Josiah AYRES

Josiah AYRES [EYRES and sometimes AYERS] was baptised in Week St Mary on Ar 17 1796, the youngest son of Josiah AYRES & Ann VINSON who had married in the parish of Kilkhampton on Jan 5 1788.

His father must have died when he was very young because he was apprenticed at age 7 to Abraham ORCHARD in Husbandry.

At age 34, Josiah married Mary RUNDLE in the parish of Poundstock on Mar 7th, 1830. Shortly thereafter, they emigrated to Prince Edward Island in far off Canada.

He and his wife Mary eventually had 7 children, the youngest being a daughter, Caroline, born about 1853.

When Josiah died he had been a preacher for the Bible Christians in Prince Edward Island for many years and the Observer ( Bible Christian Paper) printed a 4 page obituary which gives fascinating details of his early life in Week St Mary.

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OBITUARY -- Our Late Bro. AYERS

The subject of this brief memoir, like many others who have fallen asleep in Jesus during the past few years, was one whose early history was intimately connected with that of our beloved denomination.

The sickle of the great reaper, death, is fast doing its work among our fathers and shortly no one will be left who can remember when, in 1815 a few men and women whose hearts were rich in faith and hope, launched our denominational barque upon the stormy waters .......... .

Bro. Josiah AYERS was born in Week St Mary, Cornwall England. His parents Josiah and Ann AYERS were members of the Methodist Church. His father was a deeply pious man, and no doubt many of his prayers have been answered in the useful and consistent course just finished by his son, and though removed during Josiah's childhood, he left him to that God who has promised to be a "father to the fatherless"

This early loss caused Josiah at a very tender age to be bound apprentice to a farmer, who though not openly immoral, knew nothing of the grace of God, and therefore neglected both the moral and religious training of the fatherless child committed to his care.

Some of our older friends from that part of the country will be able to form a very adequate idea of the position of a poor orphan boy, bound apprentice in such a family, in the year 1807.

Here the neglected child fell into many evil ways such as profanity and Sabbath breaking; but a father's prayers were being answered in the almost constant striving of the Holy Spirit and a remarkably tender conscience.

Frequent and fearful were the thoughts that would occupy his mind, and disquiet his soul, after his most careless seasons about death, the judgment and hell . . . And when a fever visited the family, the poor boy was neglected until brought to the gates of the grave; and not until a son was taken down was medical advice called in, and none too soon for Josiah's case seemed hopeless; and though his life was spared, yet he never attained the physical strength of which his early childhood gave promise, while the effects of the disease were felt in all his years.

And here we may notice the Providence of God in using the affliction of the eldest son to procure for the poor orphan that medical aid which a sense of duty and humanity could not induce the unfeelingly master to provide. But this sickness had another effect. His nearness to eternity made a deep impression on his mind, and deepened the serious thoughts of which he had long been the subject.

In the year 1818 when he was in his 21st year the faithful agents of our then infant Missionary Society found their way to that part of the country and preached Christ to the people.

Bro Ayers attended the meeting and to use his own words -- "It was not in vain for the word of God came with power to my soul and his arrow stuck fast in me."

For many weeks he groped his way in the darkness but could not sink down restfully into the arms of his Saviour. But he had given himself to his God for life and with a perseverance and a decision of character of which we have too little in this our day he entered upon his religious duties. He began to lead in prayer at at the social prayer meeting , calling upon God for himself and others.

But he was not set at liberty till one day while working in the field and praying as he worked, the spirit of the Lord came upon him and "I felt myself in a new world. The powers of heaven surrounded me and all was calm and joy and Peace" He now connected himself with the brethren in the church fellowship and for 61 years he continued with the exception of two short intervals a consistent and eminently useful member.

In the following spring he went to live in a Methodist family and being strongly pressed to do so, he joined that Society. But his master became a backslider and his fellow servants his persecutors, while his own spiritual strength greatly declined. He soon changed his place of service and fell in with a very pious family and he rejoined his old friends in church fellowship. Of this period he says himself "My hair began to grow again and Sampson like I became renewed in the strength of my God."

He now began to warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come. The Lord greatly blessing his efforts and for some time he continued to labour in this capacity.

About the year 1827 his mind became impressed with a sense of a call to the ministry and so far did this impression lead him that he accepted employment as a hired local preacher for a few months. But after many earnest deliberations and the careful consideration of many important questions he decided to seek for no higher a sphere of usefulness than that of a local preacher, a position which he creditably filled till enfeebled by age.

By many this decision was regarded as the mistake of his life and one which made the path of his worldly avocation one of up hill and difficulty. Be this as it may, we feel thankful that in this case it was overruled for good by One who can make not only the wrath of foes but even the mistakes of his servants to praise him.

In the year 1830 he married Mary RUNDLE, in whom he found a faithful partner and who for 47 years stood by his side encouraging and strengthening his hand in God during the many difficulties through which he was called to pass and who now is left in loneliness for a little space till the master calls her to stand by his side in glory.

In the same year they emigrated to this country, then a mere wilderness . Here our missionaries not having arrived, he cast in his lot again with the Methodist church. Many parts of the island were then destitute of the gospel and here a large field of usefulness opened before him.

In holding up the banner of the cross the Lord was with him; many of his services were seasons of very great power and it was no unusual thing for sinners to be smitten and the cry to be heard "What must I do to be saved?" In conducting special services he was made very useful and became the blessed instrument of leading many to the Friend of sinners.

After remaining in Charlottetown for a few months he removed to York Road and finally settled on the now old homestead on the Union Road now occupied by his son John. Here in clearing up his new farm he toiled very hard, often beyond his strength, undergoing the many difficulties peculiar to a life in the wilderness and often after a hard days work he would walk many miles to conduct a service while nearly every sabbath was spent in declaring the unsearchable riches of Christ. About this time he conducted a series of special services at York Rd, in which a large number were brought to the Lord, some of whom remain to this day while many have departed giving evidence of a bright hope of the better land.

In the year 1833 as he was one day busily working by the side of the blazed track which constituted their only road, he saw a stranger approaching him and said within himself that looks like one of our preachers and in a few minutes his hand grasped that of our late brother METHERALL. They had known and loved each other and had laboured together in the old country and now they rejoiced together in the wilds of Prince Edward Island.

(ref. -The Observer (Bible Christian Paper- Oct. 2, 1878, p. 3

Josiah Eyres (Ayers) March 1796

Richard METHERALL on May 26, 1832 held 1st service and founded Bible Christian Church of Prince Edward Island at Union Road.

Here Josiah Ayers cast in his lot, nobly toiled and preached and led the young church till this day, till in blessed old age he has handed the leadership to his youngest son, man of qualities, earnest piety, generous benevolence and firm denominational attachment, worthy son of a worthy father. ( ref. - United Church Archives Toronto, The Observer, Bowmanville Wed. April 9, 1873 - by G. Webber)