, 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.

William Laidlay was born in London on the 14th of February, 1821, and was educated at St. Andrew's, N.B. From thence he went to St. John's College, Cambridge, and took his B.A. degree in 1846, in which year he was ordained, by the then Bishop of Durham, to the curacy of Fleetwood, Lancashire. In 1848 he was presented to the living of Madehurst, Sussex, by John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P. for Chichester; but was obliged to resign it in 1861 in consequence of the insufficient accommodation of the vicarage.

Mr. Laidlay in 1862 accepted the curacy of St James, Clapham; and on the death of his incumbent, in 1865, he moved to Stokefleming, near Dartmouth, and became known as a preacher in many of the villages round.

In 1871 he was appointed to the vicarage of West Teignmouth; but his health failing, he was compelled to resign his charge in 1876. On removing to Hertfordshire his lost strength was in some measure restored, but for a brief period only ; and after a long and distressing illness he was taken to his rest on the 27th October, 1883, at the age of 62.

Mr. Laidlay was a member of the Evangelical party of the Church of England. He was an extempore preacher of no mean powers; and many of his hearers will never forget the eloquent words which fell from his lips. But it was chiefly his large sympathy and his unfailing kindness and courtesy that endeared him to his people. Beloved by rich and poor, by Churchmen and Nonconformists, his name will long be remembered with affection by those among whom he ministered.

He joined the Association in 1869, and was a life member.