Samuel Booth
Encyclopedia
Samuel Booth the father of William Booth
, was born in Belper
, Amber Valley
, Derbyshire
, England
. He was tall and often wore clothes that made him look like a Quaker; knee-breeches, drab-cloth suits, and cut-away coats. He married Sarah Lockitt in 1797. At that time, he was a nail-maker. The industrial revolution
made his job redundant, therefore he tried to set up some building companies and became an architect. This provided him with sufficient funds to buy a house at Colston Bassett
. Samuel and Sarah had a son named William, but he was not the William Booth who founded The Salvation Army
. Sarah died in 1819 and William died five years later.
When Samuel Booth went to Ashby-de-la-Zouch
to drink the water in hopes that it would cure his rheumatism, he met Mary Moss
. He proposed, but she declined. He soon renewed his proposal and pursued her until she agreed, although he was sixteen years her senior. They married and had five children: Henry, Ann, William, Emma, and Mary. Henry died at the age of three. This William became the founder of The Salvation Army. Emma was an invalid from birth and she died without ever marrying at the age of forty. Mary eventually became Mary Newell, and she lived until she was 69.
As Samuel was forced into bankruptcy by successive trade recessions, he moved to Nottingham
. William was eventually to say of him:
Samuel Booth was not a religious man, and although he had little interest in his children, he insisted that they attend church regularly.
Samuel began to lose more money and he was forced to move into a house on Sneinton Road in a poorer neighbourhood, but he eventually moved back to Nottingham. It was there that he died. He was baptised on his deathbed, after which he committed his wife and children to God. Those who surrounded him, including his son William, sang Rock of Ages as he died.
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
, was born in Belper
Belper
Belper is a town and civil parish in the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England.-Geography:Belper is situated eight miles north of Derby and is centred in the valley of the River Derwent...
, Amber Valley
Amber Valley
Amber Valley is a local government district and borough in Derbyshire, England. It takes its name from the River Amber and covers a semi-rural area with a number of small towns formerly based around coal mining and engineering...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was tall and often wore clothes that made him look like a Quaker; knee-breeches, drab-cloth suits, and cut-away coats. He married Sarah Lockitt in 1797. At that time, he was a nail-maker. The industrial revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
made his job redundant, therefore he tried to set up some building companies and became an architect. This provided him with sufficient funds to buy a house at Colston Bassett
Colston Bassett
Colston Bassett is a small picturesque village in the Vale of Belvoir in the south-east of Nottinghamshire close to its border with Leicestershire...
. Samuel and Sarah had a son named William, but he was not the William Booth who founded The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. Sarah died in 1819 and William died five years later.
When Samuel Booth went to Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, — Zouch being pronounced "Zoosh" — often shortened to Ashby, is a small market town and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England, within the National Forest. It is twinned with Pithiviers in north-central France....
to drink the water in hopes that it would cure his rheumatism, he met Mary Moss
Mary Moss
Mary Moss was the mother of William Booth and the second wife of Samuel Booth. She has been described as tall and proud, with incredible eyes.-Early life:...
. He proposed, but she declined. He soon renewed his proposal and pursued her until she agreed, although he was sixteen years her senior. They married and had five children: Henry, Ann, William, Emma, and Mary. Henry died at the age of three. This William became the founder of The Salvation Army. Emma was an invalid from birth and she died without ever marrying at the age of forty. Mary eventually became Mary Newell, and she lived until she was 69.
As Samuel was forced into bankruptcy by successive trade recessions, he moved to Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. William was eventually to say of him:
- "My father was a Grab, a Get. He had been born in poverty. He determined to grow rich; and he did. He grew very rich, because he lived without God and simply worked for money; and when he lost it all, his heart broke with it, and he died miserably."
Samuel Booth was not a religious man, and although he had little interest in his children, he insisted that they attend church regularly.
Samuel began to lose more money and he was forced to move into a house on Sneinton Road in a poorer neighbourhood, but he eventually moved back to Nottingham. It was there that he died. He was baptised on his deathbed, after which he committed his wife and children to God. Those who surrounded him, including his son William, sang Rock of Ages as he died.