William Hague 

William Hague (1736-1831) was originally a Methodist and a native of Scarborough. He was baptized by Joseph Gawkrodger at Bridlington, and soon began preaching. He founded the Ebenezer church at Scarborough in 1771, a congregation in which both Baptists and Independents worshiped together. A chapel was built in 1777, with a gallery added in 1790. A letter from the church to John Rippon, dated 26 June 1796, noted that Hague was “advancing in years and almost blind.”  A second letter, dated 20 June 1798, commented that Hague had “a wife and three children at home,” living on a salary of only £30, a figure that, the letter surmises, “as our congregation increases, we hope it will be better.” Apparently, it did, for Hague would remain at Scarborough another 21 years. His financial situation may have improved as well, or he may have exemplified great generosity in his poverty, for in 1804-1805 he subscribed £1.8 to the Baptist Missionary Society. See John Rippon, ed., Baptist Annual Register, vol. 3 (1798-1801), 39; BMS Periodical Accounts, 3:144; Ernest A. Payne, “A Yorkshire Story,” Baptist Quarterly 19 (1961-1962), 366-369.