Joshua Cecil Whitaker was born in 1841 at Bratton, Wiltshire, England the second son of Joshua Whitaker and Jane Saffery. His father was a prominent local farmer, having some 950 acres and employing 36 men. His mother was the daughter of Baptist minister John Saffrey of Salisbury, Wiltshire and his hymn writing wife Maria Grace Andrews.
Joshua grew up on the farm at Bratton before studying for the ministry at the Regent’s Park Baptist College, Holford House, St. Marylebone, Middlesex, where he can be found in the 1861 census.
Station Hill Baptist Church at Chippenham in his home county of Wiltshire was to be his first ministry. In November 1864 he succeeded the Rev J.J. Joplin had been called to work in Nova Scotia. A letter from the Church at Bratton, signed by the Rev Anderson and Robert Reeves, Deacon, was received by the Church wishing the Rev Joshua Cecil Whitaker and the Church much blessing. Joshua relinquished the Pastorate on 30 January 1867.
At Chippenham in 1870, Joshua married Margaret Anne Brinkworth the daughter of James H. and Sarah Brinkworth. Joshua’s elder brother, John had married married Margaret’s elder sister Mary at Chippenham in 1867. It should also be noted that a Mr Edwin Brinkworth of Chippenham, was one of the Officers at Station Hill at the time of Joshua’s Ministry.
The freshly married couple set up home at 23 Church Road, Coseley, Sedgley, Staffordshire where Joshua was the Baptist Minster at Zion Church, Princes End. It was here that their two sons were born, Alfred Paul Whitaker (1872) and James Edgar Whitaker (1878) . Following the birth of James the family made the short move to 1 Tibbington Road, Tipton, Staffordshire and the birth of three daughters, Margaret Jane Whitaker (1881), Agnes Lilian Whitaker(1883) and Evelyn Mary Whitaker (1888). The family can be found at Tibbington Road in both the 1881 and 1891 census.
By the time of the 1901 census the family have move to the Birmingham suburb of Aston where the family can be found at 101 Anderton Road. Joshua however is not at home on census night, but visiting members of his Sedgley congregration at Coleshill. Alfred has also left home and appears to have found employment as a grammar school teacher at Horsham, Sussex.
I currently have no information on what became of this family after the 1901 census and would be grateful for any updates.
Serena McLaren (Saffery) said,
August 23, 2008 at 8:35 am
I am currently tracing my family history and am interested in your information.
I am trying to trace the birth of John Saffery Baptist minister in Salsibury who’s second wife (I think), was Maria Grace Andrews. They had 7 children. John Saffery B 1802( My Great, Great Grandfather) , William Carey Saffery B1803, Philip John Saffery B 1800( And followed in his fathers footsteps to be a Baptist Minister in Salisbury) , Mary Ann Saffery B 1802, Jane Saffery B 1805 (Who married Joshua Whitaker) Samuel Saffery B 1807 (Who also became a Minister) and Edwin Cecil Saffery B 1812 and died 1814 (I think with Scaret Fever.
You mention that Edwin Cecil Whitaker had a elder brother called James. I have him as John? [CORRECTED]
Do you know any connection with Marjorie Reeves. You mentiona Robert Reeves (Deacon)? I know that Marjorie’s mother was a Whitaker but not sure which one so cannot trace her to a Saffery?
Any help would be gratefully received. From 1901 I have much on the Saffery side if you are interested.
Best wishes
Serena Mclaren (nee Saffery)
Bob Evans said,
March 10, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Hi,
I have just transcribed J Cecil Whitaker’s Obituary from the Baptist College at Regent’s Park, Oxford. Normally it would have been in the BU Handbook in the year following his death, but the 1st World War intoduced restrictions on space in the Handbook, and the obituaries from 1917-1920 are kept in a typescript volume available to see in the College, but not published.
Email me if you would like to have obituary. He died 17th January 1920.
Regards
Bob Evans
Patricia Hix said,
April 3, 2010 at 4:12 pm
I am researching a Philip Saffrey who was an anit-slavery campaigner and visited the Newcastle upon Tyne Ladies Negro Friends and Emancipation Society in February 1841 A Rev PJ Saffrey attended a Baptist Missionary Society meeting in 1842 at the Nelson Street Chapel in Newcastle. A Philip Saffrey was also afriend of the Baptist Missionary Rev. Knibb, also an anti-slavery campaigner who had served in the West Indies. Do you know if all these reference refer to the same man, was he the son of Rev John Saffrey of Salisbury? I know that Rev P J Saffrey was from Hastings in 1842 but was he ever a missioinary in the West Indies?
Serena McLaren(Saffery) said,
April 12, 2010 at 5:25 am
Hi Patricia
Rev John Saffery was my 4th Great Grandfather and I have been researching him for the last 2 years. Rev Philip John his son was living in sussex in 1842 with his 2nd wife and 2 children. I know that Rev John was heavely into Missionaries in both the West Indies and Seramphore in India. Rev P J was definatley born in Salisbury and it would not surprise me if he was in the West Indies however I cannot be sure of this. Saffery is also spelt Saffery and Saffrey and sometimes Safferey! Rev P J is definately the son of Rev. John Saffery born 1762 and married Maria Grane Andrews a non-conformist poe of the Romantic Period (I have one of her books” . Please email me directly if you need any more help. I have a picture of Rev. P J!
Anne Saffery said,
September 24, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Do you know the maiden name of Rev Philip J Saffery’s second wife Anne?
Serena McLaren(Saffery) said,
January 8, 2011 at 6:15 am
Hi Anne
I wonder whre you fit in to this? His second wife was Anne Dendy. Married 1831 and had 2 children, Ellen and Walter.
It would be good to contact you.
Best wishes
Serena
Mike Smith said,
October 3, 2011 at 3:20 pm
I am the Associate Pastor of Grace Community Church, Tipton – successor to Princes End Baptist where Rev J C Whitaker served 1870 – 1898. I have to hand the Church Minute Book with many refs to Rev Whitaker should you require details of his service here. On his resignation it appears that they transferred to Stratford Road (Baptist Curch) Sparkbrook, Birmingham
Best wishes
Mike