John WHEATLEY

WHEATLEY, JOHN (b. Ashdown Forest Sussex, England, 19 April 1792; d. Collector, NSW, 1872). Wesleyan Methodist local preacher.

Lacking a religious training in early childhood, at the age of twenty years John was converted under the ministry of the Rev Dr Adam Clarke and joined a Wesleyan Methodist class. He began preaching in neighbouring villages and towns. Thomas Brown, who later emigrated and settled at Dalton, NSW, was among those converted under his preaching ministry in England. John Wheatley emigrated in 1838. After brief sojourns at Parramatta and Camden, he settled at Collector in the Goulburn district. He was a pioneer preacher in the Goulburn and neighbouring circuits, zealously seeking to win people for Christ. On occasions he walked 37 kilometres to Goulburn to preach. He gave liberally to Overseas Missions and other organisations of the church.

Christian Advocate, 1 June 1873

ERIC G CLANCY